We had an Elixir Tasting last night at Cotton Tree Lodge with a small group of six.  The lodge is having a Chocolate group at the moment so we set the mood for the night by starting with Cacao Fruit as the first tasting.  This was interesting because it was a new batch and we were curious as to the response from the group.

In this batch, we actually increased the sugar content in order to balance the astringent qualities of the cacao bean.  The result was a mellow, well-rounded flavour with a definite rich chocolate taste.  Overall, the group found this elixir complex, interesting and unique.

This time, we talked more about the medicinal properties of the Elixirs.  It was very clear that the Cacao Fruit had mood-lifting and stimulating qualities as the night proceeded!  This one got every-one into a talkative and lively mood.

By the end of the tasting, it seemed that the clear favourite was the Grapefruit Elixir.  This one is actually three years old and the maturation process brought out such interesting flavours!  It was a complex combination of pears, apples and honey.  Very silky smooth and unctuous and it had a lovely clear golden colour.

It just goes to show that aging a liqueur makes all the difference.  Most of the Elixirs that we have available are about 2 years old now and getting better.

Again, it was amusing to see the response towards the Culantro Elixir…you either love it or you hate it!!

Culantro is used interchangeably with cilantro in this country in cooking.  This herb lends a herbaceous refeshing taste to our Elixir.  Some people absolutely love it because they like everything with the taste of cilantro (culantro).  Others wrinkle up their nose in dismay and describe it as being “too soapy” or “too medicinal.”  The feedback is always very helpful!

For more information on our Elixirs, including taste profiles and medicinal properties, check out our link.  For our full list of Elixirs please check out The Apothecary.