Southside Sips: Lillet Rosé Spritz

Yes, margaritas are marvelous (and Cinco de Mayo is almost upon us…). Whiskey Sours are wonderful. French 75s combine sophisticated and sassy in a glass. But right now? With the riot of cherry blossoms and bountiful buds popping, along with that perfect springtime warming-up breeze feeling as splendid as summer-weight cashmere on your skin, we really kind of need a drink fit for the moment.

It’s funny how Lillet, the French aperitif, has for so long been a bit of a sleeper hit on shelves; the secret of the smart host who knows that maybe just a splash of soda water and a pretty glass with the blanc, rouge or rosé versions of the aromatized aperitif wine is all you need to impress a crowd with no more than the twist of a screw cap. That could alter now that the hit Darren Star Netflix show “Emily in Paris” has lent its title character — an accidental, slightly goofy, and yet winningly charming modern day American version of Audrey Hepburn — to the label. (And, psst, they start filming Season 5 next month and we have it on good authority that the oh-so annoying character of Camille is exiting; dieu merci!).

But speaking of winningly charming, having a bottle or three of this on your shelf is key to on-the-fly entertaining that looks like you actually know what you’re doing. The company, born in Bordeaux, offers three versions, but right now the rosé — made from a blend of merlot, cabernet and semillon (the latter an aromatic white grape to typical to the region — is what we’re hankering for right now. You’ll find it in stock with our friends over at Park Place Wines in East Hampton. Santé!