Victorian Truffles & Tequila: A Heavenly Pair

The Trouble with Truffles

We recently made the acquaintance of the Head Chocolatier, John Alexander, at Victorian Truffles and, after much pleading on Twitter, he was kind enough to send us samples of two of their specialty confections, the Tequila & Lime Truffles and the Limited Edition Tequila & Lime Red Chile Truffles.

Unfortunately, the USPS being what it is and Christmas just around the corner, the Priority Mail package wasn’t as much a priority to the USPS as one might think. Ever the consummate professional with a singular focus on customer service and satisfaction, John asked us not to eat those truffles when they arrived (which they did, a week later) because he would prefer to overnight a fresh batch. Here at Tequila Aficionado, we understand small batch production and pride in quality products so we did as he asked. He made a fresh batch on Monday and we received them today (Wednesday). They were well worth the wait!

When we received the box, the presentation was impressive. Rich, dark, wrapping paper bound with golden ribbon greeted us. Upon removing the cover, golden tissue paper sealed with a red wax seal told us this was no ordinary treat. Pulling the tissue away released a wonder for the nose. The scents of fresh lime, tequila, hints of other citrus, and cream danced as we breathed deeply. The visual treat was no less lovely with bite sized morsels rolled in coconut, lime zest and red chile that seemed perfectly attired for the holiday season.

Tequila & Lime Victorian Truffles

Retail $29 for 12 Pieces

The Tequila and Lime truffles are handmade and rolled in organic shredded coconut and fresh lime zest. Mixed with Avion Silver Tequila, fresh lime juice and White Chocolate in the center, this Truffle is refreshing and makes for a year-round treat.

This is not your usual chocolate truffle. We were expecting sweet chocolate but instead experienced delectable tidbits of joy. Yes, there is white chocolate in it, but this is more like a light and rich ganache with far more to its substance than sugar. This is old-school confection, not candy. We were thrilled to discover that Victorian Truffles uses Avion Silver Tequila in their recipe. It seems Mr. Alexander is a fan of sipping tequilas and has tried many but feels Avion Silver is the best choice for this truffle. We agree!

[Tweet “Victorian Truffles @victorianchoc: We were expecting sweet chocolate but instead experienced delectable tidbits of joy.”]

This truffle is soft on entry with the light texture of finely shredded coconut and a sweet finish. It coats your palate deliciously without all the heaviness of a syrupy blend. This is not a shooter. You’ll want to take 2-3 bites or more to savor each one. The strong lime presence would make this the perfect accompaniment when sipping a highlands tequila.

We recommend pairing the Tequila & Lime Victorian Truffles with double distilled blancos like Acumbaro, Siembra Azul, Arte Nom, Tapatio, Viva Mexico, and 4 Canones. A triple distilled tequila might be lost in the pairing.

Tequila & Lime Red Chile Victorian Truffles (Limited Edition)

Retail $30 for 12 Pieces

These Tequila & Lime Red Chile Truffles make for a true Limited Edition offering, bringing together sweet and savory flavors accented with the heat from the chiles.

These too are handmade and rolled in organic shredded coconut, dried red chile & fresh lime zest. (Medium Heat)

Mixed with Avion Silver and another premium reposado, fresh lime juice and white chocolate in the center, then rolled in lime zest, shredded coconut and red chile, this truffle will go over well at any party, event, or gift exchange.

“So pretty with the white coconut, lime zest and red pepper flakes”, I thought as I lifted one to sniff. It smelled as delicious as all the others. I took a leisurely bite and was surprised at the peppery pop as it hit my tongue.

Mike commented that this combination was perfectly balanced on the tongue and left him with a spicy peppery finish. The finish was long and had just enough heat to remind us of the really amazing confection we’d had. An anejo would go very well with this truffle. We also discussed how this would be nicely paired with a sweet cocktail like a Margarita or Paloma. Mike recommends a dark reposado to an anejo to pair with this. Something like an aged Montejima or a 4 Canones anejo is a perfect pairing for the Tequila & Lime Red Chile Limited Edition Truffles. Personally, I felt the aged Montejima complemented the pepper perfectly. Be prepared when pairing these because any tequila you choose will reactivate the pepper and leave you with that zing, which is not at all a bad thing!

Both of these truffles are a worthy gift for anybody who enjoys tequila or pairing. If you’re planning a dinner party with tequila pairings, these would be a perfect light dessert. Though they are the size of the average truffle, they are rich and delicious, leaving you satisfied that you’ve had something special without leaving you feeling heavy. (Tip: Try the Tequila Lime Truffles with cocktails before dinner and save the Red Chile Truffles for the after dinner treat with a sipping reposado or anejo tequila.)

[Tweet “Victorian Truffles @victorianchoc “are rich and delicious, leaving you satisfied that you’ve had something special without leaving you feeling heavy.””]

Serve Victorian Truffles immediately at room temperature. Don’t give your refrigerator the opportunity to dry these treasures out and do not keep them lying around. These hand-made joys are a must share with a short shelf life due to all the fresh ingredients so don’t try to hoard them either.

Tequila isn’t the only spirit Victorian Truffles are made with. They have a huge selection of truffle varieties made with vodka, champagne, beer, rum, brandy, scotch, whiskey, bourbon, Irish whiskey, Irish cream, amaretto and hazelnut liqueur as well as their original chocolate truffles. Click on any of the images in this article to see for yourself. We’re looking forward to sampling Bourbon Pecan, Amaretto, Hazelnut and Raspberry Truffles with more of our favorite tequilas!