Chocolate, baby!

[MikeK]

I can't eat while I'm enjoying whiskey of any kind. Once I have a snack, any subsequent whiskey tastes nasty to me.

The one thing I've found that goes great with Bourbon, and even Scotch, is good dark chocolate. I'm not talking about chocolate flavored sugar, like Hersheys, but the good stuff; ElRay, Valharona, etc. at 70% or higher cocao content. 100% if I'm in a weird mood.

Anyone else keep a plate of chocolate next to the bottle?

"Nothing clears the room of amateurs like 100% cocao and a nice smokey Islay"

Mike

[angelshare]

We don't have a premium dark chocolate here, but, indeed, dark chocolate does frequently accompany our bourbon for snacking/tasting. Specifically, dark chocolate chips that are used for baking. We keep them in the freezer and snack on them when the mood strikes,

[Whiskme]

Isn't it funny how we try to discover chocolate in all the things that we enjoy? I find, and look for, comparisons in cigars and bourbon. And, I measure the quality of both by the chocolat-i-ness I perceive. If I could only keep it lit, I'd make the switch!

[jbohan]

Check around your area or go online to find Divine Chocolate, it's 70% chocolate mass, and comes in dark, milk, and other varieties. It is also a Fair Trade product.

[bunghole]

ima likes Hershey's Special Dark & Negra Modello with a well aged Padron!

[Mike]

I am a long standing chocolate lover too. Can't say that I have tried it with bourbon though.............bet I will when I get some credit built up again in the bourbon bank. I go for the Belgian dark chocolate, momma mia, that is some good stuff.

By the way, even beer can be good with a touch of chocolate. Ever had Bert Grant's Perfect Porter? That has a nice chocolate flavor (derived from chocolate malt......not true chocolate)!

A few years back, when I was amaking beer regularly, a friend and I actually put a few ounces of dark chocolate (Ghirardelli) in the wort. Our chocolate porter turned out to be very good, so good in fact, most of it was consumed at a party we called our 'Pull my Finger Brewhaha'!!

[Whiskme]

Funny schtick Mike! lol

[MikeK]

Here's something to try.

Find some good quality 100% cocao.
Pour a glass of light to medium bodied bourbon.

Chew on a small amount of 100% from time to time in order to "reset" your tastebuds to zero. The next sip or 2 of bourbon is 5 times as sweet, rich, and full bodied as normal.

Not for serious tasting of course, but a very tasty treat.

Warning: Trying this with Pappy 15 will probably make your head explode ...

Mike

[Bourbon Joe]

Warning: Trying this with Pappy 15 will probably make your head explode ...

Mike

What a way to go!!
Joe

[Mike]

I finally got around to trying this combination. I was really in the mood for some bourbon tonight and had some rich dark chocolate ready at hand. I tried the chocolate with Pappy 20, with Rowan's Creek, and with Eagle Rare 10 YO (one of the sweetest bourbons to my taste buds).

It was a good combination with all of them, but I believe it went best with the Rowans's Creek. I got a slight buzz going and just sat back and marvelled at how good the bourbon and chocolate combo was.

Another combination with food that I have found works very well is to mix bourbon and maple syrup to your own taste and serve it with smoked salmon.

[MikeK]

Another combination with food that I have found works very well is to mix bourbon and maple syrup to your own taste and serve it with smoked salmon.

That sounds pretty freaky Mike, how did you stumble across that one? Bourbon, Maple syrup, and salmon are among my favorite things, so I will have to try this out!

Mike

[Mike]

That sounds pretty freaky Mike, how did you stumble across that one? Bourbon, Maple syrup, and salmon are among my favorite things, so I will have to try this out!
Mike

My dog Barleycorn came up with this recipe, says it came to him in a dream. Seemed like it would work and so it did.

I first served it at one of my brewing parties, and will again soon, as I have a 'Pull My Finger Brew Ha Ha' scheduled in late February. There will be me and five other male children....... cooking, eating, drinking, brewing, smoking, farting, lying, and pretending to be grown up men.

Ain't it shameful? Me, at 63 years of age still cutting the fool...... I am beyond help.

[Virginia Gentleman]

I to love dark chocolate when I am drinking whiskey. They go great together. Dagoba makes an 87% cacao that is really good if you like it bittersweet.

http://www.dagobachocolate.com/

Scott

[MikeK]

Another combination with food that I have found works very well is to mix bourbon and maple syrup to your own taste and serve it with smoked salmon.

Hoping that you didn't make this up just to mess with me, I finally got around to trying it. Pretty good!

Are you coming out to play at the Sampler this month?

Mike

[Mike]

Hoping that you didn't make this up just to mess with me, I finally got around to trying it. Pretty good!

Are you coming out to play at the Sampler this month?

Mike

Mike, glad you like my bourbon/maple syrup concoction, but I am deeply offended (and Barleycorn is offended too) that you would think I make anything up. It is and has been my policy not to lie unless it is convenient or fun.

As to my coming to the Sampler, unfortunately the BIG BOSS has inserted other events on my calendar at that time. I hope to make it to a bourbon event sometime.........sure are a lot of BE folks that need to meet me.........er, ah, I mean that I want to meet!

I wish you one and all a grand time at the sampler, sipping bourbon while I will be doing whatever has been placed on my calendar.