Lillet Blanc Substitute???

[Russian]

Just moved to Moscow for several months, and brought some of my more exotic liquor with me, but didn't have room enough for Lillet Blanc, which I am now finding impossible to find here.

Specifically, I love to mix myself Corpse Reviver #2 and 20th Centuries.

Is there any viable substitute to the Lillet Blanc in the above? If so, what should I try?

Also, does anyone have any ideas of where I might find Lillet Blanc in Moscow?

[zin1953]

FWIW, Lillet is a wine, not a spirit, but far be it from me to dampen the discussion . . . .

[yarm]

Technically, it is an aromatized wine that has been fortified with spirit. Although true, that makes it a fortified wine, not a spirit (or a wine).

[EvergreenDan]

Cocchi Americano is an excellent substitute for Lillet -- perhaps even more similar to the historic Lillet Kina than the modern Lillet. This, however, has been debated and disputed elsewhere on Chowhound.

Cocchi Americano may be equally hard to find in Moscow for all I know. Cocchi is more somewhat more bitter than Lillet, and works fabulously in a Corpse Reviver #2.

Both ingredients are described in Kindred Cocktails by clicking Resources / Ingredients. (Chowhound terms of use preclude me from providing a direct link.)

--
www.kindredcocktails.com | Craft + Collect + Concoct + Categorize + Connect

[davis_sq_pro]

Cocchi will be even more difficult to find, I'm guessing. (Pure speculation, and based on our market here rather than there.)

I was thinking a sweet white wine dosed with some orange bitters might be a good way of getting into the ballpark without access to a liquor store that has a wide variety of cocktail ingredients.

[EvergreenDan]

Good idea, DSP. Maybe start with a sweet white vermouth (Bianco) and add a touch of Cointreau and Angostura Orange bitters?

[yarm]

If you can find Swedish Punsch, there are Corpse Reviver #2 recipes that use that instead of Lillet. It has a similar citrus note to it, but it is a different beast. But it could tide you over.