Kir Royale

The Kir Royale is a sophisticated yet remarkably simple cocktail, epitomizing French elegance. It consists of a small amount of crème de cassis, a sweet blackcurrant liqueur, poured into a flute and then topped with chilled Champagne. The result is a beautifully hued, bubbly, and festive drink. It's cherished for its perfect balance of fruity sweetness and the dry, crisp effervescence of the wine.
Kir Royale

Preparation

Preparation time: 2 minutes

Preparation time
Difficulty

Drink Classification

The Kir Royale is classified as a classical cocktail, celebrated for its simplicity and long-standing popularity. It is also considered a sparkling cocktail due to its Champagne base and is frequently served as an apéritif to stimulate the appetite before a meal.

Serving

This is a cold, sparkling drink served without ice in a chilled Champagne flute. Its alcohol content is moderate, comparable to a standard glass of sparkling wine.
Serving size
Approximately 150 ml / 5 oz
Alcohol content
Approximately 12-14% ABV
Alcohol strength
Serving temperature
Cold
Glass type
Champagne flute
Glass treatment
Chilled

Backstory

The drink is named after Félix Kir, a canon and hero of the French Resistance during World War II who later became the mayor of Dijon in Burgundy, France. He popularized the drink by serving it to visiting delegations, promoting two of the region's key products: blackcurrants (for the crème de cassis) and white wine. The original version, called a Kir, used local Aligoté white wine, with the "Royale" version substituting luxurious Champagne.
Origin
The drink originated in Burgundy, France, around the mid-20th century, following World War II.

Kir Royale

The drink is most commonly known as Kir Royale, or Kir Royal in French. An alternative descriptive name is simply Champagne and Cassis, which directly refers to its two primary ingredients.
Original name
Kir Royal
Alternative name
Champagne and Cassis

Characteristics overview

The Kir Royale boasts a vibrant fruity flavor of blackcurrant balanced by the crisp acidity of Champagne, with a clean finish. Its appearance is a beautiful bubbly pink, and its light, effervescent texture makes it highly refreshing.
Flavor
Fruity, Sweet, Tart, Bubbly, Crisp
Aroma
Blackcurrant, Grape, Yeasty, Vinous
Taste balance
Sweet, Sour
Aftertaste
Clean, Crisp, Fruity
Fizziness
Effervescent, Bubbly
Color appearance
Pale pink to deep ruby, Clear, Bubbly
Texture
Light, Crisp, Effervescent
Seasonality
Refreshing, Celebratory, All-season

Flavor intensity & Experience

The flavor profile is led by a prominent fruity sweetness from the cassis, balanced by moderate sourness and high carbonation from the Champagne. It is not salty, bitter, or creamy, with a light-to-moderate alcohol presence.
Sweetness
Saltiness
Sourness
Bitterness
Spiciness
Fruitiness
Creaminess
Carbonation

Ingredients

This is a simple two-ingredient cocktail requiring only crème de cassis and a good quality, well-chilled Brut Champagne.
  • Crème de Cassis15 ml / 0.5 oz
    A sweet, dark red liqueur made from blackcurrants. Quality matters for the best taste.
  • Champagne135 ml / 4.5 oz
    Must be well-chilled. A dry (Brut) Champagne is traditional to balance the sweetness of the liqueur.

Ice type

  • None

Mixing equipments

No special mixing equipment such as shakers or mixing glasses are needed for this drink. It is built directly in the glass it is served in, making preparation incredibly simple.
  • None - built directly in the serving glass

Instructions

The construction is straightforward: pour the crème de cassis into a chilled flute, then gently top with Champagne to mix the ingredients without losing carbonation. Garnish if desired and serve immediately.
1. Ensure your Champagne flute is well-chilled by placing it in a freezer for 10-15 minutes before use.
2. Pour the crème de cassis into the bottom of the chilled flute.
3. Gently and slowly top with the chilled Champagne. Pouring slowly or down the side of a tilted glass helps preserve the bubbles.
4. If using a garnish, add the lemon twist or drop in a fresh raspberry. Serve immediately.

Garnishing

Garnishing a Kir Royale is optional as its color is appealing on its own. If a garnish is desired, a thin lemon twist or a single fresh raspberry or blackberry dropped into the glass are classic choices.
  • Lemon twist or a fresh raspberry (optional)

Dietary Information

This cocktail is caffeine-free, dairy-free, and nut-free. However, it may not be suitable for vegans or vegetarians as Champagne is often clarified using fining agents like isinglass (from fish) or egg whites.
✓ Contains alcohol
✓ Caffeine-free
✓ Dairy-free
✓ Egg-free
✓ Soy-free
✓ Nut-free
✓ Gluten-free
✕ Vegan-friendly
✕ Vegetarian-friendly

Nutrition information

The Kir Royale is moderately low in calories, with most of its carbohydrates and sugars coming from the crème de cassis. It is not a significant source of other nutrients.
Calories
Approximately 120-150 kcal / 502-628 kJ
Calories level
Carbohydrates
Approximately 8-10 g
Carbohydrate level
Sugar
Approximately 8-10 g
Sugar level

Occasions

The Kir Royale is perfectly suited for celebratory events like weddings, holidays, and New Year's Eve. Its light and festive nature also makes it a popular choice for brunch or as a classic pre-dinner apéritif.
  • Celebration
  • Brunch
  • Apéritif
  • New Year's Eve
  • Wedding

Pairing suggestions

As an apéritif, the Kir Royale pairs beautifully with light appetizers, salty snacks, and cheese plates, particularly with creamy goat cheese. Its fruity profile also complements seafood like oysters and can be served alongside fruit tarts or other light desserts.
  • Light appetizers
  • Cheese platters (especially goat cheese)
  • Oysters
  • Fruit-based desserts

The Kir Royale: A Toast to French Elegance

The Kir Royale is the embodiment of effortless French chic in a glass. This classic apéritif combines the sweet, deep berry flavor of crème de cassis with the dry, bubbly sophistication of Champagne. Its beautiful rosy hue and festive effervescence make it a perfect choice for celebrations, special occasions, or simply to add a touch of elegance to an evening. Incredibly easy to prepare, it requires no special tools and proves that sometimes the most memorable drinks are the simplest.

Variations

Kir

The original version, made with dry white wine (traditionally Bourgogne Aligoté) instead of Champagne.

You May Also Like

Godfather

A simple yet sophisticated cocktail made with Scotch whisky and amaretto, known for its smooth, nutty, and slightly sweet flavor profile.

Blue Motorcycle

A potent and visually striking blue cocktail that's a citrus-forward variation of the Long Island Iced Tea.

Rum and Tonic

A crisp, refreshing, and surprisingly complex highball that pairs the sweetness of rum with the bitter quinine of tonic water.

Tequila Slammer

A simple and explosive two-ingredient drink of tequila and sparkling soda, famous for being slammed on a surface to activate its fizz before being drunk quickly.

Have You Tried These Yet?

The Long Goodbye

A bright, bittersweet, and herbaceous gin sour that riffs on the classic Last Word by swapping Maraschino liqueur for Aperol.

Tuxedo No. 2 Cocktail

An elegant and complex variation of the Martini, featuring gin, dry vermouth, maraschino liqueur, and a dash of absinthe.

Cooper Union Cocktail

A sophisticated, spirit-forward cocktail balancing spicy rye whiskey with floral elderflower liqueur and dry vermouth.

King Cole Cocktail

A sophisticated and refreshing classic cocktail combining Old Tom Gin, bitter Fernet-Branca, and fresh orange juice.