Meandering the world, one whisky at a time

Category: Whisky & Chocolate

Whisky and Chocolate pairings

Whisky chocolate pairing 1027 edition headerWelcome 2017!  The end of an old year and a new beginning.  For me, 2017 started with a bang. Or rather the sound of a small firework war as the neighbourhood set off (illegal)  firework after firework.  I stood  on the patio, with a view of the horizon, while watching hundreds of fireworks greet the New Year. 

My poor dogs were dozed up on calming meds and sleeping soundly. The noisy fireworks woke my five year old, who also joined me for the free display. But before all the colourful and loud fireworks, we had a few taste explosions of our own.

For the last seven or more years, my special year-end tradition is to end the Old Year on a whisky chocolate pairing. It is a sweet and delicious way to say “Goodbye” to the old while celebrating with some fantastic drams. (This means there is always leftover chocolate to start a New Year with). This year was no exception. 

During December, I found various interesting looking chocolates and did a bit of desk research on what whisky might pair with them. Sometimes it is a miss; sometimes it is a hit. It is always sweet and fun. Let’s dive straight into our first pairing. 




Whisky and Chocolate Pairing 2017 Edition 

Knob Creek Bourbon paired with Toffifee 

Whisky chocolate pairing 2017 edition Knob Creek Bourbon whisky and Toffifee chocolate pairingI fell in love with chocolate and bourbon pairings this year. There is nothing nicer than to sit and work at night, sipping on a delicious bourbon and munching on whatever chocolate I raided from the little one’s stash. I paired bourbon with Smarties, Kit Kats and a Kinder Egg. Just don’t tell my child that this is where all her chocolate disappears to. 

Toffifee are chewy caramel cups containing nougat, caramel and crunchy hazelnut, topped with a chocolate button. They are seriously delicious and addictive! In 1973, Storck combined the four most popular candy ingredients in the world, and the result was the Toffifee. 

I decided that the caramel notes might pair nicely with the rich, creamy smooth Knob Creek Bourbon.  My tasting notes for the Knob Creek Bourbon included maple, oak, cereal with hints of caramel and raisins. Knob Creek is a big mouthful, and there are the traditional bourbon notes of vanilla sweetness and cinnamon.

Did it work? What an amazing pairing. The whisky cuts through the Toffifee sweetness and the chocolate makes the Knob Creek creamier and more decadent. A great pairing.  And easy enough to try at home. Interestingly, the Knob Creek bourbon did not pair well with Malted Puffs. Perhaps my palate was still busy processing the Toffifee, and I need to try the Knob Creek and Malted Puff pairing again.  

Highland Park 18 yo Whisky paired with Toblerone White Chocolate

Whisky chocolate pairing 2017 edition Highland Park 18 yo whisky and toblerone white chocolateI need to find a way to finish this bottle because, for some reason, I don’t like this release.  I have paired the Highland Park 18 yo with some mature  Gouda cheese, which worked well.  Now to try it with some chocolate.   My tasting notes included notes of oak, honey, toffee and sweetness mixed with oak. There are notes of butterscotch, Christmas cake, plump raisins and peat with smoky hints.  Some florals with barley and cereal.

Some desktop research indicates that creamy white chocolate will pair well with a smoky Highland dram.  Let’s try the Highland Park 18 yo with a Toblerone White with honey and almond nougat pieces. 

Toblerone was created by Theodor Tobler in Switzerland in 1908. He and his cousin developed a unique mix of milk chocolate which included nougat, almonds and honey in a distinctive prism shape.

Did it work? The nose on the Highland Park is amazing, but when you taste it, you wonder; where did it all go?  Did this pairing work enough to help me finish the bottle?  Not so much. The chocolate is overwhelmingly sweet and drowns out the Highland Park. This sweet chocolate needs a much more smoky dram to stand up to it.  The Highland Park 18 yo is too delicate for this creamy chocolate.

Tamdhu 10 yo Whisky paired with De Villiers Cinnamon and Chili Dark Chocolate 

Whisky chocolate pairing 2017 edition tamdhu whiskyand cinnamon chilli dark chocolate pairingThe De Villiers (DV) artisanal chocolate makers are the first ‘Bean to Bar’ makers in SA and one of the few companies to make good single-origin chocolates on the African continent. Situated in the Wine Lands of the Cape, DV gets their inspiration from what they see around them. 

This Cinnamon and Chilli Dark Chocolate is a 70% dark chocolate bar with cinnamon flavours presenting first and chilli following in the finish. It is made with UTZ certified Ugandan cocoa beans.  I have decided to pair it with the Tamdhu 10 yo

Tasting notes for the Tamdhu include  vanilla & sugared almonds, fresh oak and cinnamon, fruit, toffee and sherry oak.

Did it work? I have only tried the Tamdhu 10 yo at a Whisky show, so had no tasting notes or proper recollection about the taste. It must have been nice because I bought it after the Whisky Show. Tasting it reminded me, what a great whisky! This 10 yo will certainly land up on my tasting schedule sooner rather than later!

 And this whisky chocolate pairing was great.  The two elements combined to create a creamy, rich experience.  The chocolate enhanced the Tamdhu 10 yo finish to make it MILES long. At least 5 minutes after tasting this combination, I was still conscious of the whisky and chocolate on my palate.  

Lagavulin Distillers Edition Whisky paired with Malted Puffs 

Whisky chocolate pairing 2017 edition lagavulin 1994 distillers edition whisky and chuckles malted puffs pairingWhile researching my whisky chocolate pairing 2017, I saw a reference to pairing Maltesers with a Lagavulin on one of Fiona Beckett’s Pairing Food and Whisky posts and thought; why not?  In South Africa, Maltesers are called Malted Puffs and a firm favourite in my house.  (Because I can eat them in bed without messing too much) 

Lagavulin is one of Johns’ favourite whiskies, so I knew he would not complain too much if I bought a bag (or 3) Malted Puffs to try as a pairing.  All in the name of research, you know!

My Lagavulin 1994 Distillers Edition tasting notes included peat and iodine, followed by the characteristic smokiness, burnt oak, fruitiness, raisins, sherry and vanilla.

Malted Puffs, on the other hand, is a roughly spherical malt honeycomb-like structured centre, surrounded by milk chocolate. Just delicious! Easy to pop into your mouth while reading, but difficult to stop before the whole bag is gone.

Did it work?  O my word, when I read about the pairing, I was not sure that it would work, but it was amazing.  The puffs softened the peat and Islay characteristics of the Lagavulin and the two elements together created a rich, creamy smooth experience. A great whisky chocolate pairing 2017! There might even be a few malted puffs left over to test it on some of the other Islay drams.

What is your favourite whisky chocolate pairing? 

Also Read: Islay Whisky and Lamb Pairing

Easy Whisky Chocolate Truffles

Whisky truffles headerChocolate truffles, those delectable nuggets of indulgence, have been enchanting taste buds for generations. This symphony of flavours wrapped in a velvety chocolate embrace has become a symbol of culinary elegance. Now imagine that you add a few drops of peated whisky your chocolate truffle.

The origins of truffles are shrouded in a few charming legends, with one story attributing their accidental discovery to the renowned French chef Escoffier.

Picture this: a bustling kitchen, the intoxicating aroma of chocolate filling the air. Escoffier, the maestro of French cuisine, was experimenting with a pastry cream when, in a twist of fate, he poured scalding cream into a bowl of chocolate chunks instead of the intended sugared egg mixture.




Rather than lamenting the mishap, he found that the chocolate paste was malleable, easily shaped into delightful spheres. And thus, the truffle was born, a confection that blended elegance with happenstance.

Truffles, characterized by their invitingly rounded forms, entered the culinary stage between 1890 and the 1920s. Their popularity soared as their recipes travelled the world, giving rise to regional variations like European, Belgian, American, French, and Swiss truffles.

Moroccan and Peated whisky truffles

A tantalizing journey into the world of truffles reveals a range of delightful infusions. Among them, the marriage of a hint of alcohol like brandy or Champagne has emerged as a beloved choice. Yet, today’s truffles transcend these classics.

Enthusiasts embrace coatings as diverse as crushed peppercorns, sweet curry, paprika, and even chocolate vermicelli. Regardless of the chosen coating, each truffle promises a symphony of taste.

I still remember when I first encountered whisky truffles as a child. In honour of Whisky Chocolate Month, I took on the challenge of crafting these delights myself. My initial attempts adhered to the traditional ganache recipe, yielding a rich but slightly daunting texture. Pursuing perfection led me to reconsider my approach, prompting me to dial my mom’s number.

Also Read: Whisky and Brie Cheese

Ah, the wisdom of mothers! She shared a recipe she had cherished for years that deviated from the conventional ganache method. It departs from tradition yet promises a smooth, creamy delight. With renewed determination, I embarked on the journey to refine the recipe.

But the flavour was the true heart of the matter. My experimentation led me to add some Ardbeg 10 yo whisky, birthing a peaty whisky truffle that captured the essence of the Scottish Highlands. Yet the journey wasn’t over; a Moroccan Ras el Hanout spice paired perfectly with Chivas Extra, resulting in a spicy-sweet variant.

In a world where culinary exploration knows no bounds, truffles are a testament to the artistry of accidental discovery and the harmony of flavours. These little spheres, once borne from a mishap, have become a canvas for gastronomic imagination.

The Basic recipe for Whisky Chocolate Truffles

  • 100 grams dark chocolate broken into little pieces (I used the Lindt Excellence 70% Cocoa
  • 63 grams of butter
  • 1 egg
  • 1 1/2 cup icing sugar
  • 4 tablespoons cacao (+ extra for dusting if required)

Peated Whisky Truffles

Ardbeg 10 yo single malt whisky peated trufflesADD:

30 ml peated whisky – I used the Ardbeg 10 yo (the peatier, the better)

 Moroccan Truffles

Truffles with Chivas Regal Extra blended whisky and Ras el Hanout spiceADD:

2 teaspoons Ras el Hanout spice
30 ml whisky (I used the Chivas Extra blended whisky)

Directions

Add the chocolate and butter to a small pot and heat gently to melt. When melted, take off the heat and add in the rest of the ingredients. Add the peated whisky for the peaty truffles or the Ras el Hanout for the Moroccan flavoured whisky chocolate truffles.

Stir well until everything is incorporated. Cool the mixture in the fridge for an hour until it starts setting. While the mixture is still soft enough to handle, but stiff enough to hold the shape, roll into small balls.

If you like, roll the truffles in some cocoa powder to coat.

I am not the most patient person in the world, so I spooned the mixture into heart-shaped chocolate forms. For the Moroccan whisky chocolate truffles, I dusted the form lightly with some Ras el Hanout seasoning.

Allow truffles to set in the fridge for at least 5 hours and serve straight from the fridge.

Ardbeg 10 yo single malt whisky peated trufflesIt is that easy. You can quickly make it in an afternoon and it makes the ideal gift for the whisky lover in your life.

Pairing Snickers and Bourbon

Snickers & Bourbon whisky pairing Jim Beam Black pairing snickers with bourbonContinuing with the Bourbon Heritage month theme, I looked around for a few interesting bourbon food pairing ideas when I came across an article that recommends pairing Snickers and bourbon.

Wait… What? A super sweet Snicker bar paired with sweet bourbon. Would this not be an overly sweet affair? I was unsure if this pairing would make a blue Monday better or worse.Snickers hold the top spot for the bestselling chocolate bar in the world.

Made by Mars, Incorporated, Snickers has annual global sales of $2 billion. It consists of nougat topped with caramel and peanuts covered in milk chocolate. It was named after the Mars family’s favourite horse. Snickers have been a crowd pleaser since the 1930s.

Snickers & Bourbon whisky pairing Bulleit bourbon pairing snickers with bourbonAs if I needed an excuse to experiment. I have a sweet tooth and just had to try this combination. I paired the Snicker bar with a few different bourbons, and the results were consistently the same.




The Results

Snickers & Bourbon whisky pairing Wild Turkey 101Bourbon pairs wonderfully with the Snickers! The bourbon balanced out the sugary sweetness of the chocolate and enhanced the peanuts and caramel notes. The caramel enhanced the bourbon vanilla and softened the alcohol notes. A wonderful balance, with each bringing out the best in the other.

It created a match made in chocolate heaven. I tried it with the Jim Beam Black Bourbon, the Wild Turkey 101, the Bulleit Frontier Bourbon and some Buffalo Trace Kentucky Straight Bourbon. It all worked amazingly well.

Also Read: Bourbon Coffee

Snickers & Bourbon whisky pairing Buffalo Trace pairing snickers with bourbonI paired the Snickers bar with a Gentleman Jack, which is a Tennessee whisky, to see if the results would be the same.  I am happy to report that even a Tennessee whisky pair wonderfully with some Snickers.

Snickers & Bourbon whisky pairing Jim Beam BlackBlue Monday; your boss was on your case the whole day, Microsoft gobbled up the report you needed to work on, your car is running on fumes, and all you want to do is crawl into bed and watch Netflix.

Stop at the filling station on the way home. While they fill up your car, grab a Snicker Bar at the Convenience store. Grab that bottle of bourbon from the weekend and pour yourself a glass. Open the Snickers and enjoy.

No day can stay blue with this pairing.

Also Read: Whisky of the Year 2018



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