Quel horreur! Francophile that I am, the Bubbly Girl has been so busy today that she nearly forgot the significance of July 14. I might have forgotten completely if not for this timely wine lifestyle email called The Daily Sip from Bottlenotes. It’s Bastille Day, the day when French people celebrate independence. I was just in France
(Photo by Maria C. Hunt)
in May for a champagne story in Champagne and stayed near the Bastille.
Of course, I also made sure to have a Kir Royale, a blend of the black currant liqueur creme de cassis and champagne, which is one of my favorite classic champagne cocktails. I cannot believe I paid 12 euro for this teensy tiny Kir Royale at a cafe near the Louvre Museum. I savored every drop.
The drink has story behind it too; as I detail in The Bubbly Bar, my champagne and sparkling wine cocktail book that’s being released on Aug. 25.
It was named after Felix Kir, the mayor of Dijon, France who played an important role in the French Resistance. Actually there are two wine cocktails named after Felix. The Kir pairs dry white wine with crème de cassis. But add Champagne, and it becomes a Royale. To make your own Kir Royale, add a tablespoon of crème de cassis to a glass of cold brut champagne or sparkling wine. Twist a strip of lemon peel over the glass — this is important! — and drop it in.
Santé!
