Chocolate near me: drinks and snacks to pair in Boston

If you are searching for chocolate near you in Boston, The Wild Duck at 86 Massachusetts Ave is where you can collect the wine, bourbon, liqueur and snacks that go with it, whether your chocolate is a box of truffles or a single dark bar. We are open every day, and you can walk in, pick up an order or have one delivered. This page explains what to pair with chocolate, what we have for it and how to get it.

Where can I find what goes with chocolate near me in Boston?

The Wild Duck is a liquor store at 86 Massachusetts Ave, Boston, MA 02117. We are the place to come when you already have chocolate in mind, or are planning to buy some, and want the drinks and snacks to go with it.

Many people buy artisan chocolate from a chocolatier or confectioner and then need a bottle to serve beside it. That is the part we handle. Our shelves cover wine, liquor, beer, ready-to-drink, mixers, snacks and bourbon. We have more than 4,500 products in stock from more than 700 brands, so a pairing for dark, milk or filled chocolate is usually within one visit.

Customers rate us 4.6 out of 5 from more than 60 Google reviews. If you would rather talk a pairing through before you buy, ask us in the shop.

When is the shop open, and when can I collect an order?

You can walk in Monday to Saturday from 10:00 AM to 11:00 PM, and on Sunday from 11:00 AM to 11:00 PM. That makes an evening stop easy after you have bought your chocolate or confections elsewhere.

Pickup hours are slightly wider. We hand over pickup orders Monday to Saturday from 9:00 AM to 11:00 PM, and on Sunday from 10:00 AM to 11:00 PM. Our in-store pickup page explains how to order ahead.

If you are planning a dessert course for a dinner, ordering for pickup lets you choose calmly and then collect at a time that suits you.

Which wines go well with chocolate and truffles?

A good rule is to match the weight of the wine to the chocolate. Dark chocolate has bitterness and body, so it suits a fuller red. Milk chocolate is sweeter and softer, so it suits lighter, fruitier styles.

For dark chocolate, start with our red wine shelf. A Cabernet Sauvignon has firm structure that stands up to cocoa. A Pinot Noir is lighter, with red fruit that works with chocolate containing cherries or raspberries.

For milk chocolate or anything with caramel, a sparkling wine is a useful choice. The bubbles and acidity cut through the sweetness and clear your palate between pieces. The same applies to a rich truffle with a cream centre, such as the Viennese style, where the acidity keeps the richness from tiring the palate. Serve the wine well chilled.

Which bourbon and liqueurs suit chocolate?

Bourbon is made with corn and aged in charred oak, which gives vanilla, caramel and toasted notes. Those flavours sit naturally beside chocolate, especially dark chocolate, nut clusters and a firm truffle. Browse our bourbon section and pour a small measure, neat or with a little water.

Liqueurs work as a dessert drink in their own right. Our liqueur shelf includes CHARTREUSE Yellow Liqueur, an herbal liqueur that is sweeter and milder than the green version. It is worth trying beside a plain milk or white chocolate, where its honeyed, herbal character has room to show.

If you prefer a long drink after dinner, our mixers let you build something simple at home. Take your time with all of these; they are made to be sipped.

What snacks can I serve alongside chocolate?

A chocolate course is more interesting with contrast. Salty, crunchy and sharp foods make the sweetness taste cleaner, and they give guests something to eat between sips. Sweet confections such as caramels and truffles are richer when a salty item sits next to them.

Our snacks section is the place to start. Salted nuts, crisp savoury items and a bowl of something with a little heat all work around a chocolate plate. Chica De Gallot Pepper Salsa is one we carry if you want a savoury element on the table. Chilli and chocolate are a long-established combination in general, though a salsa is better served on its own plate than mixed in.

Keep portions small and varied. Four or five items on a board are enough for a relaxed evening.

Can I get drinks for a chocolate evening delivered or shipped?

Yes. Besides walking in, we offer pickup, delivery and shipping. Delivery hours are Monday to Saturday from 9:30 AM to 10:30 PM, and Sunday from 10:30 AM to 10:30 PM.

We serve Boston, Cambridge and Brookline. That means you can buy your chocolate from a chocolatier or confectioner in any of those towns and have the wine or bourbon brought to the same evening. You can check your area on our liquor delivery page, or go straight to Boston, Cambridge or Brookline. If you want wine specifically, see wine delivery in Boston.

All orders are for customers aged 21 and over.

Can I give a chocolate and drink gift?

A bottle paired with chocolate is an easy gift because the pairing does the explaining. Choose a red wine for a dark chocolate box, or a bottle of sparkling wine for a lighter assortment of truffles and other confections.

Our gift guide lists wine, spirits and beer gifts by occasion. If you want to include a note, we carry a Thank You Card. If you are unsure what the recipient drinks, a gift card lets them choose.

For more pairing ideas, read our article on chocolate and drink pairings.

What should I check before I come in or order?

Decide first what kind of chocolate you will be serving. Dark, milk, white, filled and spiced chocolates each lean towards a different drink, and so do truffles with cream centres and small-batch artisan bars. Knowing which you have makes your choice at the shelf quicker.

Then decide how you will collect. Walk-in hours, pickup hours and delivery hours differ slightly, as listed above, so choose the one that fits your timing. Our frequently asked questions page covers ordering, and our return policy explains what happens if something is not right.

If you have any question about a bottle, ask us when you arrive at 86 Massachusetts Ave. We are glad to help you choose.