Crème de cassis is a sweet, dark redliqueur made from blackcurrants. Several cocktails are made with crème de cassis, including the very popular wine cocktail, kir. It may also be served as an after-dinner liqueur or as a.
Ingredients
It is made from blackcurrants that are crushed and soaked in alcohol, with sugar subsequently added.
Origin and production
The modern version of the beverage first appeared in 1841, when it displaced "ratafia de cassis", which had been produced in prior centuries. While crème de cassis is a specialty of Burgundy, it is also made in Anjou, England, Luxembourg, Alberta, Quebec and Tasmania. The quality of crème de cassis depends upon the variety of fruit used, the content of the berries, and the production process. If it is labelled "Crème de Cassis de Dijon", one is guaranteed berries from the commune of Dijon. In 2015, the new protected geographical indication “Crème de Cassis de Bourgogne” was approved. Promoted by a syndicate of fruit producers and liqueurs companies from Burgundy, this "Crème de Cassis de Bourgogne" guarantees the Burgundian origin and the minimum quantity of berries used in its production, essentially the variety Noir de Bourgogne.
Sales
Nearly 16 million litres of crème de cassis are produced annually in France. It is consumed mostly in France but is also exported.
In the movie At War with the Army, while in drag to sneak off base, Jerry Lewis orders this at the bar, to the surprise of the bartender. It is a favourite drink of the fictional detectiveHercule Poirot. The Japaneserock band Learners does a song called "Cassis Oolong", which is a drink combining creme de cassis and oolong tea. In season 2 episode 20 of The Simpsons, "The War of the Simpsons", Ned Flanders uses a "dab-er-oo" of Crème de cassis in his signature cocktail "Flanders Planter's Punch" along with three shots of rum and a jigger of bourbon. In season 9 episode 22 of Cheers, fictitious former Yankees player Dutch Kincaid enters the bar looking for Sam Malone and asks for a "yellow-bellied runny-nosed has-been"; to which Woody Boyd responds, "I can't make one of those, I'm out of Cassis." In season 4 episode 24 of Northern Exposure, Ron tells a despondent Maurice, "Before you know it, we're as good as new and we're back out there hitting the bars." As Maurice shoots a contemptuous look at him, Erick says, "Speaking of which, let's head into town. I could use a Cassis."
