Kathryn Laverack and Victoria Hopper on Cacao & Chocolate Cocktails

Bean to Barstool

Chocolate educator Kathryn Laverack of Cocoa Encounters and The Brown Cow pub proprietor Victoria Hopper have partnered on numerous chocolate and drink pairings, and events highlighting chocolate or cacao cocktails. I recently sat down with Kathryn and Victoria to ask them about the union of cacao and spirits, what they’ve learned from each other, and what they’d like people to understand about making chocolate or cacao drinks. Along the way we discuss specific cocktail and pairing ideas they’ve used in the past, and even workshopped a few ideas for the future.
Imagine, if you will, sitting in a warm, cozy British pub, and join us as we discuss chocolate, cacao, and cocktails.
You can learn more about Cocoa Encounters here.
You can learn more about The Brown Cow here.
Guests:
Kathryn Laverack is a UK-based chocolate educator and international chocolate judge. With over ten years experience tasting fine chocolate, Kathryn teaches the art of sensorial tasting and the evaluation of fine chocolate to consumers and professionals. As founder of Cocoa Encounters, Kathryn curates events that make fine chocolate come alive for people, experiences that relate chocolate to people's passions, interests, and concerns, be that fine food, fine wine and spirits, art, literature, or simply the desire to make the world a better place.
Victoria Hopper and her husband, Nigel, have been running pubs in rural Lincolnshire for the last 18 years, including their current pub, the Brown Cow in Louth.

They’ve introduced on-trend craft lagers, seasonal themed menu evenings, and live music events, and they’ve created strong bonds with the community through their support of local charities and sports groups.
This local landlady always manages to sprinkle a touch of something special that her customers would tell you is just “very Vic…”
Away from the pub, she is a Mum to two teenage boys who are very much part of this family run pub.

Check out David's book Pairing Beer & Chocolate: A Guide to Bringing the Flavors of Craft Beer and Craft Chocolate Together.
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