Black velvet (cocktail)

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Black velvet
Cocktail
A layered Black Velvet cocktail with the stout on the top
TypeMixed drink
ServedStraight
Standard drinkware
Pilsner glass
Commonly used ingredientsStout and Champagne
PreparationMix equal parts stout and Champagne
Prince Albert in 1860, the year before his death

A black velvet is a beer cocktail made from a combination of stout (often Guinness) and white sparkling wine (often Champagne).

History[edit]

The drink was first made by a bartender of Brooks's Club in London in 1861 to mourn the death of Prince Albert, Queen Victoria's Prince Consort.[1][2] It is supposed to symbolize the black armbands worn by mourners.[3] It was said that “even the champagne should be in mourning.”[3][4] Today, the drink is not exclusive to mourning.[3]

Preparation[edit]

A black velvet is made by mixing equal parts of stout and Champagne or cider without ice.[3]

Layered variation[edit]

A black velvet can also be made by filling a champagne flute halfway with sparkling wine and floating the chilled stout beer on top of the wine.[5] The differing densities of the liquids cause them to remain largely in separate layers (as in a pousse-café).[5] The effect is best achieved by pouring the stout over a spoon turned upside down over the top of the glass.[5][6]

Similar drinks[edit]

  • When cider or perry is used in place of champagne, it is sometimes still known as a black velvet in its originating country (the UK) and in Ireland.[7] However, the cider version is usually referred to as a poor-man's black velvet everywhere, including in the U.K. and Ireland.[6][8]
  • In Germany, a version of the drink made with Schwarzbier (a dark lager) and served in a beer stein or beer mug is called a "Bismarck" after the chancellor, Otto von Bismarck, who supposedly drank it by the gallon.[9][10][11]
  • The Champagne Velvet appeared in Jacob Grohusko's 1910 cocktail guide Jack's Manual, and called for equal parts cold porter and champagne, stirred slowly in a goblet.[12]
    Bien JoJay

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Calabrese, Salvatore (1997). Classic Cocktails. New York: Sterling Publishing. p. 83. ISBN 9780806905075.
  2. ^ "Black Velvet". guinness.com. Retrieved 31 January 2019.
  3. ^ a b c d "Sparkling Champagne cocktails for a bubbly New Year's Eve". www.msn.com. Retrieved 2021-04-13.
  4. ^ "Guinness' black velvet cocktail recipe". IrishCentral.com. 2020-03-14. Retrieved 2021-04-13.
  5. ^ a b c "Celebratory bubbles: sparkling wine cocktails keep costs low, but spirits high". Arkansas Online. 2017-12-27. Retrieved 2021-04-13.
  6. ^ a b "Black Velvet".
  7. ^ "Tipsy-Turvy: A celebration of Irish spirits and drinks | The Star". www.thestar.com.my. Retrieved 2021-04-13.
  8. ^ Toole, Connor. "4 Ways To Drink Guinness Today Besides Chugging It As Fast As You Can". Elite Daily. Retrieved 2021-04-13.
  9. ^ Bygrave, Sam (2020-05-10). "When champagne and Guinness collide: the Black Velvet cocktail". australianbartender.com.au. Retrieved 2021-04-13.
  10. ^ "Here's a blend and stretch exercise". Newspapers.com. 26 June 2015. Archived from the original on 2021-04-13. Retrieved 2021-04-13.
  11. ^ "Tall, Dark and Bubbly". Newspapers.com. 25 January 2006. Archived from the original on 2021-04-13. Retrieved 2021-04-13.
  12. ^ Grohusko, Jacob (1910). Jack's Manual. New York: McClunn & Co. p. 36.
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