Cassis: The Blackcurrant Liqueur

Creme de Cassis is a traditional French liqueur made with black currants. Some people will say it should only be made with black currants, but there's many fruit you can make it with if you don't like the astringency of the fruit. Besides currants, black raspberries make a wonderful homemade cassis.

If you don't grow black currant bushes, you can buy black currants from a farmers market. If they're out of season, its fine to use frozen black currants.

How to make it

Take your fruit fruit and put it in a jar with cane sugar and brandy. Some people use vodka but it isn't as good. Sticklers will say it should be about 15% alcohol by volume, but I'd encourage you to make it however strong you like.

I never add spices like cinnamon which are too strong and can ruin the delicate flavor, although a vanilla pod can be nice. Sometimes I add a few leaves of Galium triflorum instead of vanilla.

How to use

Black currant liqueur is the key ingredient in Kir Royale: a champagne cocktail made with cassis. Here's a few other ideas too.

• Drizzled over vanilla ice cream.
• As an appertif all by itself.
• Used in baking, and sauces for duck and game.

Print Recipe

5 from 2 votes

Black Cap Raspberry Cassis

Homemade cassis flavored with black cap raspberries and a touch of maple syrup.

Prep Time5 minutes mins

Maceration90 days d

Course: Drinks

Cuisine: French

Keyword: Black cap raspberry, Black Currants

Servings: 20 Servings

Calories: 200kcal

Author: Alan Bergo

Cost: 20

Equipment

• 1 two quart mason jar or similar
• 1 Fine Strainer

Ingredients

• 1.5 lbs black currants or other fruit I like black cap raspberries
• 750 ML bottle of brandy not too cheap, not too expensive*
• ½ cup sugar or maple syrup or to taste

Instructions

• Pick the fruit or currants over for debris or any foreign particles.
• Add the currants or other fruit to a glass container such as a mason jar, add the maple or sugar and brandy and stir well until dissolved. Store for at least 30 days and up to six months.
• When you're pleased with the flavor, strain without pressing on the berries, then bottle the liquor. Discard the fruit.

Notes

How to Make Kir Royale

Pour ½ oz - 1 oz  cassis into a champagne flute, then add 5 oz champagne or prosecco in, tilting the glass at a (roughly) 45 degree angle.

Nutrition

Serving: 2oz | Calories: 200kcal | Carbohydrates: 22g | Protein: 8g | Saturated Fat: 0.1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.4g | Sodium: 29mg | Potassium: 150mg | Sugar: 25g | Vitamin A: 56IU | Vitamin C: 57mg | Calcium: 55mg | Iron: 5mg