Why we love this black velvet cocktail
- It’s a unique and elegant way to enjoy a Guinness or to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day.
- This simple, historic cocktail is made with only 2 ingredients.
- Rumor has it, this cocktail has been dubbed the Irish mimosa. Try serving this blackened bubbly for your next brunch!
Here’s what you’ll need to make it
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Equipment
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- Guinness – Any dark stout will do, we used Guinness for this recipe.
- Dry sparkling wine – Historically made with champagne, feel free to use any dry sparkling wine.
How to make a black velvet drink
Pour guinness. Fill a champagne flute with Guinness about half way. Allow fizz to settle slightly.
Pour sparkling wine. Top the guinness off with an equal amount of sparkling wine. If you want to layer this drink, slowly pour over the back of a bar spoon. This is tricky, so you can skip this step and still enjoy this cocktail.
Serve chilled.
Everything you need to know black velvet
What is a poor man’s Black Velvet drink?
A poor man’s black velvet is made with a hard cider in place of champagne. The process of making a poor man’s black velvet remains the same.
What does a Black Velvet drink taste like?
This bubbly cocktail takes advantage of the differences in it’s two ingredients. It pairs Guinness, a hearty beer with bitter coffee and sweet chocolate notes with the light aromatic, dry sparkling wine.
Is a Black Velvet Irish?
This cocktail was created to mourn the death of the English Prince Albert, Queen Victoria’s husband. Guinness was mixed with champagne to blacken the bubbly to help express the country’s sorrow for the Queen. It was also looked at as a gesture of solidarity to the Queen’s decision to don full black attire for the remainder of her life.
To the question of Irish authenticity, this drink is considered Irish in the same way that Shepherd’s Pie is considered Irish. The black velvet cocktail is still widely popular in Ireland and in England as they historically have shared traditions and culture.
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Black Velvet Drink
Ingredients
- 4 ounces sparkling wine
- 4 ounces stout beer
Instructions
- Pour guinness in a champagne flute, filling halfway.
- Pour sparkling wine over guinness. Using a bar spoon if you would like to layer.Â
- Serve chilled.Â
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