Lillet Rosé Martini

This post was originally published on October 6, 2017 and was updated on June 5, 2020. The Lillet rosé martini is a bright and refreshing cocktail that is so unique and so delicious! Serve for those special occasions and to those special people in your life.

Today is a very special day.

Today is my dear, sweet friend Elise’s birthday.

This woman came into my life eight years ago and has done nothing but brighten it and believe in me.

A Celebratory Cocktail

She is smart, hard working, gentle, and honest. She is strong and sure of herself in a way most people in their 20s are not (hey, yeah, that includes me).

Elise is also generous beyond measure. Last month, I had tickets to a show in Chicago over Labor Day weekend. Elise was headed back East to spend the holiday with her family. She made time to have dinner with me and leave her house key for the weekend so I had somewhere warm (and free) to stay before catching her flight, lugging her suitcase downtown all the way.

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A few more things about Elise: she loves to knit, the show NCIS, the color pink, and delicious food. Her sense of style is impeccable and her family ties are strong. She is a skilled baker in her own right and loves soft pretzels and her dog with equal measure.

She is an original. As is this drink.

A twist on the classic martini

Or, at least, it’s original to the steakhouse where I plied the bartender for the recipe. I’ll be taking her there tonight to celebrate this auspicious day. The day when the world was given the gift of Elise.

This Lillet rosé martini is not unlike her – warming the heart like time spent with her. It is unique, strong, and, of course, pink. So, here’s to you, Elise. Happy Birthday!