Solkiki - Maranon Coconut Dark Milk 60% Whisky Nibs - Aug. 17, 2026

Chocolate of The Day

Solkiki
Maranon Coconut Dark Milk 60% Whisky Nibs (bar)
Good ++ - Good +++
Weight: 2 oz. (56 g.) in total bar
Calories: 305 calories in 1 bar
Cost: $15.95 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Xocolatl Garden, Carmel, CA

Welcome to Day #12 of Chocolate & Spirits Theme Week.

Today's Maranon 60% Coconut Dark Milk Whisky Nibs (bar) was from Solkiki Chocolatemaker (Dorset, U.K.). The company's founders (Iris and Bob) were early entrants (in 2008) in the new wave of bean-to-bar craft chocolate makers in the U.K.

The cacao used to make this whisky bar was Fortunato No. 4 Maranon cacao (a prized "Pure Nacional" variety from Peru). 

Starward Whisky (Australia) brought a rich, satisfying flavor (deep red wine, oak) into the cacao nibs and the entire bar.

Aroma and flavor notes included: pleasingly aromatic and warm whisky and dark chocolate. The coconut (fresh coconut + caramel) was very subtle (barely detectable) and the unrefined cane sugar added faint, warm brown sugar flavor depth that complemented the whisky and chocolate very nicely.

Texture: relatively smooth dark chocolate populated with a generous field of tiny crunchy (cacao nib) bits.

Not surprisingly, as someone who enjoys dark chocolate and bold, balanced spirits (whiskey) flavors, I really liked this bar. I found it a little addictive. 

I appreciated the makers' thoughtful, short list of quality and organic ingredients. And I liked that the coconut in this coconut milk chocolate was dialed back a little, serving as a successful background contributor vs. being more prominent.

Ingredients: "Organic Fortunato No.4 cacao beans, organic unrefined cane sugar, organic cold-pressed cacao butter, organic coconut, pink salt, Starward Whisky Fortunato No.4 nibs."

Allergen-related information: Contains Coconut. "Vegan. May contain traces of soy, nuts, gluten"   

The Organic House - Maple Whisky 70% Cacao Thailand-Chumphon Collective (bar) - Aug. 16, 2026

Chocolate of The Day

The Organic House
Maple Whisky 70% Cacao Thailand-Chumphon Collective (bar)
Good ++
Weight: 27.5 oz. (.97 g.) / 55 oz. (1.94 g.) in total bar
Calories: 154 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $14.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Chocolate Dispensary, online order

Welcome to Day #11 of Chocolate & Spirits Theme Week.

Today's Maple Whisky 70% Cacao Thailand-Chumphon Collective (bar) was from The Organic House (Burlington, Ontario, Canada).

Aroma and flavor notes included: dark chocolate, subtle fruit, maple sugar and warm brown sugar + caramel.

Texture: This attractive, well-tempered, bar broke with an audible snap and had a smooth texture and melt.

I liked the short list of quality ingredients; and the authentic maple sugar/brown sugar and subtly the nuanced, single origin (Thailand) dark chocolate. I would have enjoyed tasting more of the whisky. 

Maker's Tasting Notes: "Warm notes of Whisky and maple, with a smooth finish"

Ingredients: Organic cacao beans, Ontario maple sugar, Organic cacao butter, Whisky 

Allergen-related information: "May contain: Cashews + Hazelnuts + Oats + Pecans."..."Made in a facility that uses tree nuts."

Solkiki - Rum n Raisin 63% Coconut Dark Milk (bar) - Aug. 15, 2026

Chocolate of The Day

Solkiki
Rum n Raisin 63% Coconut Dark Milk (bar)
Good + - Good ++
Weight: 1 oz. (28.3 g.) / 2 oz. (56 g.) in total bar
Calories: 165.5 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $14.95 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Xocolatl Garden, Carmel, CA

Welcome to Day #10 of Chocolate & Spirits Theme Week.

Today's Rum n Raisin 63% Coconut Dark Milk (bar) was from Solkiki Chocolatemaker (United Kingdom).

Cacao source: Gran Nativo Blanco cacao beans from Piura, North Peru. The rum was Diplomatico Reserva Rum, was from the Diplomatico Distillery (in Venezuela).

Aroma and flavor notes included: sweet coconut milk chocolate embedded with slightly boozy, plump raisins. 

Texture: smooth, very slightly chalky (likely due to slightly bloomed chocolate*).

Ingredients: "Organic Gran Nativo Cacao Beans, Organic Unrefined Cane Sugar, Organic Undeodoriesed Cacao Butter, Organic Coconut, Organic Raisins, Diplomatico Reserva Rum"

Allergen-related information: Contains Coconut. "Vegan. May contain traces of soy, nuts, gluten"  

*This coconut chocolate bar wasn't expired. But, sadly, somewhere in the shipping/storage process before it reached me, this bar likely became slightly "bloomed"--where a slightly white-ish coloration appears and the texture is somewhat affected as ingredients/cacao butter move from a tempered to a less stable configuration.

Weinrichs - Rum Milk Chocolate with Rum Truffle Filling (bar) - Aug. 14, 2026

Chocolate of The Day

Weinrichs 
Rum Milk Chocolate with Rum Truffle Filling (bar)
Good ++
Weight: 1.16 oz. (33.3 g.) / 3.5 oz. (100 g.) in total bar
Calories: 170 calories in 1/3 bar
Cost: $1.99 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Grocery Outlet, Palo Alto, CA

Welcome to Day #9 of Chocolate & Spirits Theme Week.

Today's Rum Milk Chocolate with Rum Truffle Filling (bar) was from Ludwig Weinrich GmbH & Co. KG (Herford, Germany). The company has been involved in making chocolate since 1895, an impressive feat.

Aroma and flavor notes for this, substantial, filled bar included: milk chocolate (chocolate-y with subtle rum and vanilla). This chocolate was fairly sweet, rich, creamy/buttery, and not too boozy.

I liked the relatively smooth/subtle texture, rich melt and mouthfeel, and the blend of warm flavors. The chocolate itself was fairly mild. It tasted like a rich milk chocolate, but lacked the typical cocoa aroma, acidity or balanced bitterness that most darker milk chocolate bars have--due to the lower cocoa content (30%).

Ingredients: sugar, cocoa butter(1), skim milk powder, cocoa liquor(1), butter fat (milk), rum, Cocoa powder (1), glucose syrup, invert sugar, hazelnut paste, lecithins, natural flavour, invertase, vanilla extract. Cocoa solids: 30% minimum in chocolate content. Milk solids: 15% in product.

"Alcohol content 2.5% alc. vol. Not to be sold to anyone under 21 years of age."

Allergen-related information: "Contains milk and hazelnut. May contain wheat, egg and other tree nuts (almond, pistachio, pecans).

Zotter - Cognac + Coffee - Coffee Couverture filled with cognac cream (bar) - Aug. 13, 2026

Chocolate of The Day

Zotter
Cognac + Coffee - Coffee Couverture filled with cognac cream (bar)
Good ++
Weight: 1.23 oz. (35 g.) / 2.47 oz. (70 g.) in total bar
Calories: 180 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $12.89 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Xocolatl Garden, Carmel, CA

Welcome to Day #7 of Chocolate & Spirits Theme Week.

Today's Apricot Waltz - Milk Chocolate 40% filled with apricot ganache and marzipan (bar) was made in Austria and distributed by Zotter Chocolates US LLC (Fort Myers, FL).

Aroma and flavor notes included: chocolate, coffee and Cognac with faint vanilla and caramel.

Texture: creamy, layered textures chocolate with a velvety couverture and ("hand-scooped") creamy cognac-infused center.

This was a relatively sweet, filled bar, but (happily) the coffee, cognac and chocolate helped balance the sweetness and the sugars were not overwhelming. Dark brown sugar and a bit of butter added pleasing caramel taste and added flavor depth.

The cognac was subtle, well-balanced and not too boozy.

I enjoyed this sophisticated bean-to-bar chocolate bar; and I appreciated the use of organic and fair trade ingredients.

Ingredients: Cane Sugar*+, Cocoa Mass*+, Cocoa Butter,*+, Cognac (10%), Dry Whole Milk, Invert Sugar Syrup*, Butter (Cream), Glucose Syrup*, Ground Coffee Beans*+ (1%), Dry Skim Milk, Dry Sweet Whey, Dark Brown Cane Sugar*+, Lecithin (Soy)*, Coffee Powder*+ (0.1%), Salt, Vanilla Bean Powder*+, Cardamom*.

*=Organic [87% Organic Ingredients]; +=Fair Traded, Fair Trade Content in Total: 72%

Allergen-related information: "Contains: Milk, Soy. - Manufactured on Equipment That Processes Tree Nuts, Peanuts, Eggs, Gluten and Sesame." 

Zotter - Apricot Waltz - Milk Chocolate 40% filled w/ apricot ganache, marzipan (bar) - Aug. 12, 2026

Chocolate of The Day

Zotter
Apricot Waltz - Milk Chocolate 40% filled with apricot ganache and marzipan (bar)
Good ++
Weight: 1.23 oz. (35 g.) / 2.47 oz. (70 g.) in total bar
Calories: 180 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $12.89 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Xocolatl Garden, Carmel, CA

Welcome to Day #7 of Chocolate & Spirits Theme Week.

Today's Apricot Waltz - Milk Chocolate 40% filled with apricot ganache and marzipan (bar) was made in Austria and distributed by Zotter Chocolates US LLC (Fort Myers, FL).

Aroma and flavor notes included: chocolate, almond marzipan infused with rich, tart sweet fruit (lemon, apricot), vanilla and faint brown sugar, very slight alcohol (apricot brandy) and floral. 

Texture: creamy milk chocolate with a soft ("hand-scooped"), creamy marzipan center

This was a sweet chocolate, filled confection of a bar, but (happily) the sugars did not overwhelm the flavors. I enjoyed being able to taste the chocolate, fruit and nut ingredients in this bar. 

The apricot brandy was also relatively restrained so it added a subtle and authentic apricot-laced boozy boost, but it wasn't too strong.

This bean-to-bar chocolate version of a typical marzipan bar included some interesting and authentically fruity flavors that enriched the tasting experience. I also appreciated the use of organic and fair trade ingredients.

Ingredients: Cane Sugar*+, Marzipan* (Almonds*, Sugar*, Invert Sugar Syrup*), Cocoa Butter,*+, Dry Whole Milk, Cocoa Mass*+,  Apricot Concentrate*, Apricot Brandy*, Glucose Syrup*, Apricot Puree*, Dried Apricots*, Dry Skim Milk, Almonds*, Lecithin (Soy)*, Dry Sweet Whey, Salt, Dark Brown Cane Sugar*+, Vanilla Bean Powder*+, Rose Petals*, Lemon Powder* (Lemon Juice Concentrate*, Corn Starch*, Sugar*. 

*=Organic (92% Organic Ingredients); +=Fair Traded, Fair Trade 

Allergen-related information: "Contains: Milk, Almonds, Soy. - Manufactured on Equipment That Processes Other Tree Nuts, Peanuts, Eggs and Sesame." 

Lucid Chocolatier Port 68% Dark Chocolate with Tawny Port (bar) - Aug. 11, 2026

Chocolate of The Day

Lucid Chocolatier
Port 68% Dark Chocolate with Tawny Port (bar)
Good +++ - Very Good
Weight: 1.76 oz. (50 g.) in total bar
Calories: 273 calories (estimate) in 1 bar
Cost: $29.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Bar & Cocoa, online order

Welcome to Day #6 of Chocolate & Spirits Theme Week.

Today's "Port 68% Dark Chocolate infused with 10 year Tawny Port" (bar) was from Lucid Chocolatier (Aotearoa, New Zealand), and was part of the company's "infusion collection."

Aroma and flavor notes included: very smooth-tasting and satisfying dark chocolate (with hints of chocolate-y dark ganache); rich, mellow red and purple fruits (plump, well-rounded and ripe sweet plums and red grapes) soaked in port wine; and a slight very light but attractive and balanced bitterness--enough to give it some lovely personality and keep it from being too sweet and shallow.

What a tasty bar. It's been my experience that you only arrive at lovely flavors like this via thoughtful sourcing of a short list of single origin ingredients. Three ingredients in this case. Cacao origin: Maranon, Cajamarca, Peru.

Texture: smooth dark chocolate

Maker's Tasting Notes: "Plum, Nuts, Sultana" 

Ingredients: Cacao Mass*, Cane Sugar*, Port. (* = Organic)

Allergen-related information: "Contains Sulfites. May Contain: Milk, Wheat, Gluten, Tree Nuts (Almonds, Hazelnuts, Pecan, Macadamia, Pistachio)"