Vosges - Champagne Truffles - Dec. 31, 2022

Chocolate(s) of the Day

Vosges

Champagne Truffles

Good ++

Weight: .72 oz. (20.4 g.) / 1.8 oz. (51 g.) in total container

Calories: 88 calories in 2 pieces

Cost: $20.00 for 1 container of 5 truffles

Purchased from: Vosges, online order

Happy New Year's Eve to you all; and welcome to Day #11 of Chocolate and Spirits Theme Week.

Today's Champagne Truffles were from Vosges IP, LLC (Chicago, IL).

The aroma notes for these attractively packaged, and gold leaf adorned, truffles included: sweet dark chocolate (dark ganache, dark chocolate mousse), with very faint traces of warm spice--and even fainter, fleeting sourdough bread and chocolate cookie notes.

A firmer, smooth dark chocolate shell with filled with a velvety, soft dark chocolate ganache (filling).

The taste was very chocolate-centered with rich, smooth and chocolatey (brownie) notes, and very faint warm spice and vanilla.

Ingredients: bittersweet chocolate (unsweetened chocolate), sugar, cocoa butter, ground vanilla beans), heavy cream, wheat glucose*, champagne, gold leaf

Allergen-related information: Contains: milk, wheat*. Processed on equipment that also processes milk, soy, wheat*, eggs, peanuts, sesame and tree nuts.

"*Gluten free. The wheat has been processed to allow this food to meet the FDA requirements for gluten-free foods."

Vosges - Collection + The Dalmore 14 Truffle with Pecan - Dec. 30, 2022

Chocolate(s) of the Day

Vosges

The Dalmore + Vosges Haut-Chocolat 9-piece box (3 flavors)

1.) Chiba Hateruma - Good ++

2.) Naga - Good +++

3.) The Dalmore 14 - Good +++

Weight: 1.22 oz. (34.66 g.) / 3.66 oz. (104 g.) in 9-piece box

Calories: 140 calories in 3 pieces

Purchased from: Vosges, online order

Welcome to Day #10 of Chocolate and Spirits Theme Week.

This Dalmore 14 Truffle with Pecan is the second of two whisky-related chocolate posts today from Vosges IP, LLC (Chicago, IL). 

(See previous post for a write-up on The Dalmore 14 Collection -- featuring three different whiskey-infused chocolate flavors.) Both collections sampled today were housed in an attractive black, 9-piece box, with three flavors each, and with tasting tips and information to enhance a tasting experience.

Note: Today's Chiba Hateruma and Naga chocolates, the other two flavors in this Vosges box did not contain Dalmore Scotch Whisky, but were appealing, exotic tasting partners in today's spirit-infused chocolate tasting flight.

Chiba Heruma

This very beautiful (matte forest green) chocolate was topped with finely chopped Japanese Chiba* peanuts. 

Aroma notes for this 62% cacao dark chocolate included: faint spice, and faint chocolate and tart green citrus herb (oxalis). Bursting forth from inside was a very soft, flowing, lightly salted, sweet caramel filling with very faint herbal notes.

Naga 

The Naga chocolate contained "housemade and toasted curry masala + coconut puree + 45% cacao deep milk chocolate."

Aroma and flavor notes included: sweet brown sugar, spices (very faint curry blend) and chocolate. 

The firmer, outer chocolate shell was topped with (curry) spices that harmonized very nicely with a much lighter (whipped cream/mousse) creamy chocolate center that had very light coconut notes. The layered flavors were very satisfying.

I'd tasted a similar Vosges Naga chocolate many years ago. At the time the southeast Asian-inspired spice blend with chocolate was considered very exotic. It may still be. It was deliciously novel and inspired, now as then. And today's Naga chocolate was possibly even better than I remember the first one being.

The Dalmore 14 

Last but not least in this trio of filled chocolates....The Dalmore 14 with Pecan. 

Aroma notes for this 62% dark chocolate topped with a "candied whisky soaked pecan" included: very faint honey-ed whisky, chocolate and faint lightly woodsy nut (pecan). 

The flavors: a sweet, rich and harmoniously layered blend of smooth dark chocolate ganache, whisky, caramel and softly crunchy, pecan. Very nice winter warmer and companion pairing with a sip of Scotch.

Collective ingredients (for all three chocolate flavors in this box): Milk chocolate (sugar, unsweetened chocolate, cocoa butter, whole milk powder, ground vanilla beans), heavy cream, brown rice syrup, bittersweet chocolate (unsweetened chocolate, sugar, cocoa butter, ground vanilla beans), Okinawa black sugar, Hateruma brown sugar, cane sugar, coconut puree (coconut milk, invert sugar syrup), grass-fed butter, Dalmore 14 Year Scotch, cocoa butter, white chocolate (sugar, cocoa butter, whole milk powder, nonfat dry milk, soy lecithin, Chiba peanuts, turmeric, Madagascar vanilla beans, blue color (spirulina extract, fruit juice), water, invert sugar syrup, pecans sea salt, nutmeg, ground ginger, cinnamon, cardamom, fennel seed, clove, fenugreek seed, sunflower lecithin, white pepper, black pepper. 

Allergen-related information: "Contains peanuts, coconut, pecans, milk, soy."..."Processed on equipment that also processes milk, soy, wheat, eggs, peanuts, sesame and tree nuts."

*Chiba prefecture in Japan is the largest producer of peanuts in the country, and is known for flavored peanuts (sugared, salted, spiced, matcha/green tea, other).

Vosges - Dalmore 14 Collection: The Dalmore 18 and The Dalmore 12 (Scotch Whiskey truffles) - Dec. 30, 2022

Chocolate(s) of the Day

Vosges IP, LLC

The Dalmore 14 Collection

1.) The Dallmore 18 - Scotch whisky + vanilla bean coffee +... - Very Good

2.) The Dallmore 12 - Scotch whisky + proprietary 62% cacao dark... Good +++ - Very Good

Weight: 1.626 oz. (46.2 g.) for 4 truffles / 3.66 oz. (104 g.) for 9-piece box

Calories: 227 calories (approx.) in 4 truffles

Cost: $42.00 for box of 9 truffles

Purchased from: Vosges, online order

Welcome to Day #10 of Chocolate and Spirits Week. 

Today's 9-piece (3 flavors* or "parfums") box of high-end truffles--"The Dalmore 14 Collection" (The Dalmore Highland Single Malt Scotch Whiskey) x Vosges Haut-Chocolat"--from Vosges IP, LLC was impressive. Luxurious in its packaging, it also delivered a wonderful, high-end tasting experience.

Below is a short review of two of the three flavors in this box. (The third contained wheat, so I did not sample.)

The Dalmore 18

My favorite in this Collection. Infused with The Dalmore 18 Scotch whisky, this white chocolate covered truffle was adorned with pieces of real gold leaf. It was filled with a layered ganache that was full of delightful surprises.

Aroma notes included: come hither subtle vanilla and faint scotch, buttery vanilla wafer with a ghost of coffee latte on the side.

The flavors inside were very special: a blend of indulgent, lovely dark chocolate ganache, nuanced aged whiskey, caramel, brown sugar, coffee, vanilla and diffuse fruit (citrus) and woodsy nut ("pecan"). (Note: there were no pecans in this collection box.)

The contrast between the pure ivory white chocolate on the outside and the incredible, deep rich flavors on the inside was a wonderful reveal when taking a bite of this chocolate.

This was made with The Dalmore 18 Year Scotch, aged in Bourbon barrels and Sherry casks-- "gaining (from the Bourbon barrels) signature notes of toasted vanilla and tropical fruit"...and "rich chocolate and sherried fruits" (notes) from Matusalem Oloroso Sherry casks. 

Vosges Tasting Notes:

The Nose: Vanilla, dark chocolate, orange and cinnamon

The Palette: Dark chocolate, candied citrus fruits

The Finish: Citrus fruits and rich molasses

The Dalmore 12

Aroma notes: sweet dark chocolate, faint citrus (sweet orange), whiskey (sophisticated caramel and faint smoked honey-vanilla notes), and very faint warm spice.

Taste: layers of rich flavors: chocolate (chocolate brownie, dark chocolate mousse with orange liqueur, Scotch-infused caramel and citrus peel--accompanied by different facets of orange and warm spice.

These two truffles were a fantastic pre-New Year's treat. Think of the best high-end chocolate desserts you've had, transformed into truffle form.

Note: Ingredients listed below include complete/combined list for all three chocolates in this collection box.

Ingredients: "Chocolate (unsweetened chocolate, cane sugar, cocoa butter, vanilla bean seeds), bittersweet chocolate (unsweetened chocolate, cane sugar, cocoa butter, vanilla bean seeds), white chocolate (sugar, cocoa butter, whole milk powder, skimmed milk powder, soy lecithin - an emulsifier), caramel (cream, non-gmo corn syrup, cane sugar, non-gmo soy lecithin, sodium bicarbonate), extra virgin olive oil, speculoos cookies (what flour, sugar, vegetable oils (palm, rapeseed), candy syrup, raising agents (sodium hydrogen carbonate, ammonium hydrogen carbonate), salt, cinnamon), cane sugar, organic burnt sugar syrup (organic sugar, water), Dalmore 15-year old scotch, cold brew coffee concentrate (water, coffee), raw honey, syrups, molasses, burnt sugar syrup (sugar, water), bittersweet chocolate (chocolate liquor, sugar, cocoa butter, soy lecithin--an emulsifier, natural flavor), Dalmore 12-year old scotch, Dalmore 18-year scotch, gold leaf, candied orange peel (orange peel strips, glucose, fructose syrup, sugar, dextrose, citric acid, sulphites), sugar, brown rice syrup, blood orange puree (blood oranges, sugar), cinnamon, hibiscus powder, non-GMO bitter orange liqueur, sea salt, orange zest, cocoa powder [processed with alkali], ground ginger, natural vanilla flavor, organic soy lecithin--an emulsifier."

Allergen-related information: "Contains: milk, soy, wheat"

*Note I did not sample the third Dalmore scotch-infused chocolate with ginger crumb(s) in this collection, as it contained cookies/wheat.

Ritual Chocolate - The Apres Chocolate w/ Sparkling White Wine infused chocolate, raspberries (bar) - Dec. 29, 2022

Chocolate(s) of the Day

Ritual Chocolate
The Apres Chocolate - Sparkling White Wine Infused Chocolate with Dried Raspberries 70% Cacao (bar)
Good + - Good ++
Weight: .706 oz. (20 g.) / 2.12 oz. (60 g.) in total bar
Calories: 100 calories in 1/3 bar
Cost: $12.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Bar and Cocoa, online order 

Welcome to Day #9 of Chocolate and Spirits Theme Week. 

This sparkling white wine infused chocolate was the second of two 70% dark chocolate bars featured today--each with its own "spirited" magic. (See previous post to read about Auro Chocolate's Don Papa Rum Infused 70% bar from the Philippines.)

Today's "The Apres Chocolate" - Sparkling White Wine Infused Chocolate with Dried Raspberries 70% Cacao (bar) was from Ritual Chocolate (Heber City, UT).

Aroma notes for this dark chocolate bar included: tart, sweet red raspberry and dark chocolate, very faint white wine, faint angel food cake, warm spice (barely detectable/inferred star anise), and a trace of butter cookies with confectioners sugar and raspberry jam centers.

Flavor notes for this relatively creamy, festive chocolate included dark chocolate (chocolate ganache, faint brownie), flickers of fresh red raspberry, and very faint white wine.

Maker's tasting notes: Champagne and Raspberries

Ingredients: Cacao, organic cane sugar, organic cocoa butter, freeze-dried raspberries, sparkling white wine.

Allergen-related information: May contain traces of peanuts, tree nuts, and wheat