If there are two things that we talk about more than anything else here at Craft Gin Club HQ, it’s gin (of course!) and chocolate - we are chocoholics as well as gin fanatics here. That is why we just love pairing fabulous chocolates with some of our favourite cocktail recipes.
Few chocolates get more fabulous than those produced by Willie’s Cacao, who use only the best single estate cacao beans from all over the world to create their tasty chocolate delights.
We’ve been rather obsessive about their utterly scrumptious Luscious Orange dark chocolate and Ginger & Lime dark chocolate editions recently. Not least because we are so excited to send them to our members in their February 2021 Gin of the Month box. They are both made with incredible, single estate cacao beans from Baracoa, Cuba, and 100% natural ingredients.
Both of these chocolates, with their remarkable flavours, go together wonderfully with gin, especially when paired with the two cocktails below.
Orange Negroni
This Negroni recipe is bursting with delicious orange aromas from the orange peel garnish and the Angostura Orange Bitters, both of which compliment that quintessential base trio of rich gin, herbaceous vermouth and fruity yet delectably bitter Campari.
Smooth, debonair and elegant, you simply must try this cocktail with the Luscious Orange dark chocolate from Willie’s Cacao. It’s a deep, aromatic and warmly citrus-forward chocolate that’s like no other.
Ingredients
50ml gin - Sibling Negroni Gin would be ideal
50ml red vermouth - Punt E Mes is our choice
50ml Campari
A dash of Angostura Orange Bitters
Orange peel, to garnish
Method
Combine the liquids in a shaker or mixing glass with lots of ice and stir. Add ice to a rocks glass and twist the orange peel over the top to douse with oils. Strain the liquids over the ice, garnish with the orange peel and enjoy.
This cocktail is the perfect match for our Orange Chocolate Cookies, which are made with Willie’s Cacao’s Luscious Orange dark chocolate. Together, they make for the perfect night in!
Ginger & Lime Gin Mule
Much like the Ginger & Lime dark chocolate from Willie’s Cacao, this cocktail is brilliantly zesty and has a delightfully fiery touch of ginger. Both flavours work so well with gin in this fabulous cocktail, which makes for a wonderfully bright contrast to the sumptuous dark chocolate. Enjoying these two beautiful treats together is an absolute joy!
Ingredients
50ml gin - we recommend Ludlow Triple Citrus and Pomegranate Gin No. 2
Ginger beer, to top
15ml Simple Syrup
20ml lime juice
Fresh lime slices, to garnish
Fresh ginger slices, to garnish
Method
Muddle the fresh ginger and fresh lime (keeping some back to garnish) along with the Simple Syrup and lime juice. Add the gin and lots of ice, then shake well. Strain the liquid into a mule mug or rocks glass full of ice and garnish. Enjoy!
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