blackcurrant liqueur
ReferenceBurgundy, Dijon, France
Tasting Notes
Deep blackcurrant, musky/feline undertone (pipi de chat), dark berry jam. Deep purple-black color — the most intensely pigmented of all fruit liqueurs. Very sweet (400 g/L sugar minimum) but the fruit's natural tartness balances perception. The musky note is the signature — present in quality versions, absent in cheap ones. Finish is tart-sweet, gently tannic from berry skins. Smells like blackcurrant jam — concentrated, rich, unmistakable.
Brand Guide
Gabriel Boudier Supercassis ($22-28, Noir de Bourgogne berries). Standard: Lejay-Lagoute ($15-20, historic original). Standard: Cartron Cassis de Bourgogne ($18-24). Budget: Generic crème de cassis ($10-14). The Noir de Bourgogne berry variety is the quality marker — mass-market versions use lesser cultivars