Black Velvet

Description

The Black Velvet is a beer cocktail made from stout beer (often Guinness) and white sparkling wine, traditionally champagne.

The drink was first created by the bartender of the Brooks's Club of London in 1861, to mourn the passing of Prince Albert, Queen Victoria's Prince Consort. It is supposed to symbolize the black or purple cloth armbands worn by mourners.

Ingredients

• 1 part Guinness
• 1 part champagne

Directions

1. A black velvet is made by filling a vessel, traditionally a tall champagne flute, halfway with chilled stout beer and floating the sparkling wine on top of the stout.
2. The effect is best achieved by pouring over a spoon turned upside down over the top of the glass so that the liquid runs gently down the sides rather than splashing into the lower layer and mixing with it.
3. The differing densities of the liquids cause them to remain largely in separate layers (as in a Pousse-café).