what is kir

Kir is a French cocktail made with crème de cassis (blackcurrant liqueur) topped up with white wine). It is usually drunk as an apéritif before a meal or snack). The cocktail originated in Burgundy, France, and was named after Félix Kir, a hero of the French resistance during World War II and the mayor of the French town Dijon from 1945 to 1968. The traditional recipe calls for Aligoté, a specific dry white wine from Burgundy, but any dry white wine can be used. The Kir Royale is a variation of the Kir that uses Champagne or another sparkling wine instead of white wine. Other variations include the Kir Breton, which replaces the white wine with cider, and the Kir Normand, which uses Normandy cider instead of wine. The cocktail is easy to make by adding the crème de cassis to the bottom of a wine glass or Champagne flute and topping it off with white wine or Champagne.