The Kir originated in Burgundy, France in the 1940s, and is named after Félix Kir, who was a hero in the French Resistance during the Second World War, and then the Mayor of Dijon from 1945 to 1968. Felix Kir was very popular in his community, and he also was very interested in supporting the production of local products from Dijon. His most famous effort to support the products from his community was his creation of the Kir, a drink that mixed local peasant white wine, Aligote, which is highly acidic, with the local black currant liqueur Crème de Cassis, to make a sweeter and more appealing cocktail. (Spirits/Cocktails)