Organic Cornish Chocolate For Whisky Or Port

June 17, 2025
News
5 min read
Organic Cornish Chocolate For Whisky Or Port

The Chocolarder is one of the only small-batch bean-to-bar chocolate makers in the country. They produce fine quality, stone-ground chocolate using organic beans imported from single-estate, family-run plantations in Venezuela, Java, Madagascar, Peru, and the Dominican Republic. The select beans used at Chocolarder are roasted, winnowed, and ground over four days before being left to mature for 30 days. The chocolate is then hand-tempered and made into bars, which are further matured for 40 days to allow the full flavour to develop. This obsessive attention to detail yields some of the finest chocolate in production today.

Chocolarder was formed in 2012 when Mike Longman decided that making chocolate might be a fun way to spend his days. Having dedicated several years to learning and working in commercial kitchens as a pastry chef, he began experimenting in his own kitchen, making small batches from raw beans and getting intimate with the processes of roasting, grinding, and alchemizing to produce fine chocolate from scratch. His intention was to create a product based on the principles that have always been at the heart of great food—unadulterated sensory enjoyment without compromise. No shortcuts, preservatives, bulking agents, substitutions, or artificial additives—just the real deal, right from the bean to the bar.

This is a genuine commitment to ethical transparency that extends to every aspect of the business. Mike sources directly from the farmers themselves—no easy feat given the distance, language barriers, and logistics of getting the bulk of the raw ingredients across the world. But by establishing a direct channel from farm to kitchen, he can be picky about the quality of the beans and be sure that the money he pays goes to those who do the real work. Having found reputable growers producing high-quality beans, Mike committed to purchasing their harvest at above-market prices.

Transportation is handled by the New Dawn Traders via sail ships, providing a low-carbon solution. These boats load the cocoa from the farmers directly into their hold for a wind-powered journey back to Falmouth, Cornwall. Here, the beans are unloaded and brought to the workshop up the road.

Criollo beans are generally considered to be the best due to their depth of flavour and the health benefits they provide. Mike uses crops that are 100% organically grown and pesticide-free. Raw cane sugar best complements the flavour of cocoa—it has a lesser impact on blood sugar levels and is easier for the body to digest than fully refined sugars. The sugar is sourced close to the cocoa so it can all be loaded onto one boat.


What's Good for Christmas and What Should I Drink with It?

Now that you know how much love has been poured into the creation of this wonderful, indulgent chocolate, you're probably wondering which bars are good for Christmas and what chocolate/drink combinations work best. Here are my recommendations:

For the Adults who are Kids at heart and Those with a Sweet Tooth

Anyone with children knows that the only way to relax is by keeping them happy first! Dark chocolate is probably a no-go, as its bitterness isn’t something most kids appreciate. Fortunately, Chocolarder offers a couple of milk chocolate variants that fit the bill.

These chocolates have hints of raisin and fudge, making them great for pairing with light, floral whiskies from the Lowlands or Speyside. Alternatively, a sweet rum such as Diplomatico Reserva Exclusiva or Don Papa would work well, or even the raisin-heavy Ron Prohibido.

Your best options are:

For Those That Like Bitter Chocolate and Smoky Whisky

If you prefer a smoky whisky rather than a floral one, let me introduce you to Peruvian Dark Chocolate. The strong caramel and earthy tones in this chocolate complement peated whisky beautifully. You could go for a lightly peated bottle of Bowmore Darkest or go all in with our popular Old Ballantruan.

It's Christmas—What About the Port?

For all the port lovers out there, don’t worry—there are two fantastic dark chocolates for you:

The high cocoa content in these bars makes them the perfect accompaniment to the rich tones found in port.