-CAKE-
3/4 c  Water
1 tb Instant coffee granules
6 oz Unsweetened chocolate,
Coarsely chopped
3 tb Honey
2 c  Sifted unbleached
All-purpose flour
1 ts Baking soda
1/4 ts Salt
2 ts Freshly ground
Black pepper
8 tb (1 stick) unsalted butter,
Softened & cut into 1"pieces
1/4 c  Solid vegetable shortening
2 c  Superfine granulated sugar
4 lg Eggs, at room temperature
2 ts Vanilla extract
1/2 c  Ice water

-GANACHE GLAZE-
2 3-oz bars Swiss Dark
Chocolate, such as Lindt
6 oz Heavy cream
1 tb Light corn syrup
1 tb Grand Marnier, Cointreau
Or dark rum
3/4 ts Vanilla extract
1 ts Hot water, if needed

MAKE THE CAKE: 1. Position a rack in the lower third of the oven and
preheat to 350 degrees. Butter a 12 cup fluted tube pan. Dust with flour
and tap out the excess. 2. In a small saucepan, bring the 3/4 cup water to
a boil. Immediately remove from the heat and stir in the coffee until
disolved. Add the chocolate and honey and whisk until the chocolate is
melted and the mixture thickens. Let cool for 10 to 15 minutes, until
tepid. 3. In a medium bowl, using a wire whisk, stir together the flour,
baking soda, salt and pepper, until throughly blended. 4. In a 4 1/2 quart
bowl of a heavy-duty electric mixer using the paddle attachment, beat the
butter at medium speed for 30 to 45 seconds, until creamy and smooth. Add
the vegetable shortening. Increase the speed to medium-high and beat for 30
seconds longer. 5. Add the sugar, 1 tablespoon at a time, taking 8 to 10
minutes to blend well. If using a hand mixer, take at least 15 minutes to
blend well. Scrape the sides of the bowl occasionally. 6. Add the eggs, one
at a time at 1 minute intervals. Reduce the speed to medium. Stir the
chocolate/honey mixture once or twice, then add to the batter along with
the vanilla, scraping the side of the bowl as necessary. Beat 30 seconds
longer. 7. At low speed, one-third at a time, beat in the flour mixture
alternately with the ice water. Mix briefly just until each addition is
barely incorporated into the batter. Scrape down the side of the bowl and
mix the batter 10 more seconds. 8. Scrape the batter into the prepared pan
and smooth the surface with the back of a spoon. Center the pan on the rack
and bake for 65 to 75 minutes, until the cake begins to come away from the
side of the pan and a wooden toothpick inserted into the center comes out
clean. 9. Set the cake onto a wire rack to cool for 15 to 20 minutes.
Invert the cake onto the rack and remove the pan. Cool completely. MAKE THE
GANACHE GLAZE: 10. Break the chocolate bars into 1-inch pieces and place
them in a food processor fitted with the metal chopping blade. Process for
15 to 25 seconds, until finely chopped. Empty the chocolate into a medium
bowl. 11. In a small saucepan, heat the cream and corn syrup on low heat
until it comes to a gentle boil. Immediately pour the hot cream over the
chocolate. Let the mixture stand for 30 seconds to melt the chocolate.
Gently whisk until smooth. Stir in the liqueur or rum and vanilla. If the
surface is oily, stir in 1/2 to 1 teaspoon of hot water. 12. Put the wire
rack with the cake over a baking sheet. Pour the chocolate glaze over the
top of the cake. Let the glaze drip down the sides of the cake without
coating it completely. Lift up the rack with the cake and transfer it to
another baking sheet. Put the baking sheet with the cake in the
refrigerator to chill for 5 to 10 minutes to set the glaze. 13. Store the
cake at room temperature under a glass cover or in an airtight container
for up to 5 days.