Before my trip to London I emailed William Curley to find out what his bestsellers were. I was told that I really couldn't pass on the opportunity to try out the Millionaire's Bar from their Nostalgia range. So when I visited their Belgravia store I picked one up (along with some other treats which will be reviewed later).
Packaging
It's a loose product stored behind the glass serving counter and was packaged up for me in a clear plastic bag.
Since a young child I've had a passion for Millionaire's shortbread (though to me it's better known as caramel shortbread). The love affair started in a quaint tiny tea room called Aunties in Dumbarton, Scotland, and ever since moving down south I've been on a quest to find a square of shortcake that tastes the same. Some have gotten close but none has ever quite hit the mark. For me, a delicious millionaire's shortbread should be a crunchy biscuit base, with an equal amount of thick caramel topped with a generous (but not excessive) amount of chocolate. That's what I expected the William Curley take to be like, albeit of a distinctly higher quality than your average shortbread.
I was wrong though.
William Curley Nostalgia Millionaire's Bar Review
The bar is described on their website as "traditional all-butter shortbread topped with sea salt caramel and coated in Toscano 66% dark chocolate". On biting into it the first noticeable thing is how soft the shortbread is. In fact I'd go as far as to say it was more like a light and delicate cake than the dense sickly treat I know it to be. It was unexpected but still delicious nevertheless.
In fact this allowed the caramel to take centre stage, rather than fighting it out as a duet. The caramel was dense and had a strong flavour, together with a slight hint of salt. This was all encased in a very high quality smooth Toscano dark chocolate which was well rounded and the perfect compliment to the sweet salted caramel and the light cake-like shortbread. I loved the small gold leaf decoration on the top of the bar too, as a nod to the millionaire title.
Overall this bar tasted nothing like I expected to. It's definitely a gourmet take on a classic, and whilst it nods to its ancestors William Curley uses high quality ingredients in it to create a delightful treat that is rich, indulgent and perfectly balanced. The cake-like shortbread is the vehicle on which the thick velvety caramel travels, all encased in a shell of high quality dark chocolate. It's a gourmet take on an indulgent treat and William Curley has pulled it off magnificently.
William Curley Nostalgia Millionaire’s Bar Review
RRP: £3.50 | William Curley | Shop now
A gourmet take on a classic treat, this bar is rich, indulgent, and expertly balanced. The shortbread is soft and crumbly, the caramel is thick and luscious, and the dark chocolate shell works a treat.
Where to Buy Online
I purchased this bar from William Curley’s Belgravia shop. It is available to purchase online from his website.
What's the best millionaire's shortbread you've ever eaten? Let me know in the comments below.
