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Made with Champagne and crรจme de cassis (a blackcurrant liqueur), this Kir Royale Recipe (or Kir Royal) is a fruity French cocktail great for sipping before dinner.
This classic French cocktail is named after Fรฉlix Kir, a priest and the mayor ofย Dijonย in Burgundy, France. He popularized the Kir cocktail after World War II by serving it to many traveling dignitaries in his city. The drink is made with crรจme de cassis and France Champagne.
An authentic Kir Royale must be made with French Champagne! If you substitute another dry sparkling wine such as Italian Prosecco or Spanish Cava, the drink is called a Kir Pรฉtillant.
While the French Champagne is non-negotiable, French bartenders are known to offer the cocktail with crรจme de cassis (blackcurrant), de mรปre (blackberry), de pรชche (peach), or framboise (raspberry).
Table of Contents
Recipe ingredients
At a Glance: Here is a quick snapshot of what ingredients are in this recipe.
Please see the recipe card below for specific quantities.
Ingredient notes
- Creme de cassis:ย This French berry liqueur is made with blackcurrants.
- Champagne:ย Authentic Kir Royales must be made with French Champagne. If you substitute another dry sparkling wine such as Italian Prosecco or Spanish Cava, the drink is called a Kir Pรฉtillant.
Step-by-step instructions
- To a chilled Champagne flute or wine glass, add 1 ounce creme de cassis. Pour in champagne.
- Garnish and serve.
Recipe tips and variations
- Yield:ย This recipe makes 1 cocktail.
- Glassware:ย The Kir Royale cocktail is traditionally served in a fluted glass or a coupe glass.
- Garnish: Garnish your classic Kir Royale with fresh blackberries, a lemon slice, or a lemon twist.
- Big batch:ย To make a batch of 8 cocktails, combine 4 ounces (ยผ cup) crรจme de cassis and 40 ounces (5 cups) dry sparkling wine in a pitcher. Have champagne flutes and garnishes on hand so guests can help themselves.
- Kir: To make the original Kir cocktail, substitute chilled white wine for the dry sparkling wine.
- Kir Imperiรกl: Substitute Chambord (a French black raspberry liqueur) for the crรจme de cassis.
- Kir Pรฉtillant: Substitute another dry sparkling wine, such as Italian Prosecco or Spanish Cava, for the French Champagne.
- Champagne Cocktail: For a festive holiday drink recipe or to add some sparkle to any happy hour, a classic Champagne Cocktail is a showy, yet remarkably simple, low-alcohol cocktail idea.
Frequently Asked Questions
This Kir Royale recipe is made with crรฉme de cassis, a blackcurrant liqueur, and French Champagne. It is a sweet liqueur with a berry flavor and plenty of bubbles from the champagne.
An aperitif is an alcoholic drink or cocktail consumed before a meal. It is intended to stimulate the appetite.
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Kir Royale Recipe
Ingredientsย
- 1/2 ounce creme de cassis (1 tablespoon, see note 1)
- 5 ounces Champagne (ยผ cup plus 2 tablespoons, see note 2)
- 1 slice lemon or fresh blackberries, for garnish
Instructionsย
- To a chilled fluted glass, add 1 ounce creme de cassis. Top with Champagne and garnish.
Notes
- Creme de cassis: This sweet liquor is made with blackcurrants.
- Champagne:ย Authentic Kir Royales must be made with French Champagne. If you substitute another dry sparkling wine such as Italian Prosecco or Spanish Cava, the drink is called a Kir Pรฉtillant.
- Yield:ย This recipe makes 1 cocktail.
- Glassware:ย The Kir Royale cocktail is traditionally served in a fluted glass.