Kir Royale

The Kir Royale comes from the Kir, the white wine and crème de cassis mix known in Burgundy as blanc-cassis. According to the tradition reported by Difford's Guide, a waiter named Faivre first combined them in 1904 at Café George in Dijon. The name came later: Canon Félix Kir, mayor of Dijon from 1945 until his death in 1968, served the drink at official receptions and town-twinning events until it took his name. In 1951 Kir granted the liqueur house Lejay-Lagoute the use of his name by letter, and the company registered the trademark. Swapping white wine for Champagne created the 'royale' version; we found no documented date for its birth.