Noilly Prat

Classic Noilly Prat & Tonic at Home

A faithful home preparation of the French apéritif ritual: a chilled glass of Noilly Prat served the traditional way, with a twist of citrus and plenty of ice. Since Noilly Prat is a finished fortified wine produced commercially in Marseillan, the recipe here is about how the French typically enjoy it rather than how it is made industrially.

Prep

5 min

Total

5 min

Serves

1

Difficulty

Easy

Recipe ingredients

• •120 ml (4 fl oz) Noilly Prat Original Dry, the Rouge (red) or Extra Dry also work; serve chilled, around 8–10 °C / 46–50 °F
• •60 ml (2 fl oz) tonic water, a dry Mediterranean tonic such as Fever-Tree Mediterranean, or null
• •3 whole ice cubes, large, clear cubes, or null
• •1 whole lemon twist, unwaxed, or null
• •1 whole green olive, pitted, for garnish (optional), or null

Steps

1. 1 Chill the Noilly Prat bottle in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours; the French serve this fortified wine well-chilled, around 8–10 °C / 46–50 °F, to lift its herbal aromatics.
2. 2 Fill a stemmed white-wine glass or a small tumbler with 3 large ice cubes so the drink stays cold without being diluted too quickly.
3. 3 Pour 120 ml (4 fl oz) of chilled Noilly Prat over the ice.
4. 4 Top gently with 60 ml (2 fl oz) of cold tonic water, pouring down the side of a barspoon or the back of a spoon to preserve the fizz.
5. 5 Express a lemon twist over the surface of the drink (skin side down) to release the citrus oils, then drop the twist into the glass.
6. 6 Skewer a pitted green olive on a cocktail pick and rest it across the rim if you like a salty counterpoint. Do not stir vigorously — a single gentle lift with the spoon is enough, and serve immediately while still cold and effervescent.