Vodka is a distilled drink that is made of ethanol and water. It’s concocted by distilling grains or...
History of the Kir Royale Cocktail
Jump to
If there is a classier, more elegant classic cocktail on offer, then we are yet to discover it. The Kir Royale is the ultimate champagne cocktail – simple, sleek and sophisticated. The best thing about it is that it is incredibly easy to replicate at home or in the bar, making it even more popular amongst contemporary cocktail drinkers. Ideal for those that like the idea of champagne, but find it slightly too dry, the Kir Royale is sweet, fizzy and incredibly moreish. Who knew it had such an amazing history behind it?
Who Created the Kir Royale?
The original cocktail was created by a Catholic priest in Dijon, France. His name
was Canon Felix Kir and he actually made two cocktails at the same time. The
first was the Kir, a delicious combination of white wine and Lejay Cassis. The
more sophisticated followed shortly afterwards, upgraded to include champagne
rather than wine.
His cocktail creations were part of his resistance to the Nazi invasion that was happening at the time. Kir was considered to be quite a hero in his country, helping to rescue many prisoners of war from a local concentration camp while other residents fled the town. The Nazi’s confiscated all the red wine in the area, so, in an act of defiance, Kir invented his cocktail using whatever white wine he could get hold of.
Kir was awarded the honour of Mayor of Dijon from 1945 until he died in 1968 and was included in the country’s Legion d’Honneur as recognition of his efforts. He has an important place in both the history of World War Two and the history of cocktail drinking.
So, when you drink a Kir or Kir Royale cocktail, you can sip in the knowledge that you are consuming a drink that tastes great and was made with the intention of sticking two fingers up at the tyrannous Nazi invasion!
Pardon the interruption
Did you know that you can become a member for free, taking your cocktail making skills up to level 11. You can save your My Bar ingredients, make tasting notes, have personalised Tried and Want to try lists and more.
Variations of the Cocktail
The finest Kir Royale will still include the traditional Lejay Cassis in many bars. Some
places substitute it with another brand of Crème de Cassis, while cheekier
establishments will use blackcurrant juice. This is fine for a student wanting
a taste of luxury, but not for a cocktail connoisseur looking for an elegant
drink.
More adventurous variations include the Cidre Royal, which substitutes cider for the white wine, and the Hibiscus Royal which uses peach and raspberry liqueur instead of blackcurrant. If you are looking for a virgin version, replace the white wine with apple juice.
More to explore
One of the best things about the summer is the long, lazy days where the sun shines lateuntil the ev...
With most classic cocktails, it is possible to track down the origins of the recipe. Bartenders love...
Bartender's top tip
Related posts
Who Invented the Sidecar Cocktail?
An irresistible combination of cognac, triple sec, and lemon juice, the Sidecar has been a classic cocktail at the top of every good mixologist’s repertoire since the end of the First World War. So wh... read more
The History of the Pina Colada
"If you like Pina Colada, and getting caught in the rain." This classic cocktail has a reputation that proceeds itself, synonymous with beach holidays, tacky tourist resorts and that cheesy song! It m... read more
A Brief Explanation of Prohibition (And Why It Was So Good for the Cocktail World!)
When you think of the 1920s, you probably have visions of men in suits, and girls in flapper dresses with long gloves, long necklaces, long cigarettes, and lots of feathers! The decade is iconic for l... read more
Subscribe to our Newsletter
Get tips straight into your inbox.
Upgrade your mixology
Become a member for free taking your cocktail making skills up to level 11.
- Save your bar forever
- Access to our Cocktail Creator, allowing you to create your own wonderful concoctions.
- Save cocktails to personalised 'Tried' and 'Want to try' lists
- Create and record tasting notes on cocktails
- Create lists of cocktails to share with friends and family
- A pesonalised MyBar URL, allowing you to share everything you can make with friends
- And much more ... (what to buy next, measurement choices, search personalisation...)
Olympic Cocktails and More
Discover a host of cocktails inspired by the Paris 2024 Olympics, meet the bartenders behind the cocktails and win yourself some juicy Amazon vouchers.
Our Olympic Cocktail Hub