- Diane Keaton shared that one of her favorite drinks was Lillet Blanc over ice with lemon.
- Lillet is a light aperitif that can be used in a spritz or enjoyed straight-up.
- Keaton died October 11 at the age of 79.
Legendary actress Diane Keaton died on October 11, leaving behind a legacy of unforgettable performances and undeniably classic style. Her signature mix of feminine silhouettes and menswear, her award-winning roles and her stunning smile were all classic Keaton. So, too, was her taste in cocktails. The actress shared one of her favorite cocktail recipes on Instagram a few years ago, and the simple two-ingredient drink is truly as classic as she was.
Dressed in a signature wide-brimmed hat and a blazer (and smiling the whole time), Keaton shared her love of Lillet, a French wine-based aperitif. She said it’s the only wine she likes and, to prove it, displayed a chilled drawer of the lovely bottles.
Aperitifs are traditionally dry spirits often served before a meal to help stimulate the appetite and cleanse the palette. Lillet specifically is often used with sparkling drinks or with citrus, and frequently made into a Lillet Spritz. (A Lillet Spritz can have a few variations, but the classic is Lillet, soda and orange over ice.)
Keaton, as was her style in all things, has her own twist on the original. She likes Lillet on its own with just lemon over ice. In her video, Keaton doesn’t waste time making a perfectly curated recipe reel—she is her genuine, giggly, somewhat scatterbrained self.
After rummaging around in her ice drawer, her back to the camera (one commenter offered to send her an ice scoop), Keaton appears at the counter with a water glass almost full of ice, noting: “Lillet needs the ice, so I put in a fairly good amount of ice.”
She then pours Lillet right about to the ice line (no measuring cup in sight). Then she slices up a lemon and plops a wedge into her glass.
“Then you just slug it down,” she jokes. “I can’t do that because I can’t afford to be an alcoholic like some of my friends.” Though she pokes a little fun at a casting director friend of hers, Marla Garlin, Keaton does also advise, more seriously: “Don’t drink too much. Let’s not get carried away.”
Keaton’s Lillet cocktail is perfect for sipping with friends on a deck on a summer day, quoting all your favorite lines from her movies. After one or two drinks, you might be singing, “You Don’t Own Me” with your friends, celebrating life and the life of the wonderful Diane Keaton. La-di-da, la-di-da.
