Kir royale
A splash of blackcurrant liqueur under cold Champagne. Two ingredients, deep ruby colour.
- Time
- 3 min
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Glass
- Flute
- Strength
- 1.7 UK units
How to make a Kir royale
- Chill the flute. Put the glass in the freezer for 10 minutes, until it is cold and lightly frosted.
- Pour in the cassis. Add the crème de cassis. It will sit as a dark layer at the bottom.
- Top with Champagne. Tilt the glass and pour the Champagne slowly. The colour should swirl from deep red into rose as it mixes.
- Garnish and serve. Drop in a berry and serve straight away. Do not stir, as the bubbles will go flat.
- Glass
- FluteNo flute? A small wine glass.
- Ice
- No ice
- Garnish
- A fresh blackberry or raspberryOr: A twist of lemon peel.
What you need to make a Kir royale
Kit
JiggerA double-ended measure, usually 25 ml and 50 ml.
Bottles we'd use
- Crème de cassisLejay or Briottet are made in Dijon and taste of real fruit.Find it on Amazon
- A dry sparkling wineBrut cava or prosecco is fine, because the cassis is the main flavour.Find it on Amazon
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The Kir royale story
A Kir is crème de cassis with dry white wine, and it is named after Félix Kir, who was the mayor of Dijon after the war and is said to have served it at civic receptions to promote local produce. Swap the wine for Champagne and you have a Kir royale.
Use a small amount of cassis. About 15 ml is enough for a rich, berry-dark colour without making the drink syrupy, and a little more if you like it sweeter. Pour the cassis first, so the Champagne mixes it as it goes in.
Kir royale: your questions answered
What is in a Kir royale?
A Kir royale is made with 15 ml crème de cassis and 120 ml Champagne. Garnish: a fresh blackberry or raspberry.
How strong is a Kir royale?
Made to this recipe, a Kir royale contains about 1.7 UK units of alcohol per drink. That is worked out from typical bottle strengths, so it changes with the bottles you use. UK guidelines advise not regularly drinking more than 14 units a week.
What glass do you serve a Kir royale in?
Serve a Kir royale in a flute. No flute? A small wine glass.
