Kir
White wine and crème de cassis are the stars in this two-ingredient French aperitif.

By SAVEUR Editors


Updated on July 14, 2025

This elegant aperitif is named for Canon Félix Kir, a hero of the French resistance during World War II and, later, mayor of Dijon, France. The cocktail is traditionally made with two ingredients from the Burgundy region: crème de cassis, a black currant liqueur, and aligoté, a dry white wine. To make a kir royale, substitute champagne for the wine.

Featured in the November 1998 issue.

  • Makes

    1 cocktail

  • Time

    5 minutes

Photo: Murray Hall • Food Styling: Camille Becerra

Ingredients

  • 2 Tbsp. crème de cassis
  • 6 oz. chilled dry white wine, preferably aligoté, bourgogne blanc, or pouilly-fuissé

Instructions

Step 1

Into a wine glass, pour the crème de cassis and wine. Serve immediately.
  1. Into a wine glass, pour the crème de cassis and wine. Serve immediately.
Drinks

Kir

White wine and crème de cassis are the stars in this two-ingredient French aperitif.

  • Makes

    1 cocktail

  • Time

    5 minutes

Kir
PHOTO: MURRAY HALL • FOOD STYLING: CAMILLE BECERRA

By SAVEUR Editors


Updated on July 14, 2025

This elegant aperitif is named for Canon Félix Kir, a hero of the French resistance during World War II and, later, mayor of Dijon, France. The cocktail is traditionally made with two ingredients from the Burgundy region: crème de cassis, a black currant liqueur, and aligoté, a dry white wine. To make a kir royale, substitute champagne for the wine.

Featured in the November 1998 issue.

Ingredients

  • 2 Tbsp. crème de cassis
  • 6 oz. chilled dry white wine, preferably aligoté, bourgogne blanc, or pouilly-fuissé

Instructions

Step 1

Into a wine glass, pour the crème de cassis and wine. Serve immediately.
  1. Into a wine glass, pour the crème de cassis and wine. Serve immediately.

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