Chocolate’s Wild Side

Source: Chocolate’s Wild Side

The Spirit of Cacao Tasting

This past Saturday was a bit cold and gloomy, but not inside Back Label Wine Merchants cozy back room. That is where 25 curious chocolate and spirits enthusiasts gathered to taste 8 new experiences from around the world. Mark Christian of the C-Spot and the Heirloom Cacao Preservation Fund spoke about the chocolates and what makes them heirloom designation, Natasha Soto-Albors of BLWM explained her spirit choice pairings then I discussed the importance of packaging and its effects on why you purchase what you do and showcased the Heirloom Chocolate Series package Mark and I worked together on.

Our line up was:

#1 Designation VII

Spirit — Tuthilltown Cassis Liqueur (NY)

Chocolate —  Origin: Maya Mountain, Belize / Barsmith: Brasstown (USA) / Cacáo-content: 70%

#2 Designation IX

Spirit — Bittermen’s Citron Sauvage (OR)

Chocolate —  Origin: Piedra de Plata, Ecuador / Barsmith: TO’aK (Ecuador) / Cacáo-content: 73%

#3 Designation II

Spirit — Catskills Provisions NY Honey Rye (NY)

Chocolate —  Origin: Beníano, Bolivia / Barsmith: Oialla (Denmark) / Cacáo-content: 78%

#4 Designation Preliminary

Spirit — Old New Orleans Cajun Spice Rum (LA)

Chocolate —  Origin: Purús, Brazil / Barsmith: Luisa Abram (Brazil) / Cacáo-content: 81%

My fave pairings in order were 3, 1, 4, 2.

One of the highlights was the chance to try the TO’aK sample disks from Ecuador. This bar at $300 a pop is the most expensive in the world. I was very curious to find out what makes it so special. I did like its very mature, grown up flavor, but as discussed earlier much of the hoopla is the cost of wonderful packaging and store presentation of the bar. Well done.

As a bonus, one of the guests, Glenn Petriello of Glennmade Craft Chocolates  gave out samples of his two heirloom chocolate bars whose beans originate from Belize and Ecuador. Glenn is a new bean to bar producer in Hoboken “yeah” and has 6 single origin dark chocolates in his line.

There were many lively questions and discussions and was so much fun that when it was over no one wanted to leave, but eventually we had to go ;-(

The quote of the day from our package “Save the Earth: It’s the only planet with chocolate”.

Join Me – Heirloom Chocolate and Spirits Pairing – Saturday, October 22nd 4-5:30 — NYC

I hope you can attend and please share this with friends, its going to be fun!

Mark Christian, founder of the C-spot.com & Fund Director for HCP will join us to teach this class at Back Label Wine Merchants on Oct. 22nd at 4pm! Heirloom chocolates officially designated by HCP (Heirloom Cacao Preservation) will be showcased alongside spirits pairings by our Spirits Director, Allison Klug.

Creative Director and designer Sharon Klein (www.skgd.net) will also join the conversation to discuss how the packaging of these exceptional chocolates plays an important role.

Alcohol & chocolate go way back … thousands of years in fact. During the Temperance Movement chocolate was used as an alternative to liquor. Why’s that? Moreover, how can the pairing be correctly reconciled, when not all of them go well together?

Find out first-hand for yourself by sampling and learning about why and how the chemistry and gastronomy of this combination work up some incendiary aromas. Expand your mind and your senses, while growing the chocolate spirit in this fun flavorsome kick-off to Saturday night.

Tickets

Back Label Wine Merchants
111 W 20th St, NY, NY
(212) 229-9463 (WINE)
events@backlabelwine.com
backlabelwine.co

A New Beginning

The Law Offices of Bonnie Spiro Schinagle of Garden City and Manhattan recently opened their doors.

With a very short timetable to create a new logo, two brochures, a banner, business cards an ad and website graphics for an event they were attending, Sharon Klein Graphic Design was engaged to design and project manage all of the collateral.

My client retained a new client within the first 24 hours of the site launch and people have responded viscerally to the newly branded printed products.

Does your business need a new visual identity or a rebrand?

Give us a call 212-645-8163.