Paddy’s day for toffs

If you’re a traditionalist, then today is the only day that we celebrate that patron o’booze, St Patrick.

I’ve already offered you a recipe for the Everybody’s Irish cocktail, but the posher posers among you may prefer to splurge on a black velvet.

The drink was created by the head barman at Brooks’s Club of London in 1861. Prince Albert, Queen Victoria’s consort, had just died and the patriotic barkeep decided drinks that night should also be in mourning.

To make it, fill up half a Champagne flute with Guinness  and top-up with sparkling wine. Some people use other stouts or perform some ritual with an Irish spoon, but the effect should be more or less the same.

Sit back, pretend you’re a toff, and sip.

Last time I had this I was sorely disappointed. The pops of flavour in the bubbly are squashed by the stout. It felt a waste and a shame.

Perhaps I made a mistake with the Guinness, opting for the imported Nigerian version from Portland Wine Cellars rather than the common variety.

They like it strong in Africa, with Guinness weighing in at 7.5% abv as opposed to the 4.3% we get get from Dublin.

Incidentally, the strongest Guinness  (8%) is enjoyed in Singapore.

Guinness has a poor reputation among real ale drinkers _ and I was recently taken to task for enjoying the odd snifter by top drink blogger Tandleman –  but occasionally it’s just the right drink for the right time.

Picture by Martyn Snape