On this episode of Master Your Glass, we cover the Kir and the Kir Royale The Kir originated in Burgundy, France. It is named after the priest Canon Félix Kir, who was a French hero during World War 2, and the Mayor of the Burgundian town Dijon from 1945 to 1968. History tells us that he created the drink by mixing the local white wine made from the Aligoté grape a neutral, bone dry, acidic, wine with the local blackcurrant liqueur Crème de Cassis. Crème de Cassis is a deeply colored, viscous, sweet liqueur, which is made by macerating crushed blackcurrants in eau-de-vie.

Kir Royale, differs from Kir in that it is made using Champagne, rather than the Aligoté white wine. Hence it is more expensive to make and typically reserved for celebrations and special occasions.