Black Velvet Cocktail Recipe

This striking black velvet cocktail (opens in new tab) is both sparkling and rich. It’s made by simply mixing equal parts of stout and champagne. If you think stout just means Guinness – think again! There is now a vast variety of artisanal stouts available in the UK, we love the Pentinville Oyster Stout from Hammerton Brewery, but if stout isn’t your thing and you fancy something sweeter you could use a lovely cider instead.

The black velvet cocktail was first created in London in the late 1800's to mourn the death of Price Albert, so has clearly stood the test of time. A black velvet cocktail traditionally uses champagne, but there are many other varieties of sparkling wines on the market that work equally well. We love English sparkling wines at the moment, particularly those from leading English wine producer Chapel Down. The combination of light bubbly and heavy stout makes this drink really interesting. It is a popular choice for St Patrick’s Day, but we think this dark and mysterious cocktail has a really warming and wintery feel so is perfect for when the colder nights draw in. The ideal choice for an aperitif to kick of an evening with friends.

Kicking things off with a cocktail adds a luxury feel to any dinner party. You might think making your own cocktails would be difficult, but it needn’t be! With only two ingredients this black velvet cocktail really couldn’t be easier. For other easy cocktail ideas why not try making our Aperol Spritz (opens in new tab) or our easy Pimms (opens in new tab) recipe? If you’re feeling more adventurous, you could take your cocktail parties to the next level by making our Clover Club Cocktail (opens in new tab) or our Homemade Pomegranate Vodka (opens in new tab).