[Drink of the Day] Cardinal (Wine Cocktail)

Good evening, everyone♪
Thank you for your hard work today.

Today's drink is...

Cardinal
(Wine cocktail)

What is a Cardinal?

It is a famous wine cocktail born as an arrangement of the
Kir cocktail, which is a well-known white wine-based drink.

General preparation method

《Ingredients》
・Red wine: 4/5 (approx. 120ml)
・Cassis liqueur: 1/5 (approx. 30ml)

《Steps》
1. Prepare a wine glass or a tumbler glass filled with ice.
2. Pour the cassis liqueur into the glass first.
3. Gently pour in the well-chilled red wine. 4. Using a stirrer or spoon, gently mix from the bottom of the glass only once or twice.
(Mixing too much will cause the wine's aroma to dissipate.)

《POINT》
For red wine, we recommend a
light-bodied wine with low tannins or a
medium-bodied wine that harmonizes well with the sweetness of cassis.Also, if you are making it in a wine glass without ice, the most important point to keep the flavor from becoming diluted is to
keep both the wine and the liqueur thoroughly chilled in the refrigerator

.

Tasting it...

Upon the first sip, the gorgeous, sweet and sour aroma of cassis tickles the nasal cavity, followed by the elegant depth of the red wine spreading out.
This depth, which is "not just sweet," is the charm of the Cardinal.
Because the sweetness of the cassis exquisitely enhances the body of the red wine, it lacks the thinness of juice and allows you to enjoy a solid "satisfaction as an alcoholic beverage."

Even for those who dislike thetannins (astringency) or sharp acidity characteristic of red wine, the rich depth and sugar content of the cassis liqueur gently envelop them, allowing you to enjoy it like a

dessert

. The beauty of the deep ruby red poured into the glass is also elegant and will naturally lift the drinker's mood.On the other hand, while the alcohol content is well-hidden by the sweetness of the cassis, the ABV is around 13-15%, which is higher than beer or sours.If you drink it down easily because of its drinkability, it is not uncommon for the alcohol to suddenly hit you later.Precisely because there is a "trap" hidden in its ease of drinking, it is a cocktail that requires an adult's way of enjoying it—sipping it slowly over time.

Recommended way to drink

In any case, "thoroughly chilling the ingredients and the glass" is strongly recommended among bartenders and home-drinking enthusiasts.
Because red wine and cassis liqueur have significantly different specific gravities and concentrations, mixing them at room temperature causes a phenomenon called "heat of dilution," which makes the entire cocktail lukewarm and the flavor dull.
By using thoroughly chilled red wine and, if possible, chilling the glass and liqueur as well, or using a style where you float a small amount of ice and stir lightly, you can maintain a crisp, well-defined flavor until the end.
Arrangements to adjust the flavor balance are also popular.
Basically, it is 4 parts red wine to 1 part cassis, but for those who "don't like it too sweet," reducing the cassis to a ratio of about 9:1, or adding a small amount of sparkling water to make it a soda-up, is also supported for adding a refreshing crispness.

For the red wine used, we recommend a

light-bodied Beaujolais with mild tannins so it doesn't clash with the strong sweetness of the cassis, or a crisp, drymedium-bodied

wine.Recommended pairings are menus that lean into the "berry-like flavor" and "rich sweetness" of cassis for the best compatibility.* Roast duck (with berry sauce): The juicy fat of the duck meat and the sweet and sourness of the cassis harmonize perfectly.* Roast beef:

Since it is a red wine-based cocktail, it brings out the umami of the meat well.
* Blue cheese or Camembert:
The saltiness and distinct character of the cheese combine with the sweetness of the Cardinal to create a supreme marriage.

* Chocolate brownie or berry tart:
Because the cocktail itself has a richness like a dessert, it is a perfect match for rich sweets.

Origin of the name

The name "Cardinal" comes from the "vivid deep red cape (vestment)" worn by a

Cardinal
—a high-ranking official in the Christian Catholic Church hierarchy second only to the Pope—during official ceremonies.The deep, beautiful ruby red color of the red wine and cassis mixed together in the glass is exactly what reminds one of thatnoble deep red

, which is why this name was given.

History of its birth

1. Birth of the predecessor "Kir"
In the 1940s, Félix Kir, who served as mayor of Dijon in the Burgundy region of France, devised a cocktail combining the local specialty, dry white wine (Aligoté), and cassis liqueur.
This became a huge hit and came to be called "

Kir

" after his name.

2. Evolution and establishment as "Red Wine"
As this Kir spread throughout the world, an arrangement was born from the natural idea, "If it's made with white wine, why not try making it with red wine, which is also wine?"In other words, the Cardinal was born from the further evolution of the Kir, which was created to boost the local industry of Burgundy, France, in the home of wine.

Cocktail word: "Gentle Lie"

It is said that this word is associated with it because the strong sweetness of the cassis skillfully hides the original strong tannins and

alcohol sensation of the red wine (= being pleasantly deceived).
Also, while the cocktail word for "Kir," made with white wine, is "Best Encounter," the fact that it changes to a slightly mysterious word like "Gentle Lie" when switched to red wine is an attractive point that evokes adult romance and drama.
By the way, as a "birthday drink" that colors a drinking occasion, it is also known as the birthday cocktail for May 4th and August 28th, and the drink word for that is said to be "an elegant and simple, unique person."

The depth of the red wine in a Cardinal and
the sweet and tart flavor of cassis blend together,
possessing an elegance and richnesslike a high-end dessert sauce.
It is just like a 'grown-up berry sauce'.
Depending on your mood,

please do enjoy this wonderful drink.