Recipe for French Cocktail Kir & Kir Royal

Easy Apertifs Use Creme de Cassis Liqueur & White Wine or Champagne

Aug 19, 2009

Kir and Kir Royale are deliciously sophisticated cocktails that are simple to prepare. Only two readily available ingredients are needed to create these popular drinks.

When white wine and crème de cassis – a luscious French fruit liqueur made from blackcurrant berries – are mixed together, they produce a drink known as Kir. Substituting Champagne for white wine creates a Kir Royal, or Royale. Both cocktails have a pleasant level of sweetness and a lovely hue.

History of Kir Recipe

This concoction of white wine and cassis was known as blanc-cassis before Dijon mayor Felix Kir (1876-1968) gave his name to the well-liked beverage. Kir was a fan of blanc-cassis and not afraid to show it. He often appeared in public holding his favourite French cocktail.

As Dijon is in the Burgundy region of France, and Burgundy produces both the white wine and the cassis that must be used to make the drink authentic, Kir’s habit could be seen as patriotic. His association thus established, Kir legally allowed French producers to use his name to promote their product.

French Fruit Liqueur Creme de Cassis

Lejay-Lagoute, a French producer of creme de cassis, calls itself “créateur du cassis à Dijon, en 1841.” Their cassis bottle lists “sugar, maceration of blackcurrant berries in alcohol” as the only ingredients.

Creme de cassis can be found almost everywhere and can be used in other food and drink recipes.

Authentic Recipe for Kir

The International Bartender’s Association lists Kir as an official cocktail, suitable for pre-dinner imbibing. The suggested ratio is 1/9 for crème de cassis, or one part cassis to 9 parts wine. However, the French ratio of cassis can be higher at 1/5. As long as the correct ingredients are used, the amounts can be adjusted to personal taste.

Add crème de cassis to a wine glass or Champagne flute. Top with well-chilled white wine. Chablis or other dry white wines can be substitued.

Authentic Recipe for Kir Royal (or Royale)

The International Bartenders Association also lists Kir Royal as an official cocktail, recommended for consumption as an aperitif.

Variations on the Kir Cocktail Recipe

The Communard Cocktail, popular in France, mixes red wine and creme de cassis, usually in a 5/1 ratio.

Kir Normand or Kir Breton Recipe

These variations both use dry, sparkling alcoholic cider from the Normandy or Breton regions respectively.

County Kir Recipe

The township of North Marysburgh in Prince Edward County is famous for growing superb apples. The County Cider Company produces several varieties of hard cider suitable for mixing with crème de cassis or drinking alone. County Premium Cider is a dry, sparkling alcoholic beverage with an aroma of Golden Delicious apples.

Dessert Recipe for Creme de Cassis

This fruit liqueur makes a tasty and elegant topping for premium vanilla ice cream. Place one scoop of ice cream in a small glass bowl. Drizzle creme de cassis over top and garnish with fresh seasonal fruit such as raspberries or blackberries. Candied violets and crumbled meringue can be substituted for fresh fruit.

More Easy Cocktail and Food Recipe Combinations

Another distinctive and easy-to-make cocktail is the Bermuda Dark 'n' Stormy. The dark rum needed to make the drink can adds a mellow kick to a delicious chowder.

Resource Credits

This article was researched with information from the International Bartenders Association, LeJay-Lagoute and easyfrenchfood.com.

The copyright of the article Recipe for French Cocktail Kir & Kir Royal in Cocktails is owned by Heather Zorzini. Permission to republish Recipe for French Cocktail Kir & Kir Royal in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.