Are you tempted to try Crème de Cassis? If you are, then you’re making a great choice. If you’re not too familiar with it, Crème de Cassis is a fruity liqueur that is primarily made from crushing up fresh, juicy blackcurrants and then mixing them into alcohol.
In this post, we are going to be taking a deep dive look into what Crème de Cassis is. Below, you will discover what this deliciously fruity liqueur used for, what it tastes like as well as what the texture of Crème de Cassis is.
So, without further ado, just keep on reading to discover more about this fruity and iconic liqueur!
What Is Crème de Cassis?
Before we get any further into this guide, we first think that it would be helpful to provide you with some more context on what Crème de Cassis actually is!
To cut a long story short, Crème de Cassis is a popular alcoholic drink that was first created in France (Burgundy, to be exact) in 1841.
When it was first created, Crème de Cassis went by the name of Ratafia and was immediately popular with Burgundy natives. Ever since then, Ratafia has gone on to be known as Crème de Cassis, and it is still popular as ever in France.
Fun fact: France produces just under 4.2 gallons of Crème de Cassis per year!
Even though Crème de Cassis does originally come from France, there are many other areas of the world that have been producing Crème de Cassis for nearly the same amount of time as Dijon Town, which is where Crème de Cassis originally came from.
These countries include England, Tasmania, Alberta, Anjou, and even Quebec. Crème de Cassis is a rich, sweet, and dark liquor that is primarily made from one ingredient: blackcurrants.
In the modern day, Crème de Cassis is an immensely popular ingredient in a variety of alcoholic beverages, but mainly in those paired with food dishes such as digestifs and aperitifs.
Crème de Cassis is also used in a variety of drinking cocktails, as well, like the popular, fruity cocktail Kir.
What Does Crème de Cassis Taste Like?
Now that you have a better idea of what Crème de Cassis is, as well as how it came to be, we’re sure that you’ll now be interested in learning more about what it tastes like.
As you might have already guessed by now, Crème de Cassis has a fruity, alcoholic flavor simply due to the fact that it is made from a blend of crushed blackcurrants and alcohol.
But, despite the fact that Crème de Cassis features a simple composition of just two main ingredients, it is important to note that there are a variety of factors that can influence the overall flavor profile of Crème de Cassis.
Generally speaking, when drunk on its own Crème de Cassis has a very tart, sweet flavor with a slight earthiness thanks to the blend of blackcurrant and alcohol.
However, given the fact that Crème de Cassis is almost always mixed with something, the flavor can quite often taste very different from if it were to be drunk by itself.
To give you an idea of what Crème de Cassis is commonly mixed with, some of the most popular cocktails that Crème de Cassis is added to include the Arnaud Martini, the El Diablo, the Kir Royale, and even the Moscow Mule.
Moreso, in recent years, Crème de Cassis has been used to elevate a variety of modern cocktails like the Cosmopolitan and even the Martini.
Besides what cocktail or drink it has been mixed into, it is also important to note that there are many different types of Crème de Cassis available to purchase on the market.
Due to this, the flavor profile, quality, and texture can greatly vary depending on how it has been made, as well as what berries have been used to create it.
The Alcohol By Level (ABV) Level Of Crème de Cassis
Besides being known for being a sweet and fruity liqueur, it’s important to remember that Crème de Cassis is an alcoholic beverage. That being said, you should make sure that you are aware of its ABV, which is an abbreviation for the term alcohol by level.
When it comes to Crème de Cassis, the alcohol by volume level is just 15%, which is considered to be very low and similar in ABV content to other types of sweet liqueurs that are made with fruit.
Thanks to this, it means that Crème de Cassis can be enjoyed in a variety of ways (not just when being combined with other ingredients) without being overpowering or too high in alcoholic content.
What Cocktails Include Crème de Cassis?
As we have already mentioned, Crème de Cassis can be enjoyed on its own, but it is most commonly enjoyed as part of a cocktail. Here are some of the most popular cocktails you can find Crème de Cassis featured in:
- Kir Royale: This is probably the most popular cocktail that contains Crème de Cassis. This French cocktail blends Crème de Cassis with champagne for a bubbly yet sweet tasting experience enjoyed as an indulgent treat.
- El Diablo: Another cocktail that features Crème de Cassis is El Diablo. This cocktail is vibrant and packs a punch thanks to containing Crème de Cassis, ginger beer, lime, and tequila.
- French Martini: The classic French Martini is another cocktail that contains Crème de Cassis. This refreshing cocktail has a balanced flavor profile with a touch of fruitiness thanks to its inclusion of vodka, Crème de Cassis, and pineapple juice. This cocktail is often enjoyed on a hot day!
Despite the fact that Crème de Cassis is most commonly enjoyed in the cocktails that we have listed above, Crème de Cassis can also be drunk on its own as either an aperitif to prepare the palette prior to eating, or as a digestif after eating a meal to cleanse the palette.
The Bottom Line
All in all? Crème de Cassis is an iconic drink that is rich in history and beloved for its simplistic yet complex flavor that offers the perfect balance of bitterness and tartness.
Now that you have read through this guide, we hope that you now have a much better understanding of what Crème de Cassis is, as well as what its flavor profile and texture are. Bye for now!
