Meet the Maker: Olive & Sinclair Southern Artisan Chocolate

One of the reasons I love artisan food is the people behind the flavors and brands. These products are made with passion and to bring joy to those that try them. Profit is rarely (if ever) the main goal, but supporting artisans that have put their full heart into something is something to be proud of as a food lover. Scott Withrow and Olive and Sinclair Chocolate Co are a perfect example of this.

Scott Withrow has had a lifetime in kitchens. After culinary school, he worked in professional kitchens around the world including Alinea in Chicago, Firefly in Birmingham, and the legendary Fat Duck in England. 

Olive & Sinclair started in 2007 with small batches made using tabletop equipment. As someone naturally curious about everything food Scott is a self-taught chocolatier. Using books and observation of other chocolatiers he has been able to create a one of a kind “NEW old-fashioned chocolate”. 

His chocolate and confections combine traditional methods, modern European techniques, and classic Southern flavors.

Ingredients matter

Forget the fake stuff of other bars. This Southern artisan chocolate is made nice and slow with top-notch ingredients. Besides high-quality beans another ingredient that sets these chocolates apart is the pure cane brown sugar. Usually, chocolate bars are made with white sugar, but using brown sugar gives it an extra layer of flavor that plays well with the bitterness of dark chocolate.

Even the ingredients used to accentuate the bars and create unique flavors are picked with care.  From the coffee from a local roaster for the coffee crunch bars to the sea salt sprinkled on numerous confections – it is all carefully sourced to ensure the best quality. 

Process

The process has definitely been upgraded from the tabletop machine, roasted cacao in the oven, and using a blowdryer to separate the nibs from the shell. It is still just as magical and hands-on though.

Still slow-roasted and stone-ground you can taste the difference in the chocolates. In mass-produced chocolates, beans from all over are thrown in and roasted to a set temperature without any testing to make sure it is optimal for the specific bean. At O&S beans are slow-roasted in batches and tested along the way to ensure they are only roasted to the perfect flavor and no farther. 

Tour 

When you are in town you can book a tour to see the beans to bar process. The building itself offers quite a history before you even get to the good stuff. 

Dating back to 1890, the building was home to a local grocery store before being used by the Archway Cookie Company. After several more years and a handful of other owners, Olive and Sinclair took it over in 2014.

The team filled the space with their love for chocolate and plenty of antique pieces that speak to the time-honored space and techniques used by Olive & Sinclair. 

Beyond bars

Since its humble beginning on a kitchen table, the team has expanded and so has the selection. Besides phenomenal artisan chocolate bars like salt and pepper, coffee crunch, and cocoa nib, they also offer a selection of other chocolates and caramels crafted with the same care and perfection. 

Their Duck Fat Caramels are velvety smooth with a little salty savory bite. Muzzle Loaders are the Olive & Sinclair version of classic southern bourbon balls and explode in your mouth releasing liquid salted bourbon caramel for a sweet surprise. Their Seersuckers feature a chocolate ganache middle with a sea salt finish and are the perfect after-dinner treat.

You really can’t go wrong with any of their confections and chocolates because they have put their heart into every product. Whether you order online or get the opportunity to visit the shop in person you will fall in love with this southern chocolate company. 

And if you love artisan products like these delicious Southern chocolate bars you should check out the soon to be released B.I.T.E. Box. This quarterly subscription box is packed with artisan goodies that bring the taste of place to your home kitchen. Meet more makers, enjoy delicious foods you wouldn’t have found otherwise, and be inspired to explore the world around you one bite at a time. Sign up to be on our VIP list to get notified when it officially launches and get a special gift in your inaugural box.