Guinness in cocktails

St Patrick’s Day is coming soon and we all know what this means; millions of people around the world are going up to immerse themselves in what they understand about Irish culture. And there’s little as synonymous as Guinness. 

Guinness finds itself deeply rooted in Irish history. First brewed by Arthur Guinness in the 1770s (that’s when America was first won Independence, just for some relativity), Guinness was a type of English beer called “porter”, slightly different from ale due to being brewed with roast barley. This gave the beer a dark ruby colour and a richer aroma. 

Fast forward a few centuries and Guinness stouts still find themselves at the forefront of Ireland’s exports. A distinct difference between Guinness and other beers is a thick, creamy, yet smooth roasted flavour. This flavour profile is often polarising, drawing large crowds and the occasional disbeliever. 

It’s not uncommon that these disbelievers still persist in altering their distaste for Guinness though. Some continuously try to change their opinions on the original flavour profile, while others take more creative liberties to create new cocktails. Here are three cocktails you can try this festive period!

 

The Guinness & Black

 

  • ¼ cup Ribena blackcurrant concentrate
  • 15 oz Guinness stout, chilled

Directions: Pour blackcurrant concentrate into a pint glass, followed by Guinness stout.

As if the flavour profiles of Guinness weren’t already complex enough, adding Ribena into the mix only creates a frothy, bittersweet concoction that is more than delightful. Ribena offers a refreshing edge to the creamy Guinness, setting up the drink to be absolutely delectable for drinkers with a sweet tooth.

 

The Black Velvet

  • ½ glass Guinness
  • ½ glass Champagne

Directions: Half fill a champagne flute with Guinness, followed by Champagne.

This unique blend supposedly originates from the commemoration of Prince Albert’s death in 1861, where the steward at Brook’s Club in London ordered that even Champagne should be in mourning, dressed in all Black.

 

Drunken Leprechaun

  • 1 oz. Guinness Reduction simple syrup (1 can Guinness Beer, ½ cup sugar; boil until mixture is of thicker consistency and half the original volume, cool)
  • 1 oz. fresh squeezed Lemon juice
  • 1.5 oz. Honey simple syrup (2 cups water, ½ cup Honey; boil until honey is dissolved, cool)
  • 3 oz. Jameson Irish Whiskey
  • 4 mint leaves

Directions: Prepare reduction sauce and honey simple syrup. Shake above ingredients in a cocktail shaker with ice. Strain into coupe cocktail glass and garnish with mint. 

This one is Irish to its core. Jameson and Guinness are compatriots and the Drunken Leprechaun simply unites Ireland’s two arguably best alcoholic beverages. This recipe takes a little more effort than the other cocktails on this list, but trust us when we say it’s delicious. A beautiful sweet mixture combined with lemon juice lends this beverage an already refreshing, familiar taste, but the whiskey and Guinness syrup gives it a much needed, mature boost. Yum.

 

Bloody Mary ft. Guinness

  • 4 oz. Tomato Juice
  • 2 oz. Vodka
  • 1 tsp. Horseradish
  • ½ tsp. Black Pepper
  • ½ tsp. Celery salt
  • 1 pinch of Paprika
  • 2 dashes of Tabasco sauce (to preference)
  • 1 dash of Salt
  • ½ a Lime 
  • ½ a Lemon
  • 1 oz. Guinness
  • Garnishes: Bacon, Asparagus, Pickles Salami, Pepperoni, Olives, Peppers, Mozzarella, Pickled Okra, Onions, Lemons, Limes, Celery

Directions: To prepare your glass, just use lime juice on the outside of your rim and roll it in celery salt. Set aside. In a shaker, combine the Bloody Mary mix (excluding the Guinness) Pour the mixture into your prepared glass, and add ice. Pour Guinness onto the top of your drink. Add your garnish.

The Bloody Mary is a classic in any cocktail menu and somehow Martha managed to incorporate the beautiful stout into a classic recipe. Guinness lends its creamy, complex yet bitter flavour profile to an established, savoury cocktail in the Bloody Mary.

 

Guinness Milkshake

  • 4 scoops vanilla ice cream
  • 4 scoops of mint chocolate chip ice cream
  • ¼ cup Bailey's Irish Cream
  • 1 cup Guinness 

Direction: In a blender, combine all the ingredients and process until desired consistency is achieved. Divide the milkshake between two glasses. Garnish milkshakes with whipped topping and chocolate chips.

We’d want to end this on a sweet note. This blend is cream deluxe; ice cream, Bailey’s, Guinness? What else could you expect but a funky, beautiful mix of cream and delight? Expect a pleasing, creamy profile with a hint of spice and refreshment in mint chocolate ice cream. 

We’re telling you; these cocktails will shake things up for you and give you a whole new impression on Guinness. Curious about this and want to give our cocktails a shot? Purchase Guinness Stout from Cellarbration now!