The delicious job of sampling Tortuga Chocolate Rum Fudge, their Tortuga Chocolate Hazelnut Rum Truffles, and Tortuga Sauces.

Tempting Treasure Basket

The holiday season is rapidly approaching, and this time of year always sends people searching for “just the right gifts” for their family, friends, and business associates. Tortuga Rum Company Ltd., (www.tortugarums.com), may be able to assist you with your gift solutions, with their wide variety of tasty treats. Tortuga Rum Company Ltd. celebrated their 20^th anniversary this year of bringing high caliber, quality Caribbean products to the market. Founded in 1984 by husband and wife, Robert and Carlene Hamaty, the company is a Cayman Islands success story.

Tortuga Truffles

This month I had the delicious job of sampling their Tortuga Chocolate Rum Fudge, their Tortuga Chocolate Hazelnut Rum Truffles, and their Tortuga Sauces. As a rum and fudge lover, I especially enjoyed the melding of products in their Tortuga Chocolate Rum Fudge, a creamy, chocolate fudge with a kick of Tortuga Dark Rum. They also make Tortuga Banana Rum Fudge and Tortuga Coconut Rum Fudge, although I did not try those, (as of yet!). The Chocolate Hazelnut Rum Truffles make a delectable treat as a gift, but you might want to order a box or two for yourself. The truffles are a rich chocolate blended with smooth roasted hazelnut puree and orange oil, and of course Tortuga Rum. The truffles are made from a Viennese recipe with Tortuga Rum added. The truffles are individually wrapped in gold foil, and make opening each one a present in itself.

Tortuga Sauce Pack

The chef on your list will enjoy receiving Tortuga sauces as a gift. I tried the Tortuga Sweet Heat Caribbean Pepper Sauce as well as their Spicy Seafood Grill Sauce. I especially appreciated the Tortuga Sweet Heat Caribbean Pepper Sauce with its sweet taste coming in part from carambola, and its heat derived from Caribbean Scotch Bonnet Peppers. This is a sauce with definite spirit, not for the timid, that kept me coming back for more. I tried it as a dip, a marinade, mixed it with a bit of mayonnaise to make a great sauce, and I tried it in a Bloody Mary and it was superb. I think it would also work well blended with cream cheese and crabmeat to make a spicy spread. I also tried their Spicy Seafood Grill Sauce, which has a rich taste of tamarind and Caribbean Scotch Bonnet Peppers, but without the heat intensity of the Tortuga Sweet Heat Caribbean Pepper Sauce. I tried it as a marinade for shrimp, basted it on salmon, mixed it with mayonnaise for a spicy tartar sauce, and even tried it as a dip. Whatever method I tried the sauces I really enjoyed them all. Their other sauce flavors include Tortuga Gourmet Steak Sauce, Tortuga Hell-Fire Hot Pepper Sauce, Tortuga Jerk Sauce, Tortuga Mango and Ginger Stir Fry Sauce, Tortuga Hot Caribbean Pepper Sauce, Tortuga Mild Mango Sauce and Tortuga Spicy Mango Sauce. Grill enthusiasts will also enjoy their Tortuga Rum Bar-B-Que Sauce.

I just received their Tortuga Gourmet Steak Sauce, Tortuga Hell-Fire Hot Pepper Sauce, and their Tortuga Jerk Sauce, so I guess I will have to continue my delicious tasting! Look for my results in a future Treats article.

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