In flipping through The Bubbly Bar I noticed a classic Champagne cocktail that I’ve been wanting to mix up for a while now, the Kir Royale. This drink has an interesting past as well. The drink that started it all was blanc-cassis, a blend of dry French white wine and creme de cassis. After World War II the drink was renamed to honor the then mayor of Dijon and prominent member of the French Resistance during the war, Felix Kir. And thus, the original Kir was born. There are a number of variants on the classic Kir. The best known being our pick for today, the Kir Royale.
Kir Royale
1/2 oz Creme de Cassis 5 oz Champagne Lemon Twist
1) Add the creme de cassis to a Champagne flute 2) Top with Champagne 3) Garnish with a lemon twist
The Kir Royale is truly elegant in its simplicity. The color that the creme de cassis brings is a lovely maroon. The berry flavor is bright but not overpowering or overly sweet. In this drink’s case that lemon twist isn’t solely for decoration, either. It adds a nice citrus note to the aroma and flavor. This really is a delicious drink and I think it would work great for a party. It’s a tasty twist on standard Champagne, simple enough that people can mix their own and packs a bit lighter punch than a French 75.
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[…] sweetness of the Chambord. The end result is crisp and fruity. Naturally, this is a spin on the Kir Royale, and likely, the way most have had it in the […]