Dijon, France

Kir

Also known as Blanc-Cassis, Kir Blanc

A simple, wine-based aperitif made by splashing crème de cassis into a glass of chilled white wine.

blackcurrantsweetwinefruitylightaperitiflow-alcoholsimple

ABV

Difficulty

Overview

What this drink is like

The first sip is crisp and fruity, with the blackcurrant liqueur adding a jammy sweetness that coats the tongue. As it sits, the wine's acidity cuts through the richness, keeping it from getting cloying. The finish is short and clean, leaving a faint dark berry aftertaste.

Who will like it

This is for people who like light, fruity drinks and prefer wine over stiff spirits but want something a little sweeter than a dry glass of white.

When to drink

Drink this before a meal to get your appetite going, or pour one at a casual brunch.

Ordering tip

Ask for it by name at any bar with white wine and crème de cassis; if you want it less sweet, tell the bartender to go easy on the cassis.

Ice: NoneTemp: ColdCost: $2–$5Glass: WineBatch-friendlyHome bar friendly

Flavor

Taste profile

This is a straightforward, sweet, and fruity sipper. The blackcurrant hits you right away with a jammy, dark berry flavor, while the white wine underneath keeps it from turning into syrup by adding a crisp, tart edge. It's light and easy to drink, with nothing hiding in the background. You won't find deep layers here, just a pleasant, cold glass of sweetened wine that goes down fast.

Finish: The finish is short and a little tart, with the wine's acidity lingering just enough to wipe the sweetness off your tongue.

Primary tastes

sweetfruity

Secondary

earthy

Aroma

blackcurrantgrapecitrus

Bitternesslow bitterness
The cassis brings a faint earthy edge, but there's no real bitterness here.
Sweetnessfairly sweet
The blackcurrant liqueur makes this a noticeably sweet drink, though the dry wine tries to hold it back.
Sournessmild acidity
The white wine provides a crisp tartness that balances the syrupy liqueur.
Strengthlow strength
This is a light drink, sitting at standard wine ABV, so it won't knock you down.
Refreshingquite refreshing
Served cold and wine-based, it goes down easy and hits the spot on a warm day.
Creaminesslight body
The cassis adds a bit of syrupy weight, but the overall mouthfeel is thin and crisp.
Complexitylow complexity
With only two ingredients, what you taste is exactly what you get—wine and berry.

Recipe

Make it at home

Built · Wine · equal parts on White Wine. A crisp, dry white like a Chablis or Sauvignon Blanc works best

Before you start

Make sure your white wine is well chilled before you start, and keep the wine glass in the freezer for a few minutes if you like it extra cold.

Ingredients

White WineBase SpiritDry, acidic white wine120ml
Crème de CassisLiqueurBlackcurrant liqueur15ml

Tools

Wine Glass · Serving
Holds the drink and keeps it cold while you sip
At home: Any stemmed glass or small tumbler
Bar Spoon · Mixing
Stirs the cassis and wine together gently
At home: Any long spoon or chopstick
Jigger · Measuring
Measures the crème de cassis so the drink doesn't get too sweet
At home: A shot glass or measuring spoon

Steps

1
Take your chilled wine glass and pour in 15ml of crème de cassis. The thick syrup will pool at the bottom of the glass.
!Pouring the wine in first makes it harder to get the cassis fully mixed later.
2
Pour 120ml of chilled dry white wine into the glass, pouring it gently down the side so it doesn't splash. You'll see the dark cassis start to swirl up into the pale wine.
!Pouring too fast makes a mess and splashes wine out of the glass.
3
Take your bar spoon and give the drink a gentle stir for about five seconds to blend the cassis into the wine. You'll know it's done when the drink is a uniform pale pink and you don't see dark syrup sitting at the bottom.
~5s
!Stirring too vigorously knocks the bubbles out if you're using a sparkling wine later.

Serve

Serve it right away in the wine glass while it's still cold. No ice goes in the glass, so drink it before it warms up.

Variations

Ingredient substitutions

Each row shows what you can swap in place of an original ingredient, and how the drink changes.

Swap options for Crème de Cassis

Crème de CassisCrème de Mûre
Match
Specialty availability
Crème de Cassis → Crème de Mûre: Swaps blackcurrant for blackberry, making the drink slightly tarter and less syrupy.
Crème de CassisChambord
Match
Common availability
Crème de Cassis → Chambord: Adds a raspberry flavor with a hint of vanilla, making the drink brighter and slightly less earthy.

Swap options for White Wine

White WineChampagne
Match
Common availability
White Wine → Champagne: Turns it into a Kir Royale, adding bubbles and a toastier, drier profile.
White WineRed Wine
Match
Common availability
White Wine → Red Wine: Turns it into a Cardinal, making the drink heavier, tannic, and deeper in color.

Similar cocktails

Cousin drinks that share DNA with this one — each profile stands on its own.

Similar cocktail

Kir Royale

Kir Royale uses sparkling wine instead of still white wine.

Match

The Kir Royale feels more celebratory and effervescent, while the still Kir is quieter and easier to sip slowly.

In common: Wine-based, Built in glass, Fruit liqueur sweetener

Ingredients

Both share

Crème de Cassis

Only in Kir

White Wine

Only in Kir Royale

Champagne

Swapping still white wine for Champagne changes the base entirely, adding carbonation and a yeasty note that the regular Kir lacks.

Flavor

Shared flavors

Sweet blackcurrant backbone, Low ABV, Fruity aroma

How Kir Royale differs

Bubbly texture, Toastier finish, Crisper mouthfeel

View recipe & details →

Similar cocktail

Cardinal

The Cardinal uses red wine instead of white wine.

Match

The Cardinal is a weightier, more serious sip than the Kir, with the red wine's tannins clashing a bit against the sweet cassis.

In common: Wine-based, Built in glass, Two-ingredient aperitif

Ingredients

Both share

Crème de Cassis

Only in Kir

White Wine

Only in Cardinal

Red Wine

Replacing the crisp white wine with red wine shifts the drink from light and bright to heavy and tannic.

Flavor

Shared flavors

Blackcurrant sweetness, Grape-forward base, Simple two-part structure

How Cardinal differs

Heavier body, Tannic grip, Darker fruit profile

View recipe & details →

History

Origin

The drink is named after Félix Kir, a mayor of Dijon who served it to visiting delegations in the 1940s to promote local crème de cassis. Before it took his name, the combination of white wine and cassis was simply known as a blanc-cassis and was already a popular local aperitif in Burgundy.

Creator: Félix Kir
Era: 1940s
IBA: Contemporary Classics
Data version: IBA contemporary classics spec
Confidence

The IBA lists this under contemporary classics with the standard 1:10 cassis-to-wine ratio.

Practical

Tips & pitfalls

What works at home and what to skip when making this drink.

Tips

Worth knowing before you pour

Use a bone-dry white wine to balance the sweet cassis.
Chill the wine glass beforehand to keep the drink colder longer.
Add the cassis first so it mixes easier with the wine.
Taste as you pour and adjust the cassis to your liking.

Avoid

Common mistakes

Don't use a sweet white wine or the drink becomes syrup.
Don't skip the stir or the cassis sits at the bottom.
Don't use cheap cassis with artificial flavor.