Kir Royale (Classic Cocktail Recipe)

The Kir Royale is a lovely French cocktail you can whip up in mere seconds. It’s a little fancy but so easy!

It only requires only two ingredients, plus fresh berries for a garnish. It’s light, bubbly, refreshing, fruity, and not overly sweet. 

It’s the perfect cocktail for sipping on a spring or summer day. It also makes a lovely addition to any brunch table. Thanks to its sophisticated appearance, it works well at formal events, too.

There’s never a bad time to mix up a batch of Kir Royales. It’s time to get mixing!

Kir Royale Ingredients 

As mentioned, the Kir Royale requires only two primary ingredients, plus its garnish. They are: 

• Crème de cassis or Chambord – While both are berry liqueurs, these two ingredients have very distinct flavor profiles. Your choice will influence the final taste of your Kir Royale. You’ll find more details about each in the following section. 

• Sparkling wine or Champagne – Again, you have a choice here, as well. Using Champagne provides a traditional, luxurious touch. However, any quality sparkling wine, such as Prosecco or Cava, also makes a good Kir Royale.

• Fresh raspberries – Fresh raspberries are a classic garnish for Kir Royale. Try a lemon twist, blackberries, or fresh mint if you want something different. (Or any combination of those options.) 

Chambord vs. Crème de Cassis 

Trying to decide between Chambord and crème de cassis? It can be a difficult choice. Both are delicious and have their strengths in this cocktail. 

Let’s break them both down a bit. 

Chambord

Chambord is a specific brand of French liqueur produced by the  Brown-Forman Corporation. It contains a balanced mix of raspberries, blackberries, and black currants. 

It also includes other ingredients that help give it a more complex flavor profile. These ingredients include: 

• Honey
• Cognac
• Moroccan citrus peel
• Madagascar vanilla

They add depth to Chambord’s rich, fruity flavor. Many people compare it to St. Germain, though the two have their differences. 

It’s typically more expensive than créme de cassis. Luckily, a small bottle goes a long way. 

Créme de Cassis

Unlike Chambord, créme de cassis is not a specific brand. It’s simply a type of berry liqueur made by multiple manufacturers. 

It’s made primarily from blackcurrants and lacks Chambord’s depth and complexity. It has a sweeter taste and a thicker, more syrup-like consistency. 

It has a darker color, too. Chambord gives the cocktail a peachy-rose color, while créme de cassis provides a pinkish-red hue. 

The Verdict

Either liqueur will work fine for your Kir Royale. Crème de cassis will provide more sweetness and a darker color. Chambord will result in a lighter drink but will give it a more nuanced flavor. 

Experiment with both to see which one you like best. 

How to Make a Kir Royale 

As you can imagine, a drink with only two ingredients is not difficult to make. Simply follow these steps: 

1. Pour the ingredients. First, pour the Chambord (or crème de cassis) into a chilled champagne flute. Then, pour the Champagne (or sparkling wine) gently on top. 

Be careful while pouring to preserve the bubbles. 

2. Add the berries. Drop the raspberries into the glass. Then, simply serve and enjoy! 

How to Serve Kir Royale 

The Kir Royale is an aperitif, so it’s common to serve it before dinner in a fancy flute. 

However, serving suggestions for cocktails aren’t set in stone. You can easily mix this drink up in a plastic cup if you want! 

Still, the traditional way to serve Kir Royales is in chilled champagne flutes. The flutes add a classic touch of elegance that looks lovely. 

Add fresh berries and other garnishes to make them look even nicer. You might even consider adding a dusting of edible glitter to the glass. 

Because of their sophisticated appearance, Kir Royales are perfect for special occasions. Serve them any time, but especially for events such as: 

• Weddings
• Anniversaries
• College graduations
• Valentine’s Day
• Mother’s Day
• Birthdays

They’re also perfect for fancy garden brunches or romantic dinners for two. There’s no “wrong time” to serve a Kir Royale.