Creme de 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.