The Perfect Party Cocktail That Combines Crème De Cassis And Wine
Make no mistake; wine cocktails are not wine coolers. Masterfully poured into a New York Sour or French 75, the fermented grape juice is a star player in a whole host of vino-forward cocktails. Although mixed drinks were once defined as a blend of distilled liquor, sugar, and bitters, Eater explains that any number of juices, liqueurs, and syrups can now be stirred and shaken into the boozy tipples. While glorious in its own regard, wine is one of the alcoholic add-ins that can make an excellent base for a party cocktail — that is, when it's mixed with a dash of crème de cassis.
Moving beyond carbonated spritzers and fruit-laden sangrias, wine is a handy ingredient for the savvy mixologist. Adding layers of complexity, Wine Enthusiast reports that white wines can provide acidity in place of citrus, whereas late-harvest wine can amp up floral and fruity notes. Red wines can also add color in addition to flavor, and bottles of bubbly can create texture through their evanescence. What's more, the flavors in a wine can be amplified with the right liqueur.
A French liqueur, Difford's Guide shares that blackcurrant-based crème de cassis is rich and syrupy with a nearly opaque maroon hue. Incredibly aromatic, the cordial also has a bittersweet quality, making it great in an apéritif made with, you guessed it — wine.
The Kir is a two-ingredient masterpiece
Cocktails can make a party feel all the more celebratory. While concocting the perfect party potion may seem difficult, it can actually be quite easy. All you need is a bottle of sparkling wine and a bottle of crème de cassis – that's right, we're talking about crafting a Kir. A low-alcohol tipple, Kir is bound to be a crowd-pleaser.
With a history shrouded in mystery, many affirm that the drink was named after the mayor of Dijon, Félix Kir. According to Wine Enthusiast, Kir is thought to have created the cocktail following the confiscation of Burgundy's red wine during World War II. Made with the local dry white wine (Aligoté) and a dash of blackcurrant liqueur, the stirred cocktail mimicked the hue of a Burgundian red.
A bubbly alternative, it wasn't long until the Kir Royale became the drink of choice. Rather than use dry wine, Punch explains that the Royale is a fruity and fizzy cocktail that's made by adding ¼ of an ounce of crème de cassis to a flute glass and filling it carefully with champagne. That said, there's no shortage of variations on the Kir – Difford's Guide shares that different liqueurs and base wines can be swapped to transform the cocktail any way that you prefer!