Black Flip

The Black Flip is a remarkable modern cocktail that perfectly balances richness with a light, airy texture. It combines the molasses and spice notes of dark rum with the roasted, malty character of a dark stout beer. The inclusion of a whole egg, a hallmark of the flip category, gives the drink an incredible creaminess and a silky mouthfeel, topped with a beautiful foam. It's a sophisticated, dessert-like drink that is both comforting and complex.
Black Flip

Preparation

Preparation time: 5 minutes

Preparation time
Difficulty

Drink Classification

The Black Flip is considered a Modern Classic cocktail, belonging to the historic "Flip" category of drinks which include a whole egg. Due to its rich and creamy nature, it is often served as a digestif or an after-dinner drink, functioning almost like a liquid dessert.

Serving

The Black Flip is served cold without ice in a pre-chilled coupe glass. It's a moderately alcoholic drink with a rich, creamy texture and a beautiful foam head.
Serving size
Approximately 150 ml (5 oz)
Alcohol content
Approximately 10-14% ABV
Alcohol strength
Serving temperature
Cold
Glass type
Coupe
Glass treatment
Pre-chilled

Backstory

While flips date back centuries, the Black Flip is a modern creation attributed to renowned bartender Jim Meehan from the early 2000s. His recipe, which cleverly incorporates stout beer into the classic flip formula, helped repopularize this historic category of cocktails for a new generation. The use of stout adds a roasty depth and complexity that was a novel twist on the traditional flip.
Origin
The Black Flip is a modern American cocktail, created in New York City in the early 2000s by bartender Jim Meehan. It is a modern interpretation of the historic "Flip" style of drinks.

Black Flip

The drink is primarily known as the Black Flip. Some may refer to it by its key ingredient, calling it a Guinness Flip or Stout Flip, which highlights the use of dark beer in this creamy cocktail.
Original name
Black Flip
Alternative names
  • Guinness Flip
  • Stout Flip

Characteristics overview

This drink offers a velvety, creamy texture with rich flavors of roasted malt, chocolate, and coffee from the stout, balanced by the sweetness of rum. The aroma is dominated by freshly grated nutmeg and dark beer notes, leading to a long, warming finish.
Flavor
Creamy, Rich, Malty, Roasted, Coffee, Chocolate, Molasses, Slightly sweet
Aroma
Nutmeg, Roasted malt, Coffee, Dark chocolate, Sweet rum
Taste balance
Sweet, Bitter
Aftertaste
Long, Creamy, Roasty, Warming
Fizziness
Slightly effervescent foam
Color appearance
Opaque, Dark brown, Thick beige foam
Texture
Creamy, Velvety, Silky, Smooth
Seasonality
Warming, Wintery, Autumnal

Flavor intensity & Experience

The Black Flip is defined by its high creaminess and moderate sweetness, with a noticeable roasted bitterness from the stout. It has a low alcohol presence on the palate and just a hint of carbonation in its foam.
Sweetness
Saltiness
Sourness
Bitterness
Spiciness
Fruitiness
Creaminess
Carbonation

Ingredients

You will need dark rum, a quality stout beer, simple syrup, and one whole fresh egg. The essential aromatic garnish is a pinch of freshly grated nutmeg.
  • Dark Rum45 ml (1.5 oz)
    A good quality dark or blackstrap rum works best to complement the stout.
  • Stout Beer60 ml (2 oz)
    A dry Irish stout like Guinness is classic, but chocolate or oatmeal stouts also work well.
  • Simple Syrup15 ml (0.5 oz)
    A 2:1 demerara or brown sugar syrup is recommended for added richness.
  • Whole Egg1 large
    Use a fresh, high-quality pasteurized egg for safety and best texture.
  • Nutmeg1 pinch
    For garnish. Freshly grated is highly recommended for the best aroma.

Ice type

  • Cubed

Mixing equipments

A cocktail shaker is required for mixing and aerating the ingredients. You will also need both a standard strainer and a fine-mesh strainer to ensure a silky-smooth texture.
  • Cocktail shaker for shaking ingredients
  • Strainer for separating ice from the drink
  • Fine-mesh strainer for double straining

Instructions

The process involves a dry shake with all ingredients, followed by a wet shake with ice to chill and dilute. The drink is then double-strained into a chilled coupe and garnished with nutmeg.
1. Chill your coupe glass in the freezer for at least 10 minutes before you begin.
2. Crack a whole fresh egg into one half of your cocktail shaker.
3. Add the dark rum, stout beer, and simple syrup to the shaker with the egg.
4. Combine the shaker tins and shake vigorously without ice for about 15 seconds. This is called a "dry shake" and it helps emulsify the egg to create a rich foam.
5. Open the shaker, fill it with cubed ice, and seal it again. Shake vigorously for another 15-20 seconds until well-chilled. This is the "wet shake".
6. Double strain the cocktail through a standard cocktail strainer and a fine-mesh strainer into your pre-chilled coupe glass. This ensures no ice chips or egg solids make it into the final drink.
7. Let the foam settle for a moment, then grate a small amount of fresh nutmeg over the top of the drink as a garnish.
8. Serve immediately and enjoy.

Garnishing

The drink is finished with a simple but crucial garnish of freshly grated nutmeg. The warm, spicy aroma of the nutmeg perfectly complements the rich flavors of the cocktail.
  • Freshly grated nutmeg over the top of the foam

Dietary Information

This cocktail contains egg and gluten from the beer, and is garnished with nutmeg, making it unsuitable for those with respective allergies. It is dairy-free but not vegan due to the egg.
✓ Contains alcohol
✓ Caffeine-free
✓ Dairy-free
✕ Egg-free
✓ Soy-free
✕ Nut-free
✕ Gluten-free
✕ Vegan-friendly
✓ Vegetarian-friendly

Nutrition information

This is a moderately caloric cocktail, primarily due to the alcohol, sugar in the syrup and beer, and the protein and fat from the whole egg. It contains a notable amount of carbohydrates and sugar.
Calories
Averagely 250-300 kcal (1046-1255 kJ)
Calories level
Carbohydrates
Averagely 20-25 g
Carbohydrate level
Sugar
Averagely 15-20 g
Sugar level

Occasions

This cocktail is ideal as a digestif or a liquid dessert after a meal. Its rich, warming character also makes it perfect for colder weather, cozy evenings, and festive holiday gatherings.
  • After-dinner drink
  • Dessert cocktail
  • Winter gatherings
  • Cozy night in

Pairing suggestions

The Black Flip is rich enough to be a dessert in its own right. However, it pairs wonderfully with simple, not-too-sweet biscuits like biscotti, or a small piece of high-quality dark chocolate. For some, it is an excellent companion to a post-dinner cigar.
  • Biscotti or shortbread
  • Dark chocolate
  • A cigar
  • Served on its own as dessert

The Black Flip: A Velvety Modern Classic

The Black Flip is a sophisticated and decadent modern classic that breathes new life into the historic flip category. Its unique combination of dark rum and stout beer, emulsified with a whole egg, results in an incredibly creamy and flavorful experience. With notes of coffee, chocolate, and roasted malt, it serves as the perfect after-dinner drink or liquid dessert. While it requires careful shaking technique, the reward is a velvety, beautifully layered cocktail that is both comforting and impressive.

Similar Cocktails

Brandy Flip

A classic flip that uses brandy or cognac as its base spirit instead of rum and stout, resulting in a different flavor profile.

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