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    Home » Recipes » Drinks

    Black Velvet Cocktail

    Published: Feb 4, 2016 · Modified: Feb 4, 2022 by Michelle Ferrand ·This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

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    Black Velvet
    The Black Velvet Cocktail is a fun drink that would fit in on Super Bowl Sunday or as a classy option for Saint Patrick’s Day. Made with the unlikely combination of Guinness beer and champagne, you’ll be pleasantly surprised by the rich and bubbly flavors!
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    The Black Velvet Cocktail is a fun drink that would fit in on Super Bowl Sunday or as a classy option for Saint Patrick’s Day. Made with the unlikely combination of Guinness beer and champagne, you’ll be pleasantly surprised by the rich and bubbly flavors!

    Guinness beer and champagne: a surprisingly delicious combination

    When the thought of a dark, robust Guinness beer pops into your head, maybe you have visions of Ireland or a trip to the pub. You’d probably never think to serve the beer with champagne! Until now, that is.

    This Black Velvet Cocktail is a bubbly vintage cocktail with a very interesting combination: Guinness beer and champagne. I just knew I had to try it when I first discovered the recipe in Harry Craddock’s The Savoy Cocktail Book. I didn’t think I would like the pairing at first but was pleasantly surprised!

    The true charm of a black velvet drink comes from the two-layered look. Using the floating technique, you’ll end up with an impressive fizzy-on-top and black-on-the-bottom presentation. This feature, along with the pleasant flavors and rich and creamy texture, are sure to have you and guests swapping the typical pint of beer or glass of champagne for this delicious concoction instead!

    Vintage cocktails are my favorite and I think you’ll really love them too! After you give this recipe a try, be sure to try my Seventh Heaven Cocktail and The Abbey Cocktail as well!

    champagne flutes filled with a black and fizzy cocktail next to bottles of champagne and guinness beer.

    Black velvet cocktail history

    The black velvet cocktail was first invented by a steward at the Brook’s Club in London the day after Prince Albert’s passing. After the Prince died from typhoid fever on December 14, 1861, the steward ordered the bartenders to mix Guinness beer with champagne because “even the champagne should be put into mourning”. The black cocktail was meant to mimic the dark clothing people were wearing in mourning.

    Although this morbid invention has been around since the 1800s, the first written record of the recipe was found in Craddock’s book. Craddock doesn’t actually say anything about keeping the layers of stout and champagne separate, but it’s very much implied. Therefore, if you’re going to serve this cocktail for a less-morbid occasion, you may as well make it fancy!

    womans hands pushing the cork out of a champagne bottle.

    Ingredients you need

    The recipe is super simple: one part stout and one part champagne are poured very carefully into champagne flutes. Even though you only need two ingredients, there are a few substitutions available:

    Guinness beer

    Guinness beer is a stout beer with a creamy, rich, and heavy taste and texture. It’s the most popular choice when making this recipe but you can use any other stout beer you’re a fan of.

    Champagne

    True champagne (from the Champagne region of France) is very pricey! You’re better off saving a few pennies and making this cocktail with sparkling wine instead, like prosecco or brut.

    womans hands pouring guinness beer into a champagne flue.

    How to layer a black velvet cocktail

    If you’re careful enough while pouring this cocktail, you’ll end up with beautiful layers: a dark black base, fizzy sparkling wine, and a foamy head on top. How impressive! You can master the floating technique on your own using a few simple tips and some practice:

    1. Fill the champagne flutes halfway with beer.
    2. Place a spoon rounded side facing up into the champagne flute, hovering just above the stout.
    3. Slowly pour the champagne over the back of the spoon and into the glass.
    4. The champagne should float on top of the stout, creating a layered drink.
    womans hands pouring champagne over a black liquid in a champagne flute.

    Tips to make the best Guinness cocktail

    While this 2-ingredient cocktail is simple and easy to make, there are a few tips you should know about to make it even better:

    Turn it into a snack

    Nope, I’m not kidding. Transform this bubbly stout beer cocktail into a float by pouring the two ingredients over a scoop of vanilla ice cream in a glass. It’s a sweet and boozy snack your adult friends are sure to love!

    Do I have to use champagne in this beer cocktail?

    Nope! Any kind of sparkling wine you like can be used. If you don’t have sparkling wine, you can use hard cider or non-alcoholic sparkling white grape juice instead.

    Can I make this cocktail ahead of time?

    I don’t recommend it. Instead, just keep the beer and champagne in the fridge until it’s time to serve so the cocktails are nice and cold.

    Black Velvet Long Pin

    Black Velvet

    The Black Velvet Cocktail is a fun drink that would fit in on Super Bowl Sunday or as a classy option for Saint Patrick’s Day. Made with the unlikely combination of Guinness beer and champagne, you’ll be pleasantly surprised by the rich and bubbly flavors!
    Prevent your screen from going dark
    Print Rate Pin
    Author: Michelle Ferrand
    Makes: 6

    Ingredients

    • 2 12-ounce bottles stout
    • 1 740-milliliter bottle of champagne or sparkling wine

    Instructions

    • Fill six champagne flutes halfway with stout.
    • Place a spoon into the champagne flute, without touching the stout, with the rounded side facing up.
    • Slowly pour the champagne onto the back of the spoon and into the champagne flute. The champagne should float on top of the stout creating a layered drink.
    • Repeat with the remaining champagne.
    Did you make this recipe?Share a pic and tag @cupofzest and use #cupofzest so I can see it!
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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. DerickX says

      August 15, 2017 at 7:34 pm

      Hello blogger i see you don't monetize your blog. You can earn additional bucks
      easily, search on youtube for: how to earn selling articles

      Reply
    2. Trish says

      March 13, 2017 at 7:52 pm

      YES! This is totally rad. I love the champagne float. I have both of these things, and might try this sucker out on St. Paddy's. 🙂

      Reply
      • Michelle Ferrand says

        March 15, 2017 at 3:15 pm

        YES YOU SHOULD!!! Let me know how you like it!!!

        Reply
    3. Sasha @ Eat Love Eat says

      March 13, 2017 at 2:12 pm

      Wow what a combination!

      Reply
    4. Christine says

      March 13, 2017 at 3:27 am

      What an interesting recipe - Never heard of this one before. I will definitely be trying it because I am ALL about Guinness!

      Reply
      • Michelle Ferrand says

        March 15, 2017 at 3:15 pm

        Yay! I actually can't drink a Guinness straight up, so this little combo is great!

        Reply
    5. jess larson | plays well with butter says

      March 04, 2017 at 5:59 am

      girl! sharing the heck outta these for st. patrick's day!!! how fun are they??

      Reply
      • Michelle Ferrand says

        March 05, 2017 at 3:38 pm

        Yay! They are so fun and easy!!! <3

        Reply
    6. Kassandra says

      November 03, 2016 at 5:16 pm

      This was super delicious! Somehow, the combination of bubbly and stout made both taste better than solo!

      Reply
      • Michelle Ferrand says

        November 03, 2016 at 8:47 pm

        Thanks love!

        Reply
    7. Erin @ The Speckled Palate says

      February 27, 2016 at 12:08 pm

      I had NO IDEA this was where the Black Velvet cocktail came from. I was actually watching a cooking show this morning that highlighted the drink, and I thought to myself, "I need to make that." Because, well, I love stout and I love champagne, and how could I not love this?

      Thanks for sharing this interesting recipe AND for the history lesson! I love learning where recipes came from!

      Reply
      • Michelle Ferrand says

        February 27, 2016 at 6:29 pm

        That is awesome! What show were you watching?

        I'm so glad you enjoyed the post and found some value from it...it makes me so happy. 🙂

        Reply

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    Hi, I'm Michelle and welcome to the party!

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