Kir recipe
A crisp French apéritif blending sweet blackcurrant liqueur with chilled dry white wine.
Method: Build and stir gently ·
Glass: Chilled white wine glass ·
Time: 2 min ·
Difficulty: Beginner ·
Family: Modern Classics
Ingredients
- 0.5 oz Crème de cassis (Chilled blackcurrant liqueur)
- 4.5 oz Dry white wine (Bourgogne Aligoté or crisp French white wine, chilled)
- 1 slice Lemon peel (Optional twist for expression)
How to make a Kir
- Chill a white wine glass thoroughly in the refrigerator.
- Pour the crème de cassis directly into the bottom of the chilled glass.
- Top up the glass slowly with chilled dry white wine.
- Stir gently once with a barspoon to blend without losing effervescence.
- Express a lemon peel over the rim if desired and serve immediately.
Garnish
Garnish with an optional twist of lemon peel expressed over the surface.
Pro tip
Always pour the crème de cassis into the glass before adding the wine so the heavier liqueur naturally blends into the wine without requiring vigorous stirring. Use a high-acid, bone-dry white wine to balance the rich sweetness of the cassis.
History of the Kir
The Kir traces its origins to the Burgundy region of France, where a local drink combining white wine and crème de cassis was traditionally known as blanc-cassis. Popular legend attributes the cocktail's modern name and widespread post-World War II popularity to Félix Kir, the influential wartime resistance hero and longtime mayor of Dijon. Kir famously promoted the local apéritif during civic receptions, using it to showcase regional Bourgogne Aligoté wine and cassis. While precise credit for inventing the combination remains undocumented, the drink became an enduring symbol of French café culture.
Flavour profile
crisp, tart, berry, refreshing
Variations
- Kir Royale — Substitute Champagne or dry sparkling wine for the dry white wine for an effervescent celebration drink.
- Cardinal — Substitute red wine (traditionally Burgundy Pinot Noir) for the dry white wine for a deeper, more tannic profile.
Practise making the Kir in the free Virtual Bar game.