Creme de cassis

Words by Simon Difford

Creme de cassis image 1

Crème de cassis is a blackcurrant liqueur which originated in France and is made by both infusion and maceration. The original recipe for a crème de cassis was thought to have been formulated by Auguste-Denis Lagoute in 1841 in the French Dijon region. Many of the best examples are still produced in this region which is now famous for cassis.

Some French brands are labelled "Double Crème de Cassis", this refers to the sugar content which is typically 400g per litre compared to the standard 200g per litre. Although the term 'double' is not officially recognised, the flavour of the double cassis tends to be much more intense hence less is needed to flavour a cocktail such as kir.

EU law states that crème de cassis must have a minimum of 400g of sugar per litre and a minimum alcohol strength of 15% alc./vol.. Unfortunately no minimum is set for the fruit content although the best brands will contain as much as 600g of blackcurrants per litre. An indication of the fruit content is by taste and a rich colour. Also try performing the following tests:

1. Turn a bottle of cassis upside-down and then back again. Note how the liqueur clings to the glass. An inferior crème de cassis will leave little or no colour on the glass, while a quality brand will cling to the glass for some time.

2. Add water to the cassis and see how dilution affects the colour of the liqueur. Lesser brands will turn pink in colour, while quality brands will retain their rich red colour.

3. Smell watered down samples of cassis - poor products will lose their aroma while better brands will retain it.

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Giffard Cassis Noir de Bourgogne image

Giffard Cassis Noir de Bourgogne

Category: Liqueurs / alc. cordials
Sub category: Fruit liqueurs
alc./vol: 20

Joseph Cartron Crème de Cassis de Bourgogne image

Joseph Cartron Crème de Cassis de Bourgogne

Category: Liqueurs / alc. cordials
Sub category: Fruit liqueurs
alc./vol: 19

Lejay Noir de Bourgogne Creme de Cassis image

Lejay Noir de Bourgogne Creme de Cassis

Category: Liqueurs / alc. cordials
Sub category: Fruit liqueurs
alc./vol: 20

Gabriel Boudier Crème de Cassis de Dijon image

Gabriel Boudier Crème de Cassis de Dijon

Category: Liqueurs / alc. cordials
Sub category: Fruit liqueurs
alc./vol: 20

Lejay Creme de Cassis (18%) image

Lejay Creme de Cassis (18%)

Category: Liqueurs / alc. cordials
Sub category: Fruit liqueurs
alc./vol: 18

Merlet Crème de Cassis image

Merlet Crème de Cassis

Category: Liqueurs / alc. cordials
Sub category: Fruit liqueurs
alc./vol: 20

Giffard Creme De Cassis Imperiale  image

Giffard Creme De Cassis Imperiale

Category: Liqueurs / alc. cordials
Sub category: Fruit liqueurs
alc./vol: 20

Edmond Briottet Crème de Cassis de Dijon image

Edmond Briottet Crème de Cassis de Dijon

Category: Liqueurs / alc. cordials
Sub category: Fruit liqueurs
alc./vol: 20

Lejay Crème de Cassis de Dijon (20%) image

Lejay Crème de Cassis de Dijon (20%)

Category: Liqueurs / alc. cordials
Sub category: Fruit liqueurs
alc./vol: 20

Lejay Creme de Cassis (16%) image

Lejay Creme de Cassis (16%)

Category: Liqueurs / alc. cordials
Sub category: Fruit liqueurs
alc./vol: 16

Jo Hilditch British Cassis image

Jo Hilditch British Cassis

Category: Liqueurs / alc. cordials
Sub category: Fruit liqueurs
alc./vol: 13

Foxdenton Estate Company Blackjack image

Foxdenton Estate Company Blackjack

Category: Liqueurs / alc. cordials
Sub category: Fruit liqueurs
alc./vol: 20

Giffard Créme de Cassis D'Anjou image

Giffard Créme de Cassis D'Anjou

Category: Liqueurs / alc. cordials
Sub category: Fruit liqueurs
alc./vol: 16

Bols Crème de Cassis image

Bols Crème de Cassis

Category: Liqueurs / alc. cordials
Sub category: Fruit liqueurs
alc./vol: 17

Bernard Loiseau Cassis Pain d'Epice image

Bernard Loiseau Cassis Pain d'Epice

Category: Liqueurs / alc. cordials
Sub category: Fruit liqueurs
alc./vol: 20

Leroux Jezynówka Blackberry Brandy image

Leroux Jezynówka Blackberry Brandy

Category: Liqueurs / alc. cordials
Sub category: Fruit liqueurs
alc./vol: 40

De Kuyper Crème de Cassis image

De Kuyper Crème de Cassis

Category: Liqueurs / alc. cordials
Sub category: Fruit liqueurs
alc./vol: 15

L'Héritier-Guyot Crème de Cassis de Dijon image

L'Héritier-Guyot Crème de Cassis de Dijon

Category: Liqueurs / alc. cordials
Sub category: Fruit liqueurs
alc./vol: 15

Vedrenne Supercassis image

Vedrenne Supercassis

Category: Liqueurs / alc. cordials
Sub category: Fruit liqueurs
alc./vol: 20

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