🍷 Kir royal
Also known as: kir royale, Champagne kir
A Kir in which the white wine is replaced by Champagne.
Kir royal is a kir in which the white wine is replaced by Champagne. The rest is the same: a little blackcurrant liqueur, crème de cassis, goes into a glass and is topped up with sparkling wine. The result is a light, pinkish drink with bubbles.
The cocktail comes from France, from Burgundy, like ordinary kir. The name kir is linked to Félix Kir, mayor of Dijon. The word royal was added to mark a more festive version: the sparkling wine gives the drink a smart look.
Other sparkling wines are often used instead of Champagne. Crémant or another traditional-method sparkling wine will do, and many people simply reach for the fizz they have on hand. The drink is then simpler, but the idea stays the same.
Kir royal is served chilled, before a meal, as an aperitif. It belongs to wine cocktails and stands next to plain kir. As with any alcohol, it should be drunk in moderation.
How it connects to Wine
🍷 Kir royal → made in → 🗺️ French wine → kind of → 🗺️ Wines of Europe → kind of → 🍷 Wine
Links
- What is used
- 🍇 Crème de… liqueur, 🥃 Crème de cassis
- Images and sayings
- 🥃 Cassis de Bourgogne, 🥃 Cassis de Dijon
- Part of
- 🍷 Kir
- Where it is made
- 🗺️ French wine
- Similar and different
- 🍷 Kir, 🍷 Champagne
Frequently asked questions
Is kir royal still kir royal if I use prosecco instead of Champagne?
The classic uses Champagne, but other sparkling wines are common, such as crémant or another traditional-method sparkling wine. The drink is simpler, the idea the same.
How does a kir differ from a kir royal in the glass?
Kir uses white wine; kir royal replaces it with Champagne. A little crème de cassis goes in the glass and the sparkling wine tops it up, giving a light, pinkish fizz.
Is it true that kir royal is a dessert cocktail?
No. It is served chilled before a meal, as an aperitif.
Recipes
What to read next
- 🗺️ French wine — The country's wine and winemaking: regions, grapes and appellations.
- 🍇 Crème de… liqueur — Crème de… (EU category 34): a liqueur with at least 250 g/l of sugar and from 15% ABV, no milk products; crème de cassis, base of the kir, has over 400 g/l.
- 🥃 Cassis de Bourgogne — A French GI for crème de cassis, the blackcurrant liqueur behind the kir: berries grown and macerated in eastern Burgundy, at least 450 g/l sugar, 15–25% ABV, Noir de Bourgogne and Royal de Naples.
- 🥃 Cassis de Dijon — A French GI for crème de cassis since 1989, famous from the EU "Cassis de Dijon" case: maceration and production only in Dijon, berries from anywhere; at least 400 g/l sugar, 15% ABV or more.
Similar
🍷 Kir · 🍷 Grower Champagne · 🍷 Mousseux · 🍷 Non-vintage Champagne · 🍷 Ratafia de Champagne · 🍷 Blended rosé
⚠️ Wine contains alcohol: adults only, drink in moderation. Wine usually contains sulphites; egg white or milk proteins are sometimes used for fining — important for allergies and for vegans.