Kir Royale
A splash of blackcurrant liqueur topped with chilled champagne or dry sparkling wine. A two-ingredient aperitif that is simple, festive and quietly elegant.
How to Make Kir Royale
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Chill a champagne flute in the fridge, or fill it with ice water for 5 minutes and tip it out.
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Pour the crème de cassis into the bottom of the flute.
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Tilt the glass slightly and pour in the chilled champagne slowly, so that it does not foam over.
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Drop in a blackberry or raspberry, if you like, and serve immediately.
Tips for Making Kir Royale
- Use a dry, brut sparkling wine. The cassis is sweet, and a sweet wine will make the drink cloying.
- Add the cassis to the glass first. The bubbles of the wine mix the drink for you, and stirring only takes the fizz out.
- Keep to about a tablespoon of cassis. More turns the drink dark and syrupy and hides the wine, and less leaves only a hint of colour.
What to Serve with Kir Royale
- Gougères
- Smoked salmon blinis
- Oysters
Storing & Reheating Kir Royale
Make each glass to order. An opened bottle of sparkling wine keeps its fizz for 1 day if sealed with a champagne stopper and kept in the fridge. For a party, pour a measure of cassis into each flute ahead of time and top the glasses up with the wine as guests arrive.
Kir Royale FAQ: Common Questions
How long does Kir Royale take to make?
About 5 minutes in total — 5 minutes of preparation and of cooking. The recipe serves 1.
What are the key tips for making Kir Royale?
Use a dry, brut sparkling wine. The cassis is sweet, and a sweet wine will make the drink cloying. Add the cassis to the glass first. The bubbles of the wine mix the drink for you, and stirring only takes the fizz out. Keep to about a tablespoon of cassis. More turns the drink dark and syrupy and hides the wine, and less leaves only a hint of colour.
What should I serve with Kir Royale?
Gougères; Smoked salmon blinis; Oysters.
How should Kir Royale be stored?
Make each glass to order. An opened bottle of sparkling wine keeps its fizz for 1 day if sealed with a champagne stopper and kept in the fridge. For a party, pour a measure of cassis into each flute ahead of time and top the glasses up with the wine as guests arrive.
Is Kir Royale suitable for a special diet?
This recipe is vegan, vegetarian, dairy-free, gluten-free, low-carb, keto and no added sugar. Those labels are checked against the ingredient list, so a dish is only marked when nothing in it contradicts the claim.
How many calories are in Kir Royale?
About 133 kcal per serving, with 0 g protein, 10 g carbohydrate and 0 g fat. The figures are calculated from the ingredient list and are an estimate.
Kir Royale Nutrition
Per serving, calculated from the ingredient list. Treat these as an estimate — brands and cuts vary.
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Written and tested by Turab
One person, one kitchen — no test kitchen, no team. How every recipe on this site is checked before it goes up.
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