Ingredients
Drink
- 150 mlIrish stout, well chilled
- 150 mlChampagne or dry sparkling wine, well chilled
Equipment
- a tall flute or a pint glass
- a bar spoon
To serve
- immediately, with the layers still separate
Directions
- Pour the stout first and float the Champagne on top, which is the more common method. Both must be genuinely cold, straight from the fridge.
- Chill the glass as well as the drinks. Use an Irish dry stout, which is the traditional choice and whose roast bitterness suits the wine.
- Pour it slowly down the side of a tilted glass to about half full.
- Let the head settle completely before adding anything else. This takes a minute or two and rushing it is the main reason the drink fails.
- Hold a bar spoon upside down just above the stout, with the tip touching the inside of the glass. Pour the Champagne very slowly over the back of the spoon.
- Pour far more slowly than feels necessary, particularly at the start. Now what happens if it goes wrong. Use something dry rather than sweet, since the stout brings its own roasted sweetness.
- Serve it immediately, before the layers merge. It is drunk fairly quickly rather than sipped over an hour, since it goes flat.
Technique
- It was created at Brooks’s Club in London in 1861 after Prince Albert’s death.
- Stout is denser than Champagne, which is why it sits below.
- Pour the wine over the back of a spoon to keep the layers separate.
Substitutions
- Any dry sparkling wine in place of Champagne.
- Cider in place of Champagne, which makes a Poor Man’s Black Velvet.
Variations
- Poor Man’s Black Velvet, made with cider.
- Mixed rather than layered, which many bars do.
- Made with more Champagne, for a lighter drink.
History
Created at Brooks’s Club in London in 1861 to mourn Prince Albert, so even the champagne wore black.
Frequently asked questions
What is Black Velvet?
Black Velvet is a cocktail from United Kingdom: stout layered with champagne in a tall glass. Created at Brooks’s Club in London in 1861 to mourn Prince Albert, so even the champagne wore black.
How long does Black Velvet take to make?
Black Velvet takes 3 min of preparation and none of cooking. The recipe makes 1 drink. It is rated medium to make.
What can I substitute in Black Velvet?
Yes, within limits. Any dry sparkling wine in place of Champagne. Cider in place of Champagne, which makes a Poor Man’s Black Velvet.
What is the most important thing to get right in Black Velvet?
Pour the stout first and float the Champagne on top, which is the more common method. Both must be genuinely cold, straight from the fridge.
