Perfect Pairings & Recipes for
Lillet Rouge

Analysing hundreds of thousands of recipes uncovers Lillet Rouge's optimal flavour pairings.

Lillet Rouge is defined by the unmistakable flavours of caramel and blossom, but beneath its sweetness lies a complex symphony of subtle flavour notes, such as blackberry, clove, and vanilla, that give it remarkable depth. The key to finding the perfect pairing for Lillet Rouge is understanding how these notes harmonise.

To map these harmonies, we analysed thousands of ingredients, breaking each one down across 150 flavour dimensions, identifying which notes complement and contrast. Our analysis reveals, for example, how bitters's gentian tones ground Lillet Rouge, and how orange bitters's bay leaf notes create a surprising synergy with its warm sweetness.

An ingredient's flavour stems from its core characteristics, such as spice, herbal, or floral, combined with layers of subtle flavour notes (outer bars). For a balanced dish, pair ingredients with a variety of core flavours, and choose complementary aroma notes for harmony.

The Flavour Code

To understand exactly which flavours harmonise, we compiled a database of over 50,000 ingredient pairings commonly used in cooking. We then analysed these pairings, identifying the specific flavour notes that frequently appear together.

Our analysis reveals a strong connection between caramel and bay leaf flavours. Since Lillet Rouge has a distinct caramel flavour, try pairing it with the bay leaf flavours of orange bitters.

The recipes below provide inspiration for pairing Lillet Rouge with orange bitters.

Harmonious Flavours Of Lillet Rouge

Just as our analysis revealed that caramel and malic notes combine harmoniously, we can identify the full profile of flavours that harmonise with each of the flavours present in Lillet Rouge. E.g. the blackberry notes of Lillet Rouge are often used with gamey and beefy flavours.

The aroma accents complementing the various aroma notes of Lillet Rouge can be seen highlighted in the pink bars below.

Matching Flavour Profiles

The flavour profile of bitters offers many of the notes complementary to Lillet Rouge, including gentian and tannic accents. Because the flavour profile of bitters has many of the of the features that are complementary to Lillet Rouge, they are likely to pair very well together.

The chart above shows the unique profile of bitters across 150 dimensions of flavour, while the recipes below offer inspiration for bringing these flavours together with Lillet Rouge.

Recipes That Pair Lillet Rouge With Bitters

Linked Flavour Notes

Looking at the aroma accents that are most strongly associated with the various flavours of Lillet Rouge, we can identify other ingredients that are likely to pair well.

The left side of the chart above highlights the aroma notes of Lillet Rouge, along with the complementary aromas associated with each note. While the right side shows some of the ingredients that share many of the accents complementary to Lillet Rouge.

Harmonies Of Lillet Rouge

Lillet Rouge offers a range of distinct flavour notes, each with its own set of harmonising partners. Caramel notes pair especially well with ingredients that have the crisp tartness of sour apple and the crisp sweetness of pear. While blossom tones complement gentian root notes and mint's cooling sensation. Here, we explore the many flavours that resonate with each note of Lillet Rouge, revealing abundant possibilities for creative pairing.

Each Chord Connects Two Harmonising Flavour Notes

What To Drink With Lillet Rouge

The flint notes in saint-romain make it a perfect pairing with lillet rouge. Likewise, the flint flavours in sauvignon blanc (loire valley) create a match made in heaven. Explore a variety of ingredients below that beautifully complement the unique character of lillet rouge below.