Black Velvet Cocktail

St. Patrick’s Day.. Originally created to commemorate Saint Patrick and the arrival of Christianity in Ireland, as well as Irish culture and heritage in general. How do we celebrate today? Heading to the bar and waiting a half hour to get served while a guy wearing beer mug shaped glasses and a t-shirt that says, ‘Blow Me, I’m Irish’ spills his green-tinted beer all over you. Maybe it’s just me, but that’s not exactly my idea of a good time.

If you also plan on avoiding amateur hour or you’re hosting a slightly more grown-up celebration at home, this is one cocktail you shouldn’t leave off the menu. A simple blend of Guinness Extra Stout and champagne makes this a sweet and bubbly libation that’s far more enticing than watery green beer!

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Recipe adapted from Guinness (they also have the back story on how this cocktail was invented)

(makes 3 drinks)

Ingredients:

1 (12oz) bottle of Guinness Extra Stout, chilled

1 (750ml) bottle of champagne, chilled (avoid brut or extra-dry types or you’ll wind up with a bitter tasting cocktail!)

*Bonus tutorial on how to create Guinness bottle cap drink stirrers at the bottom!*

Tip the champagne flute slightly and pour the Guinness down the inside of the glass. Fill each glass about halfway full.

Pour in champagne and be careful not to overfill.

The top will froth which gives the appearance of a pint of Guinness. Serve right away!

Enjoy responsibly!

To create the Guinness bottle cap drink stirrers you’ll need:

Wooden skewers

Industrial scissors or wire cutters

Guinness bottle caps

Hot glue gun and hot glue sticks

To determine the height you want for your stir sticks, place a wooden skewer in a champagne flute. Make a mark with your scissors or wire cutters of where you want to cut the skewer.

Neatly cut the skewer and use this as your guideline for the others so they’re all at an even height. Place a dab of hot glue at the top and bottom on the backside of the bottle cap and place skewer (cut side at the top) onto the bottle cap.

Add extra glue around the skewer if needed to make sure it’s secure. Let the glue set up for a few minutes and they’re done! Add to cocktails or use as cupcake and cake toppers!