Lejay Creme de Cassis
Lejay Creme de Cassis is the original blackcurrant liqueur — an ~18% ABV (36 proof) crème de cassis in a 750mL bottle, made in Dijon, Burgundy since 1841. Auguste-Denis Lagoute invented the very first crème de cassis recipe here, and Lejay remains one of only four producers authorized to carry the protected "Cassis de Dijon" geographical indication. Two blackcurrant varieties — 55% intensely aromatic Noir de Bourgogne, 45% softer Black Down — macerate 8 to 10 weeks, then blend with sugar and a signature infusion of blackcurrant buds for a deep, jammy, nearly opaque liqueur. Order it online at Del Mesa Liquor, San Diego, CA.
- Proof / ABV: ~36 proof (~18% ABV) — 750mL
- Fruit: Noir de Bourgogne (55%) + Black Down (45%) blackcurrants, plus blackcurrant-bud infusion
- Process: 8–10 week maceration; unfiltered juice blended with sugar
- Origin: Dijon, Burgundy, France — "Cassis de Dijon" GI; house founded 1841
- Style: rich, jammy, and smooth — the benchmark crème de cassis
The Liqueur That Invented Its Category
Before 1841 there was no crème de cassis; Auguste-Denis Lagoute created it in Dijon, and the town's name has been synonymous with blackcurrant liqueur ever since. Lejay's version stays close to the original idea: Burgundian blackcurrants picked once a year, a slow maceration that captures the whole berry, and a bud infusion no one else uses — which is why a Kir made with anything else tastes like an approximation. See more from Lejay or browse Del Mesa's liqueurs.
Tasting Notes
Deep, nearly opaque ruby; fresh black fruits, cassis jam, and hints of cherry and plum on the nose; smooth and dense on the palate — mildly tart up front, jammy and creamy through the middle; a long, lingering finish of cassis preserve with a lightly dry close (per the producer's profile).
How to Enjoy
The classic Kir: one part crème de cassis to four parts dry white wine (Aligoté if you're traditional). A Kir Royale swaps in Champagne. It also deepens an El Diablo (tequila, ginger beer) or a whiskey sour variation.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is crème de cassis?
A blackcurrant liqueur from Dijon, France — Lejay invented the category in 1841.
What is a Kir vs. a Kir Royale?
Kir: crème de cassis topped with dry white wine. Kir Royale: the same, topped with Champagne or sparkling wine.
What does "Cassis de Dijon" mean?
A protected European geographical indication — only four producers, Lejay among them, may use the label.
The original, from the town that invented it — order Lejay Creme de Cassis online from Del Mesa Liquor in San Diego, CA.