French drinks giant Pernod cashes in on Britons’ love of spritz

French drinks giant Pernod Ricard is cashing in on Brits’ love of a spritz as it takes on Italian rival Campari with its aperitif.

Volumes of Pernod’s pink Lillet, made using Bordeaux rosé wine, are up a third in the three months to mid-July on the same period last year, said research firm NielsenIQ.

Lillet, which can be made into a spritz by combining it with tonic or sparkling water, is among several aperitifs challenging the dominance of Campari’s Aperol as the go-to spritz ingredient. 

The resulting Italian cocktail was dethroned as the most popular spritz by the Hugo this summer, made from prosecco, elderflower syrup, soda and mint.

Lillet, created in 1887 as a tonic to fight fever, has gained fame in recent years after being sipped by Lily Collins’ character in the hit Netflix show Emily in Paris. 

Taylor Swift’s favourite cocktail ‘the French blonde’, features Lillet Blanc and St-Germain elderflower liqueur with lemon bitters and grapefruit juice.

Lillet is now stocked by pub chains Young’s and Fuller’s, whose clientele includes young professionals looking for ‘fewer but better’ drinks.