Kir Royale

The Kir Royale is a French sparkling aperitif — a measure of crème de cassis, the dark Burgundian blackcurrant liqueur, poured into a flute and topped with chilled Champagne. It is the "royal" version of the plain Kir, which uses still white wine instead of the sparkling, and the two together make one of the simplest and most elegant aperitifs in the French repertoire. The liqueur blushes the wine a pale pink and lends it a sweet, ripe-blackcurrant fruitiness, while the Champagne keeps the drink dry, brisk and lively with bubbles. It is built straight in the glass, with no shaking or stirring, and served before a meal to open the appetite.