100th Award for Highland Chocolatier Celebrating 20 Years

Today The Highland Chocolatier, in the rural village of Grandtully, has received its one hundredth accolade for extraordinary chocolates.
In fact their Velvet Truffles received an unprecedented 19 gold stars at the Great Taste Awards out of thousands of entries worldwide.
It also marks two decades since a budding Master Chocolatier and his family founded the artisanal Chocolate Kitchen in Highland Perthshire. The team has grown with many members of other local families into an internationally recognised name in artisan chocolate supplying Michelin chefs, and a 5 star visitor attraction hosting Guided Chocolate Tasting Flights.
 
The milestone year has been crowned by news that both the Passion Fruit Velvet Truffle and the Blackcurrant Ruby Velvet Truffle have each been awarded the coveted Triple Gold Star.  Instead of the usual fresh Scottish cream used in the Velvet Truffles, these two recipes are made with real crushed fruit, combined with using gourmet island couverture chocolate and no artificial additives.  “Incredibly smooth … fantastic balance of flavours …  … technically impeccable … stunning in flavour and texture … elegant finish …. irresistibly moreish” were just some of the comments during the blind tastings by the judges at the Guild of Fine Food, which includes chefs, food writers, retailers and buyers.
 
This year's win brings the total national and international awards to over 100, including 40 Gold Stars, 14 Gold, 17 Silver, Diamond, Platinum, 5 star, and a host of other awards from the Guild of Fine Food, International Chocolate Awards, Academy of Chocolate, Food & Drink Excellence and other awarding bodies.
 
Master Chocolatier, Iain Burnett says, “Twenty years ago, we set up a small chocolate kitchen in Grandtully with a passion for natural craftsmanship and a belief that Scotland could produce chocolate to rival anywhere in the world.  Reaching this anniversary means a great deal in itself with the global challenges of the last 2 decades, and to see it coincide with Triple Star ratings for the Velvet Truffles is a wonderful way to mark it.  It reminds our incredible team that their meticulous craftsmanship and thoughtful care of the customers supporting us from around the world – is worth it!”