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Celebrating the Holidays with a Kir Royale
The holidays are my favorite time of year—cozy sweaters, warm drinks, festive cookies, and twinkling Christmas lights. My husband and I have shifted toward intimate gatherings, often hosting close friends for a homemade meal paired with good drinks and laughter. One standout memory? A friend’s unforgettable prime rib dinner a few years ago.
Each year, I like to experiment with cocktails based on my mood and what’s in my liquor cabinet. This season, I rediscovered a forgotten bottle of crème de cassis, a blackcurrant liqueur. Though I’ve used it sparingly in the past, it inspired me to revisit a classic French cocktail: the Kir Royale.
This elegant two-ingredient drink combines dry sparkling wine with crème de cassis, resulting in a fizzy, slightly fruity sip with a beautiful ruby hue. It’s festive yet refined—perfect for holiday toasts. I’ll be serving it to guests as soon as they arrive on New Year’s Eve.
What Is Crème de Cassis?
Don’t let the name intimidate you. Crème de cassis is an affordable, versatile liqueur made from tart blackcurrants, popular in Europe. It’s dark in the bottle but adds a vibrant red tint to cocktails. A standard bottle costs around $20–$25 and lasts indefinitely.
Most famously, it’s used in the Kir (white wine + crème de cassis) and its sparkling counterpart, the Kir Royale. For the latter, opt for a dry, decent-quality sparkling wine—save the premium champagne for midnight!
How to Make a Kir Royale
Per serving:
- ½ oz crème de cassis
- 6–7 oz chilled dry sparkling wine
Instructions:
- Pour crème de cassis into a champagne flute.
- Top with sparkling wine and serve immediately.
For a crowd: Prep multiple glasses with crème de cassis first, then evenly divide the sparkling wine.
More Easy 2-Ingredient Holiday Cocktails
- Classic Kir: Swap sparkling wine for dry white wine (great for batching).
- Chambord Sparkler: Replace crème de cassis with raspberry Chambord.
- Mulled Wine: Combine red wine with pre-made mulling spices.
- Spiked Cider: Mix warm apple cider with bourbon or rum (serve non-alcoholic for kids).
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