Edmond Briottet Creme de Cassis 700ML

Edmond Briottet Creme de Cassis 700ML is a French blackcurrant liqueur from Dijon, Burgundy, bottled at 20% ABV (40 proof). Awarded 96 points by Wine Enthusiast and praised by F. Paul Pacult in the Spirit Journal as "a masterpiece," this flagship expression represents over half of the Briottet distillery's total production — a clear signal of its importance to the house.

Quick Facts: ABV: 20%  |  Origin: Dijon, Burgundy, France  |  Style: Crème de Cassis (Blackcurrant Liqueur)  |  Distillery: Briottet  |  Size: 700ml

Production & Heritage

The Briottet distillery has been based in the heart of Dijon — the historic capital of crème de cassis production — for generations. This expression uses exclusively Noir de Bourgogne blackcurrants, a prized varietal harvested in the Burgundy region known for its concentrated flavor and natural tartness. The berries are macerated in a water and alcohol solution for approximately ten weeks, a slow extraction process that draws out the fruit's full depth without relying on artificial coloring or flavoring. The result is Briottet's top-of-the-range cassis, distinguished by an exceptionally high berry content that sets it apart from more diluted commercial alternatives.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: The opening bouquet is ripe, pulpy, and deeply fruity, with a correct bitterness that signals real fruit rather than synthetic sweetness. Extended nosing reveals more complex layers — black pepper, cigar box, dried herbs, and a distinctive "green" freshly-cut plant stem quality.

Taste: The entry is silky and immediately ripe, flooding the palate with concentrated blackcurrant and blackcurrant jam flavors. Mid-palate, a high berry tartness cuts through the sugar, providing essential balance and preventing the liqueur from becoming cloying. The mouthfeel is notably thick and viscous, yet never heavy — the acidity keeps things lively.

Finish: Long and satiny, with lingering dark fruit and a subtle herbal undertow. The bittersweet interplay between ripe berry and tart skin persists well after the final sip.

How to Drink Briottet Cassis

On its own, a small chilled pour rewards careful sipping — the complexity here justifies treating it more like a fine dessert wine than a simple mixer. That said, this cassis excels in cocktails where its intense fruit concentration holds up against dilution and carbonation.

• Kir Royale: The classic Champagne cocktail practically demands a high-quality cassis, and Briottet's concentrated berry intensity stands up to the effervescence without disappearing.
• Bramble: Drizzled over crushed ice with gin and lemon, its thick texture and tartness create the ideal layered effect.
• El Diablo: Combined with tequila, lime, and ginger beer, the cassis adds a dark, fruity backbone that balances the drink's spice.

Best For

• Hosting a French-themed dinner party with Kir Royales as the welcome drink
• Gifting to a cocktail enthusiast who values ingredient quality over brand recognition
• Building a professional-grade home bar with benchmark liqueurs
• Pairing with dessert courses at a curated tasting event

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Briottet Cassis taste like? It delivers intense, concentrated blackcurrant flavor — both fresh fruit and rich jam — balanced by a natural tartness that prevents excessive sweetness. Underlying notes of black pepper, dried herbs, and a distinctive green-stem quality add unexpected complexity.

How does Briottet Cassis compare to Gabriel Boudier Crème de Cassis? Both are benchmark Dijon-produced cassis liqueurs using Noir de Bourgogne blackcurrants and traditional maceration. Briottet is generally regarded as the richer, more concentrated of the two, with a thicker mouthfeel and more pronounced tartness, while Boudier tends toward a slightly lighter, more approachable style.

Is Briottet Cassis good for cocktails? Its high fruit concentration and thick texture make it one of the best cassis options for cocktails, particularly the Kir Royale and Bramble, where a dilute liqueur would simply vanish into the drink.

Where is Briottet Cassis made? It is produced at the Briottet distillery in Dijon, the capital of France's Burgundy region, using Noir de Bourgogne blackcurrants sourced exclusively from the surrounding Burgundy countryside.

What foods pair well with Briottet Cassis? Dark chocolate truffles complement its concentrated berry richness. Aged Comté or Époisses cheese creates a sweet-savory contrast rooted in shared Burgundian terroir. Fresh cheesecake or panna cotta benefits from a drizzle of cassis as a sauce. Duck liver pâté pairs well with the liqueur's subtle herbal and peppery undertones. Fresh berries macerated in a splash of cassis make a simple but elegant dessert.

What sizes does Briottet Cassis come in? The standard widely available size is the 700ml bottle reviewed here.

Is Briottet Cassis worth the price? It positions as a premium crème de cassis, priced above mass-market alternatives but justified by its 96-point Wine Enthusiast rating, high blackcurrant content, and ten-week maceration process — a meaningful step up from entry-level cassis brands.

Why Briottet Cassis?

A 96-point score from Wine Enthusiast and F. Paul Pacult's declaration that "crème de cassis doesn't come any better than this" place Briottet at the top of a category where many products lean on sugar to compensate for thin fruit. The ten-week maceration of whole Noir de Bourgogne berries produces a liqueur with genuine depth — black pepper, herbs, cigar box — rather than the one-dimensional sweetness common in lesser expressions. As Briottet's flagship product, accounting for over half of the distillery's output, it reflects the house's core identity more than any other bottling in their range. For anyone serious about the quality of their back bar or their Kir Royale, this is the reference point.