Product Reviews
New Orange (Chocolate) Truffle; When adding Irish Poteen
by David Bridgman-Smith SUMMERFRUITCUP.COM, September 10th 2012.
Product review
Some may recall that Diageo (the owners of Baileys) used to make a Terry's Chocolate Orange liqueur and I attempted a recreation which seemed quite popular, so I was intrigued to try this new version.
From the bottle
Baileys orange truffle flavour is crafted with care from fresh Irish cream, the finest spirits and Irish whiskey.
The finest spirits in addition to whiskey? An interesting addition. The Baileys website doesn’t mention what these spirits are, but I would wager that it was some sort of dairy-based spirit, not unlike the whey-base of authentic Knockeen Hills Irish Poteen.
The curdle
Anyone who has tried to make cocktails with Baileys will probably have realised that, often, if you mix it with vodka (which is usually grain-based) the drink will curdle, but, if you use a milk-based spirit, the curdling does not take place (as you would be mixing dairy with dairy).
Baileys mixed with Whey-spirit Poteen (left) and Grain vodka (right) – notice the curdle.
On its own (at room temperature)
Nose: A strong nose of orange-flavoured chocolate, very much like Terry's Chocolate Orange, rather than any chocolate containing orange fondant.
Taste: Exceptionally smooth and creamy. Refreshingly, it’s not too sweet, but it is very, very creamy. The orange chocolate notes are strong from the start, along with a burst of sugary sweetness, before this fades away to a less sweet and more lasting, but rather heavy, creaminess (definitely more double than single cream!). At the very end of the finish, there’s a faint hint of Irish whiskey, but the cream quickly takes over.
On its own (chilled)
The nose seemed sweeter, the drink itself more viscous and the finish warmer than at room temperature.
On its own (over ice)
It seems much more viscous when chilled, although it still isn’t too cloying. Again, there’s strong notes of orange chocolate and a pleasant finish of cream. Very, very easy to drink.
With poteen
When I say Poteen I mean the traditional whey-based spirit* and not some grain based variety (which would curdle). The Poteen adds a lovely, spicy kick to the drink and transforms this into a tasty spirit that is better to sip than gulp down. The orange chocolate notes are still very much present, but some of the previously dull cream notes on the finish are replaced with the more spicy creaminess of the Poteen, and there is, overall, a lighter, silkiness.
Baileys Orange Truffle and coffee: superb!
In conclusion
I'm already a big fan of this; it's by far my favourite version of Baileys, which I sometimes find sickly and cloying. The orange chocolate notes are captured to a tee and its long finish of cream and whiskey is refreshingly non-sweet. All-in-all, it’s ridiculously easy-to-drink, whether that be on its own, in coffee, or – my personal favourite – with a dash of Poteen, which transforms it into a delicious, almost spicy chocolate liqueur with real oomph.
Baileys Orange Truffle is also available from selected Tesco Stores.
Bailey's and whey-based Knockeen Hills Gold Extra-Strength poteen
I used Knockeen Hills Gold Extra Strength (90%ABV) and mixed 25ml Baileys to 5ml Poteen; for a larger drink mix 50ml Baileys with 10ml Poteen. This creates a drink around 29.2% ABV.
Knockeen Hills Poteen Gold Extra Strength (90%ABV) is available from TheDrinkShop.com.
A 50cl bottle will make 100 single Bailey's drinks.
If you want to try a smaller sample you can buy a 50ml miniature also from TheDrinkShop.com.