Burgundy's Famous "Kir"
This popular French cocktail is drunk as an aperitif before a meal and was named after Cannon Félix Kir, priest and hero of the French resistance during World War II, and mayor of Dijon from 1945 to 1968.
He was very fond of the local white wine mixed with Creme de Cassis (blackcurrant liquor). This fondness has been variously attributed to his desire to promote local products, the fact that local wine was often somewhat acidic, so the sweetness of the liquor pleasantly offset this or perhaps just because he liked to drink.
Whatever the reason, it became the official aperitif at town hall receptions and gained increasing fame. Blackcurrants have about seven times as much vitamin C as oranges and the drink certainly seemed to agree with Canon Kir, as he lived to over ninety.
Besides the basic Kir, a number of variations exist:
