I believe I’ve hinted here before that, while I’m no teetotaler, I’m generally incapable of drinking more than one alcoholic beverage a night. Give me a glass of chardonnay or rosé, or a Corona, and I’m content… for the next three or four hours.
Give me a glass of hard liquor, though, and I’ll hand it back to you straight away. And I don’t mean empty. I simply cannot stomach strong drinks, much as I’d like to close my eyes and wake up in the world of Mad Men.
I should have known the following chocolate wouldn’t be up my alley, but alas! I was fooled by my prior enjoyment of the Baileys Irish Cream bar.
Villars Larmes de Poire Williams
I think I was seduced by the picture of pretty countryside.
Translated as “Swiss Milk Chocolate with Williamspear-Brandyfilling”, I broke off a pod of this chocolate with no small measure of enthusiasm. For some reason, I thought pear brandy would work for me. And at first, it almost did.
Not quite perfect in its moulding, but as Farmer Hoggett said, "That'll do".
The chocolate pods are quite large and, inside, contain a sugar shell that protects the chocolate from the Poire Williams liquid filling. My first taste highlighted a strong sweetness, a definitive kick of alcohol, and a smooth creaminess in the chocolate itself.
With the second pod, I popped the whole thing in my mouth to see what would happen.
What happened?
I lost all ability to enjoy this. The explosion of brandy on my tongue when the chocolate dissolved was too much for me, as I found the alcohol harsh and overpowering. Still, I persevered in the hopes of catching nuances in the chocolate and convincing myself that I could be a sophisticated enjoyer-of-brandy.
Dissection shot! I prised off the top of the pod to capture a shot of the liquid, but I wouldn't blame anyone for thinking this looks a tad creepy...
There comes a moment in a girl’s life when she has to accept that certain flavours aren’t pleasurable to her. For me, this moment came when I realised I’d eaten nine pods in the following way:
Step 1: Nibble off corner.
Step 2: Tap pod against plate vigorously and repeatedly, forcing out as much liquid filling as possible.
Step 3: Eat empty chocolate pod, grimacing at remnants of brandy.
Yep. Stupid, right? Particularly when the milk chocolate wasn’t great. Eventually I came to my senses, threw out the rest of the bar with a sigh, and cleansed my palate with some trustworthy Michel Cluizel.
Can’t win ‘em all, folks. Can’t win ‘em all.
You make me chuckle with your clever writing. I am also one of those people that has a strong disliking to alcohol. the lighter tasting beverages are tolerable. But a hard shot of whiskey isn’t something I would dream about.
You make me chuckle with your clever writing. I am also one of those people that has a strong disliking to alcohol. the lighter tasting beverages are tolerable. But a hard shot of whiskey isn’t something I would dream about.
I can’t stand the taste of hard liquor, either. Even wine is a little too much after one glass. Is it a Pavlovian connection, since it makes me sick, too? Or are my taste buds just wired that way? Hmm.
I can’t stand the taste of hard liquor, either. Even wine is a little too much after one glass. Is it a Pavlovian connection, since it makes me sick, too? Or are my taste buds just wired that way? Hmm.
Shame. The pear would’ve sucked me in, in addition to the pretty countryside scenery.
I actually think it’s quite possible I would’ve liked this…I’ve recently come to like/tolerate/enjoy liquory flavours (in chocolate form, rarely in beverage form).
Shame. The pear would’ve sucked me in, in addition to the pretty countryside scenery.
I actually think it’s quite possible I would’ve liked this…I’ve recently come to like/tolerate/enjoy liquory flavours (in chocolate form, rarely in beverage form).
Yes, Poire Williams is pretty strong.
….which is why I like it!
Yes, Poire Williams is pretty strong.
….which is why I like it!
Pretty scene but a rather busy label, no? Must admit that while I can enjoy a nice cognac or double malt whisky I never enjoy such things in chocolate. I think I like my drinks and my chocolate straight!
Pretty scene but a rather busy label, no? Must admit that while I can enjoy a nice cognac or double malt whisky I never enjoy such things in chocolate. I think I like my drinks and my chocolate straight!
I’m such a teetotaller too! I can drink a bit but not much at all. hehe love that dissection shot-it looks like fluid on the brain errm chocolate!
Hannah you need to try some Cointreau- nectar of the gods, and completely different to the harsh throat-ripping qualities of the eau-de-vie. I was devastated when I tried calvados and it was awful. I always expect that this sort of chocolate will be a nice ganache flavoured with the spirit, that can be nice, but it never is. I really don’t like that gush of liquor from this sort of chocolate, and the rim of crystallized sugar. Urgh. I’ve always figured that someone must like this stuff, but never worked out who. Anyway, I suggest a Cointreau on ice sometime. I had one yesterday to gird my loins before a funeral, just perfect.
Cookbookmaniac: I’m super glad to hear it
Lighter-tasting alcohols are clearly the best!
Lauren: Have you ever wondered whether we were separated at birth?
L-Izzle: I wish I could have given it to you to try!
Kath: I thought of you when I was trying this – and again when I was throwing it out. I really wanted you to have it!
Whisperinggums: You are your Less is More!
Well, you like your chocolate straight… with chilli.
Lorraine: I think we’re onto a good thing – less alcohol means more tummy space for food!
And I thought brain too…
Louise: I’m sorry to hear about the funeral – I hope you’re okay. However, you’ll have to have my Cointreau for me – I cannot cope with orange-flavoured anything. That’s why you’ll never see chocolate-covered orange on this blog, and why I didn’t eat a single slice of panforte in Italy. You enjoy the Cointreau for me, and I’ll enjoy chocolate with peanut butter for you
I’ve definitely never tried a flavor like that!
I am ok with hard liquor. ACtually I like it try this for the sake of it.
I don’t drink much so not a big fan of chocolate with strong liqueur in it. Still, they look fab and classy, make great gift
I don’t drink much so not a big fan of chocolate with strong liqueur in it. Still, they look fab and classy, make great gift
I never understood why pears and chocolate was supposed to be such a great combo.; to me pears are too delicate tasting. In any case, now you know and all is well.
I never understood why pears and chocolate was supposed to be such a great combo.; to me pears are too delicate tasting. In any case, now you know and all is well.
Simply Life: Unless you like strong alcohol, you aren’t missing out!
Penny aka Jeroxie: I have seen some Villars chocolates in Australia before, so maybe you’ll find this one day!
Anh: You’re right, as long as you’re sure the person you’re giving it to likes their liquor!
TasteofBeirut: I’m wary of pretty much all fruit + chocolate combinations, to be honest! Nothing beats the Lindt Chilli, right?
Simply Life: Unless you like strong alcohol, you aren’t missing out!
Penny aka Jeroxie: I have seen some Villars chocolates in Australia before, so maybe you’ll find this one day!
Anh: You’re right, as long as you’re sure the person you’re giving it to likes their liquor!
TasteofBeirut: I’m wary of pretty much all fruit + chocolate combinations, to be honest! Nothing beats the Lindt Chilli, right?
I am not really into my alcohol but I do like a fortified wine every now and then and can occasionally stomach a spirit such as cointreau but have never understood people drinking brandy, gin and whisky. I suspect I would not like this chocolate either but I am with you on the cover. I did try some hot chocolates in Scotland some years ago laced with cointreau which were good but I couldn’t finish it – wonder what you would think of them as chocolate connoisseur extraordinaire
I am not really into my alcohol but I do like a fortified wine every now and then and can occasionally stomach a spirit such as cointreau but have never understood people drinking brandy, gin and whisky. I suspect I would not like this chocolate either but I am with you on the cover. I did try some hot chocolates in Scotland some years ago laced with cointreau which were good but I couldn’t finish it – wonder what you would think of them as chocolate connoisseur extraordinaire
Johanna: Who knew so many of us food lovers aren’t that into alcohol? Sadly it’s unlikely I’ll ever be able to tell you what I’d think of a Cointreau-laced chocolate… orange-flavoured chocolate makes my tummy churn. Oh, and thank you for your lovely description at the end
(It’s fun how this blog somewhat legitimises my chocolate lovin’.)
Johanna: Who knew so many of us food lovers aren’t that into alcohol? Sadly it’s unlikely I’ll ever be able to tell you what I’d think of a Cointreau-laced chocolate… orange-flavoured chocolate makes my tummy churn. Oh, and thank you for your lovely description at the end
(It’s fun how this blog somewhat legitimises my chocolate lovin’.)