At the beginning of last month I did already publish an article on that subject and today I’d like to continue with that. So if you should now be asking yourself: What? Liquorice and spirits? – I can only recommend you to first have a look on that article. I hope that I am briefly answering these questions in there. Today, however, I will present some new combinations with limited, seasonal varieties of Lakrids. (provided test products)
As in 2016, there are also two special Limited Edition flavors in the range of Lakrids this year which are launched under the name LOVE. If you should now be thinking of red hearts and fruity tastes, this is exactly the right thought because both LOVE varieties rely entirely on red fruits in combination with chocolate and licorice.
And since the Easter festival is on the doorstep and traditionally Easter is connected to lots of sweets, Johan Bülow also offers two interesting varieties in his EASTER EGG edition, which I will describe further below. But of course I am primarily concerned about a successful cooperation with particular spirits. It is not very easy to combine such a special sweet candy as liquorice with proper matching distillates in this context but I am nonetheless very pleased with the flavor combinations I’ve found. So, let’s have closer look:
LOVE Raspberry Choc Coated Chili Liquorice with Mozart Dry Chocolate Spirit
I would like to begin with the variety, which I really liked most out of the varieties presented today. The LOVE Raspberry Choc Coated Chili Liquorice is a real bombshell of flavors with aromatic raspberry, delicately melting Belgian chocolate and a core of fruity and spicy Habanero Lakrids. What a combination! Immediately I had the idea to pair this variety with a spirit that I usually only use for mixing: the Mozart Dry Chocolate Spirit. Its dry and not too sweet chocolate character catches up the taste of the LOVE Raspberry Choc Coated Chili Liquorice simply wonderfully and intensifies the pleasure. So if you are looking for an excuse to enjoy the Mozart Dry neat: this is a really good reason!
LOVE Black Currant Choc Coated Liquorice with Jura Turas-Mara Island Single Malt Whiskey
The second variety from the LOVE mini-series is the LOVE Black Currant Choc Coated Liquorice. I am not a big fan of currants, but here their taste really convinced me. Accompanied by white chocolate, the fruity aroma originating from freeze-dried berries breaks its way through without being too sour (what otherwise would be exactly what I do not like about currants). With the delicious liquorice core, this is a very delightful joy. With the Jura Turas Mara I have chosen a sherry cask matured Scotch Island Single Malt from the Isle of Jura. While Island malts are all but known for their fruity side, the Turas Mara is an exception to that and really turns out like a small orchard of dark fruits. They are just like the proverbial chalk and cheese and so you have the chance to enjoy a Turas Mara with an all new companion.
EASTER Dark & Passion Choc Coated Liquorice with Plantation Original Dark Rum or Plantation Pineapple Stiggins’ Fancy Original Dark
The EASTER Dark & Passion Choc Coated Liquorice from the easter series reminds a little of the Lakrids B, but it comes with a much stronger chocolate part, since the white chocolate was replaced by dark chocolate here. This also fits perfectly and while I have already recommended a rum as accompaniment to Lakrids B, I once again opted for that kind of spirit. With the Plantation Original Dark (which I will review here on the blog in the near future) you will get an intense and strong but sweet rum from Trinidad and Jamaica, which mainly emphasizes the chocolate flavor of the EASTER Dark & Passion Choc Coated Liquorice, while the Plantation Pineapple Stiggins’ Fancy Original Dark is an alternative that also works excellently, but clearly aims more on a potpourri of exotic fruit.
EGG Dulce de Leche Choc Coated Liquorice with Hibiki Japanese Harmony
Here, too, I really had to contain myself not to eat several of those little titbits at once. The EGG Dulce de Leche Choc Coated Liquorice features a sugary-crispy but thin coating with licorice powder around buttery Swiss Dulce de Leche chocolate. And this is aromatically brilliant! Here I once again chose a whisky and opted for the Hibiki Japanese Harmony. It is a great blended whisky whose subtle caramel and toffee notes (among many other flavors) form a beautiful accompaniment.
Buying sources: At specialized retailers or online.
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