Foras Chocolate Martini
Foras Chocolate Martini is so much more than a simple chocolate liqueur. It is an infusion of English Vodka, distilled from East Anglian barley, and Criollo Cacao beans, cultivated in the heart of Peru.
The base of English Vodka carries notes of vanilla, hazelnut and chocolate on the nose which are amplified in the Chocolate Martini. The wide-open skies and fertile lands of East Anglia grow the finest Barley, which is processed in small batches in a copper still. To keep this flavour as pure as possible, the vodka isn’t chilled after distillation, giving a silky and smooth finish.
Criollo (meaning ‘of local origin’ in Spanish) stands out as one of the oldest and finest varieties of Cacao bean, predating the Maya and Aztecs. Criollo beans are notoriously difficult to cultivate and carry a very low yield, making them extremely sought after by master chocolatiers worldwide.
Experts at the International Center for Agricultural Research and Development (CIRAD) have spent decades tracing the history of the cacao plant and believe that it has existed for millennia, with the species of tree we now cultivate emerging around 15,000 years ago. Known for its uplifting and energising properties the Aztecs and Maya regarded cacao as ‘food of the gods’ and revered its rich taste.
While the hardier Forastero variety of cacao bean was exported to Africa and Southeast Asia to be intensively farmed and produced into much of the commercial chocolate available today, Criollo was almost lost to history. Disease and disaster eradicated the plants in the 1700s, until farmers combined it with Forastero to create a hybrid strain called Trinitario.
Pure Criollo survived by chance and, although fragile and susceptible to disease, they now account for 0.01% of worldwide production. The taste is very fruit forward and is devoid of bitterness due to the lack of tannins in this variety of bean.
When paired with the smooth English Vodka, Criollo cacao imparts its delicious rich flavour and creates a drink which is smooth and complex, quite unlike anything else. Served simply over ice, the natural flavours shine through, although it can also be mixed into an indulgent Chocolate Martini cocktail.
This cocktail was invented in Texas, in 1955, by Hollywood stars Elizabeth Taylor and Rock Hudson while on set. Their shared love of martinis and chocolate led them to experiment and create a now iconic drink. Originally a blend of vodka, two chocolate liqueurs and cream, it is a rich and indulgent treat. Foras Chocolate Martini takes the guesswork out of blending and can be shaken with cream and ice to produce a mixologist worthy cocktail fit for a starlet. Enjoy, love Foras.
