A Kir Royale (pronounced keer roy-AL) is an old-fashioned drink
that is simple and elegant, with just a touch of sweetness. This is a versatile
drink that can be served with an appetizer, dessert or by itself, and can be prepared
for a crowd with a minimum of mess or fuss. The basic recipe can also be
tweeked in many delicious ways depending on what kind of flavored liqueurs you
happen to have at hand!
You will need:
·
4 chilled, tall champagne glasses (The skinny,
tall-stem design keeps the bubbles from escaping – less surface area – and the
tall stem keeps warm hands away from the cold drink.)
· Chambord Liqueur
(A French black raspberry liqueur that is also heavenly on vanilla ice
cream)
·
Ice-cold Prosecco sparkling wine (You can find a
quality bottle under $15. For safety reasons, allow the bottle to cool
completely before opening!)
·
One lemon twist for every drink (You can make
these up ahead of time by vertically slicing a lemon skin deep, and peeling off
strips. When you’re ready to serve the drink, twist the lemon rind to release
the lemon oil essence and slide it over the rim of the glass before dropping it
in.)
Directions:
Chill four glasses on a tray in a refrigerator, and wait
until the last minute, when the sparkling wine has been opened, before bring
them out. Pour a half shot of Chambord in each glass. Tilt the glass slightly,
and pour the Prosecco slowly, to avoid having bubbles
spill over and to keep the two liquids somewhat layered. Finish each drink with
a lemon twist, and toast to a new Spring with new beginnings!
Variations:
There are all kinds of twists on this original recipe. Any
fruity liqueur tastes great with Prosecco, and if you have the corresponding fresh
fruit as well, it can be floated in this see-through drink. For Chambord, use
raspberries or blackberries; for peach liqueur, use fresh peach slices, etc.
You can also adjust the liqueur amount to have a sweeter- or drier-tasting
sparkling wine.
CHEERS!
