Cocktail: A Black Russian, down Pat

29 July 2015 - 02:17 By Barry Clausen

It's not often that Gareth Wainwright of The Landmark cocktail bar in Bryanston has his cocktails met with scorn. Late one evening, a beautiful, blonde, blue-eyed Irish lass walked into The Landmark and ordered a Black Russian. Wainwright mixed her the traditional two shots of premium vodka and one of Kahlua in a frosted Old Fashioned glass only to have the gal from Galway sneer, "That's not how you make a Black Russian!"Of course, it is, but everything's a little different in Ireland: Sometimes the rivers flow uphill, but only if they feel like it.They say it takes good vodka to survive winter in Moscow, but it takes a lot more to survive a night out in Galway, and the Irish certainly know how to drink. So Wainwright, not immune to that lilting Irish accent, allowed himself to be shown how to make a Black Russian, the Galway way."This drink is a departure from technique and snobbery," says Wainwright. "But it meets the only two criteria that any cocktail must fulfil: It is delicious and expresses a time and place more concisely than words can do."This cocktail is fun, silly and easy to make.It includes vodka, Kahlua, Coke and of course Guinness, stirred gently so as not to destroy the creamy head.Wainwright names it after the most famous black Irishman, the front man of Irish rock band Thin Lizzy, Phil Lynott. The Landmark, corner of William Nicol and Ballyclare drives, Bryanston, 011-463-5081THE PHIL LYNOTT30ml of Kettle 1 vodka30ml of Kahlua100ml of GuinnessTopped up with CokeStir gently to preserve the head and serve immediately over ice in a tall glass...

There’s never been a more important time to support independent media.

From World War 1 to present-day cosmopolitan South Africa and beyond, the Sunday Times has been a pillar in covering the stories that matter to you.

For just R80 you can become a premium member (digital access) and support a publication that has played an important political and social role in South Africa for over a century of Sundays. You can cancel anytime.

Already subscribed? Sign in below.



Questions or problems? Email helpdesk@timeslive.co.za or call 0860 52 52 00.