Ingredients
- .5 oz Strawberry Cream Liqueur
- .5 oz Irish Cream
Instructions
- Pour 0.5 oz of strawberry cream liqueur into a shot glass.
- Carefully layer 0.5 oz of Irish cream on top of the strawberry cream liqueur.
- Serve immediately and enjoy the smooth, creamy flavors.
Notes
Estimated Nutrition:
Where it came from
Black Pussy is a UK pub-bar drink from the 2000s, part of the same dirty-named cocktail wave as Wet Pussy Shot and Cocksucking Cowboy. The name plays on both the colour (the blackberry liqueur and blackcurrant cordial make it deep purple-black) and the family of cocktails it belongs to.
There’s no documented inventor. The recipe is a riff on a Cassis Royale or a Blackcurrant Mule, dressed up with vodka and a punny name. UK and Australian pubs still pour it; American bars rarely list it.
What it tastes like
Sweet blackberry up front, then the sharp blackcurrant cordial bites in, finishing with the dry citrus-fizz of lemonade. The vodka holds the alcohol weight without showing up in flavour. Tastes more grown up than it looks.
It’s drinkable fast, which is the point. Two of these go down before you remember they have alcohol in them.
The technique
Build in a highball over ice. Vodka, blackberry liqueur, and blackcurrant cordial first, lemonade last. Stir gently to combine. Garnish with fresh blackberries if you have them.
Cold lemonade matters. Warm or flat lemonade kills the drink instantly. Open a fresh bottle.
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Ingredient Spotlight
The bottles that make or break this drink.
The blackberry liqueur
- Use
- Chambord, Briottet Crème de Mûre, or any blackberry liqueur
- Try
- Crème de Cassis (blackcurrant) for a sharper version
- Why
- Chambord adds depth and royalty. Crème de Mûre is sharper and more black-forest-cake.
The blackcurrant cordial
- Use
- Ribena (UK) or any blackcurrant squash/cordial
- Try
- Crème de Cassis if you want it more boozy
- Why
- Cordial brings the sharp acidic blackcurrant note that balances the sweetness.
The lemonade
- Use
- Sprite, 7Up, or clear lemonade
- Skip
- Cloudy lemonade or lemon-lime soda with extra sugar
- Why
- Clear citrus fizz lifts the drink without adding more sweet.
Variations
Other dirty-named cocktails and dark fruity drinks.
What if I don't have…
Quick substitutions for when the bottle shop is closed.
Crème de Cassis or any berry liqueur. Sloe gin works at a stretch but changes the gin/vodka call.
Grenadine or pomegranate molasses thinned with water. The colour stays similar.
Soda water with a teaspoon of simple syrup and a squeeze of lemon. DIY clear lemonade.
Add 15ml of vodka. Now you’re in cocktail rather than long drink territory.
Use Crème de Cassis instead of cordial and use less. The drink will be wine-like and aperitivo-leaning.
Frequently Asked Questions
Direct answers to what people search for after Googling this drink.
What is in a Black Pussy cocktail?
Black Pussy is vodka, blackberry liqueur (Chambord), blackcurrant cordial (Ribena), and clear lemonade over ice. Standard build is 30ml vodka, 15ml each of the liqueur and cordial, topped with 150ml lemonade.
Why is it called a Black Pussy?
The drink is named for its dark purple-black colour (from the blackberry liqueur and blackcurrant cordial) and its place in the dirty-named cocktail family alongside Wet Pussy Shot and Cocksucking Cowboy.
How do you make a Black Pussy cocktail?
Fill a highball glass with ice. Pour 30ml vodka, 15ml Chambord, 15ml blackcurrant cordial. Top with 150ml clear lemonade. Stir gently. Garnish with a few fresh blackberries.
What does a Black Pussy taste like?
Sweet blackberry, sharp blackcurrant, dry citrus fizz from the lemonade. Tastes like a grown-up version of a kid’s blackcurrant fizzy drink with vodka.
How strong is a Black Pussy?
About 8-10% ABV in the glass. The vodka and Chambord do the alcohol work; the lemonade dilutes. Roughly the strength of a strong beer.
Can I use a different berry liqueur?
Yes. Crème de Cassis (blackcurrant) makes it sharper and more aperitif-style. Crème de Mûre (blackberry) is closest to Chambord. Sloe gin works too but changes the flavour.
Is Ribena alcoholic?
No, Ribena is a non-alcoholic blackcurrant cordial/squash. The Black Pussy uses Ribena for the cordial component plus a separate alcoholic blackberry liqueur. Don’t confuse the two.
Can I make it without alcohol?
Yes. Skip the vodka and Chambord. Mix Ribena, lemonade, and a splash of grenadine or non-alcoholic Crème de Mûre substitute. Same colour, same family of flavour.
What glass should I use?
A tall highball or hurricane glass. The drink is tall and needs ice plus 200ml of liquid. Rocks glasses are too short.
When do you drink a Black Pussy?
UK and Australian pub bars on a Friday night. Pool parties in summer. Anywhere that wants a tall purple drink that goes down easy.
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