Filoli - World's Best Hot Chocolate with Rumple Minze - Dec. 5, 2025

Chocolate of the Day

Filoli 
"World's Best Hot Chocolate" with Rumple Minze
Good ++
Weight: 10 fl. oz. (296 mL) (estimate) in 1 cup
Calories: calories in 1 cup (unknown)
Cost: $10.00 + spike $10
Purchased from: Filoli beverage trailer

Welcome to Day #12 of Chocolate, Movies & Entertainment Theme Week. Movies have been hogging the spotlight so far this week, so today the focus was on chocolate enjoyed at a holiday-related event at the Filoli Estate (Woodside, CA).

The featured "World's Best Hot Chocolate" with Rumple Minze (think Peppermint Schnapps) was obtained after a short walk into the redwoods and while admiring a several model trains chugging around an excellent set-up of tracks among towering redwood trees. Trimmings included: several tiny little forest houses and strings of lights, and one giant wooden troll figure--who recently took up residency in the woods at Filoli. 

And more new chocolates were found at the "Train Depot" (gift shop in a cabin) on the way out. What could be better?

The toasty warm, creamy and rich hot chocolate was topped with a very generous dollop of whipped cream and a shot of Rumple Minze. It was a delicious hot chocolate in a magical forest setting. 

This outdoor winter holiday event was entertaining in the best possible way.

Ingredients: Unknown

Allergen-related information: Unknown. Contained Milk, Whipped Cream

Anthon Berg - Golden Jubilee Selection: 1.) Cointreau, 2.) Remy Martin Cognac, and 3.) Southern Comfort - Mar. 20, 2025

Chocolate(s) of the Day

Anthon Berg 

Golden Jubilee Selection
1.) Cointreau - Good ++
2.) Remy Martin Cognac Fine Champagne - Good + - Good ++
3.) Southern Comfort - Good ++

Weight: 1.69 oz. (48 g.) in 3 bottles / 2.2 lbs. (1 kilogram) in total 64-pc. Golden Jubilee Selection box
Calories: 216 calories (estimate) in 3 bottles 
Cost: $N/A - gift from a friend
Purchased from: N/A - gift from a friend

Welcome to Day #8 of Chocolate and Gold Theme Week. 

Today's three foil-wrapped chocolate bottles were part of a deluxe, 64-bottle Anthon Berg Golden Jubilee Selection (housed in an attractive gold package). The filled chocolate assortment featured several well-known spirits/liqueurs fillings from different countries.

Anthon Berg (Ballerup, Denmark) is a Danish Chocolatier (now a division of Toms International) with a history that stretches back to 1884.

How did each one taste? 

Cointreau 

The chocolate "bottle" had a smooth dark milk chocolate taste with a creamy melt and mouthfeel.

The Cointreau liquid (syrup) filling was authentic, with pleasing, clean, clear fragrant sweet orange and  very faint, pleasing herbal and balanced bitter orange notes toward the finish.

Remy Martin Cognac Fine Champagne 

Sweet, creamy and aromatic dark milk chocolate surrounded a generous sip of sweet, boozy, cognac/brandy flavored syrup.

Southern Comfort

The well-tempered, creamy dark milk bottle-shaped exterior contained a sweet, relatively complex warm, sweet whiskey, with very faint citrus and oak notes.

Note: The dark chocolate did not contain milk, even though it had the smooth taste and creamy texture of a dark milk chocolate.

A testament to how versatile chocolate can be, the chosen dark chocolate couverture complemented all the spirits-based fillings well.

Ingredients: Sugar, cocoa mass**, cocoa butter**, water, spirits 6% (whiskey, liqueurs, cognac, whisky, vodka, liqueur (coconut), rum), natural orange flavor (Cointreau(R)), 0.8%, flavoring. (Minimum 50% cocoa solids in dark chocolate.)

** = Rainforest Alliance Certified

Allergen-related information: Contains Coconut. May contain traces of milk and tree nuts.

Ritual - Gin Juniper Lavender Chocolate 70% Cacao (bar) + Intrigue - Fernet Branca Truffle - Dec. 11 , 2024

Chocolate of the Day

Ritual Chocolate
Gin Juniper Lavender Chocolate 70% Cacao (bar)
Good + - Good ++ 
Weight: .706 oz. (20 g.) / 2.12 oz. (60 g.) in total bar
Calories: 170 calories in 1/3 bar
Cost: $11.25 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Bar & Cocoa, online order

Intrigue Chocolate
Fernet Branca Truffle
Good ++
Weight: .314 oz. (8.9 g.) in 1 truffle / for 1 box of 12 (13) truffles
Calories: 49 calories for 1 truffle
Cost: $44.00 for 1 box of 12 (13) truffles
Purchased from: Intrigue Chocolate, online order

Welcome to Day #17 of Chocolate and Spirits Theme Week, featuring two chocolates -- a gin-infused bar, and an Italian liqueur-inspired truffle.

Ritual Chocolate

Today's Gin Juniper Lavender Chocolate 70% Cacao (bar) was made by Ritual Chocolate (Heber City, UT), using Barrel Aged Alpine Distilling Gin from Alpine Distilling (Park City, UT). 

Aroma and flavor notes included: authentic, fragrant and floral (lavender) botanical gin (with juniper) and dark chocolate.

The juniper and lavender both contributed fairly strong flavors--as did the sweet-tart acidity (citrus) taste and astringency in this dark chocolate It was interesting to try this very flavorful blend. However, for those who don't care for gin/juniper and/or lavender, you may find the intersection of all these bold flavors a little overwhelming. 

Maker's tasting notes: Juniper, Lavender, Cardamom, Orange Peel

Ingredients: Cacao, Organic Cane Sugar, Organic Cocoa Butter, Juniper Berries, Lavender, Alpine Distilling Gin 

Allergen-related information: "Manufactured in a facility that also processes Wheat, Tree nuts"

Intrigue Chocolate - Fernet Branca* Truffle

Today's Fernet Branca* flavored chocolate truffle was created by Intrigue Chocolate (Seattle, WA). It was part of a larger assortment of different truffles.

This individually-wrapped, square dark chocolate truffle had pleasing, authentic mint and herbal (light liqueur) notes, including a slightly mellow richness--likely due to the practice of aging this liqueur in oak barrels. The creamy soft truffle (with a rich, buttery melt) was dusted with a generous amount of cocoa powder. 

Ingredients: Chocolate (cocoa mass, sugar, cocoa butter, vanilla, soy lecithin), Cream (milk), flavors (as described in the truffle name).

Allergen-related information: Contains Dairy, Soy. 

*Fernet Branca is an Italian amaro liqueur made with "27 herbs from 4 continents" that's often served as an after-dinner digestif or before-meal appertif. 

Some ingredients said to be part of this recipe include: aloe, angelica, camomile, cardomom, cinchona, gentian, iris, myrrh, peppermint and rhubarb. (Some sources also say it may contain chocolate.) The base is distilled grape spirits.

Shekoh Confections - Coconut filled chocolate - Oct. 6, 2022

Chocolate of the Day

Shekoh Confections 
Coconut filled chocolate
Good ++ - Good +++
Weight: .4 oz. (11,32 g.) (estimate) in 1 piece 
Calories: 62 calories (estimate) in 1 piece
Cost: $4.45 (estimate) for 1 piece (one piece in a 5-piece box) + tax
Purchased from: Shekoh Confections, Palo Alto, CA

Welcome to Day #2 of Chocolate and Coconut Theme Week. 

Today's Coconut filled chocolate was created by Shekoh Confections (Palo Alto, CA).

Aroma notes included: dark chocolate (fudge brownie), very faint tart lemon green herb (oxalis, sorrel), and coconut (very slightly fruity coconut, coconut water).

Texture(s) in this small, filled chocolate dome were very smooth. A velvety, ultra-thin dark chocolate shell covered a very creamy, Valrhona white chocolate, coconut infused interior. 

The toasted coconut flavored ganache (filling) was accented with a subtle hint of coconut liqueur. Bold (but smooth), slightly earth dark chocolate prevented this confection from being too sweet. The result: flavor depth and rich, complementary flavor complexity. 

Maker's description: Coconut infusion, toasted shredded coconut, Valrhona white chocolate, coconut liqueur.

Ingredients: (No label with exact ingredients)

Allergen-related information: Contains coconut

Shekoh Confections - Irish Cream - July 4, 2022

Chocolate of the Day

Shekoh Confections
Irish Cream
Weight: .4 oz. (11.3 g.) in 1 piece
Calories: 62 calories (estimate) in 1 piece 
Cost: $4.40 ($22 for a 5-piece box)
Purchased from: Shekoh Confections, Palo Alto, CA

Welcome to Day #3 of Chocolate and Coffee Theme Week. 

Today's Irish Cream chocolate was created by Chef Shekoh Moossavi at Shekoh Confections (Palo Alto, CA). 

Aroma notes for this Irish Cream chocolate included: smooth, dark cocoa, and a very faint lemon-green herb (oxalis, wood sorrel, lemon balm).

This filled chocolate had layered textures and flavors. Under the yellow-green surface, was a perfectly executed thin, velvety, domed dark chocolate cover/couverature, and inside that was a softer, creamy ganache (filling).

The filling was infused with a soft touch of Bailey's Irish Cream liqueur, conjuring up the taste of a creamy, after-dinner adult coffee. It was just the right amount to add pleasing complementary flavor to the dark chocolate, and not enough to taste any alcohol or overwhelm the other chocolate flavor nuances.

Chef's description: "Bailey's Irish Cream infused with Valrhona dark chocolate."

Ingredients: (Not listed on small box)

Allergen-related information: (Not listed on small box)

 

Zotter - Orange Liqueur Milk Chocolate (bar) - Nov. 1, 2021

Chocolate of the Day

Zotter

Orange Liqueur Milk Chocolate (bar)

Good ++

Weight: 1.23 oz. (35 g.) / 2.47 oz. (70 g.) in total bar

Calories: 190 calories in 1/2 bar

Cost: $8.25 (plus summer shipping) for 1 bar
Purchased from: Bar and Cocoa, online order

Welcome to Day #1 of Chocolate and Orange Theme Week.

Today's Orange Liqueur Milk Chocolate (bar) was made in Austria and distributed by Zotter Chocolates US LLC (Cape Coral, FL).

Aroma notes included: slightly boozy, chocolate orange cake, nuts (faint sweet chestnut and almond paste) and brown sugar. Breaking this bar in half exposed a soft, creamy milk chocolate, ganache-style filling (with very tiny shreds of orange if I'm not mistaken). Also released: the subtle but invigorating aroma of fresh orange (juice, fruit).

The overall flavor of this well-executed, get-ready-for-the-holidays blend of orange, chocolate and spirits landed somewhere between a sophisticated, perfectly mixed chocolate lovers cocktail with hints of mild brandy and Cointreau, and an exquisite chocolate and orange chocolate mousse. A judicious amount of vanilla gave this sweet bar some extra floral warmth. 

Layers of complex flavors harmonized together enabled an enjoyable tasting journey. Were it just a filled, sweet milk chocolate bar (sugar was the number one ingredient), this would have been less fun and interesting. Cocoa butter (the number two ingredient) along with real butter (cream) provided richness (and likely a good base for flavor inclusion infusions); and the orange liqueur and real orange fruit and juice contributed flavor depth.

Note: This bar does contain low levels of alcohol.

Ingredients:  Cane sugar, cocoa butter, orange liqueur, sugar, 

 

Allergen-related information: "Contains milk, soy. Manufactured on equipment that processes tree nuts, peanuts, eggs and sesame."

Trader Joe's - Chocolate Liqueur Cherries - Jan. 3, 2017

Chocolate of the Day: 

Trader Joe's
Chocolate Liqueur Cherries
Good +++
Weight: 1.27 oz. (36 g.) / 14.1 oz. (400 g.) in total box
Calories: 160 calories in 3 pieces
Cost: $5.99 for 1 box
Purchased from: Trader Joe's, Alameda, CA

Welcome to Day #3 of Chocolate and Cherries Theme Week.

Today's Chocolate Liqueur Cherries from Trader Joe's (Monrovia, CA) were an example of a higher-quality product in this category than is often available; and they brightened up a dreary winter day considerably.

The box-style package contained 33 chocolate cherries (11 servings), individually wrapped in gold foil, neatly lined up in shimmering rows.

At the center of each 49% dark chocolate shell was a pitted Morello cherry grown in Hungary, and liqueur containing sugar, cherry juice and alcohol.* As with all such liquid-filled cherries, bite into these with caution to avoid mischievous drips on your favorite shirt.

*These chocolate liqueur cherries were a product of Hungary and contained a maximum alcohol content of 4.4%. The cherries, as far as I could tell contained no wheat/gluten, artificial colors or preservatives.

Chocolate and Licorice spirited baked goods - Dec. 31, 2016

Chocolate of the Day: 

Licorice chocolate cupcakes + cookies

Welcome to the final day (Day #8) of Spirited Chocolate Theme Week.

Today, the last day of 2016, we're going off-track a bit, by making some homemade licorice chocolate cookies and cupcakes, with at least three different chocolate ingredients and some added flavors.

What spirit infused today's baked goods? I tried to decide whether to use Ouzo or Pastis liqueur to flavor today's (gluten-free) chocolate cookies and cupcakes. I decided to use a little of both.

I used chopped bits of a left-over licorice chocolate bar to enhance the licorice flavor, and added some dried, crushed fresh fennel and bits of tangerine peel.

I thought they were wonderful, but I tend to like all Mediterranean-leaning flavor combinations. Even if you don't like licorice, you might want to give these a try.

The small, thin cookies were slightly crunchy around the edges and slightly moist and cake-like in the middle.

The cupcakes were moist and full of chocolate, licorice, fennel, citrus flavors.

Woodstock After Dark Bourbon & Chocolate; brio milkshake - Dec. 30, 2016

Chocolate of the Day: 

Woodstock Kentucky Bourbon
After Dark Bourbon and Chocolate (liqueur)
Good ++
Weight: 1.5 fl. oz. (44.3 mL) / 25.3 (U.S.) fl. oz. (750 mL) in 1 bottle
Calories: 123 calories (estimate) in 1.5 fl. oz. serving
Cost: $5.99 for 1 bottle
Purchased from: Grocery Outlet Bargain Market, Palo Alto, CA

Welcome to Day #7 of Spirited Chocolate Week.

brio
(distributed by Nutricopia, Inc.)
Mellow Dark Chocolate (frozen dairy dessert)
Good
Weight: 1/4 cup (80 g.) / 14 fl. oz. (414 mL) in total container
Calories: 80 calories in 1/4 cup serving
Cost: $1.99 (estimate) for 1 container
Purchased from: Grocery Outlet Bargain Market, Palo Alto, CA

Today's chocolate items were combined to make an adult milkshake.

Woodstock Bourbon + Chocolate liqueur cocktails
Enjoying an ounce or two of Woodstock's After Dark Bourbon and Chocolate liqueur all by itself is quite satisfying. However, it's also a great ingredient to pour over vanilla ice cream, to include in a frozen dessert, or cocktail.*

Today's cocktail came in the form of an adult milkshake. I blended together a generous amount of milk, a small scoop of brio Mellow Dark Chocolate frozen dairy (gluten free) dessert, and a generous splash of Woodstock After Dark liqueur. A simple after dinner treat.

*Earlier this week, I shared the formula for a micro-drink I created, that I called a Sweet Almond 'Sky: 1/3 Amaretto, and 2/3 Woodstock Kentucky Bourbon After Dark Bourbon and Chocolate (liqueur).

Chocolate Maya - Elderflower Liqueur chocolate - July 26, 2015

Chocolate of the Day: 

Chocolate Maya
Elderflower liqueur chocolate
Good ++
Weight: .37 oz. (10.4 g.) (estimate) in 1 piece
Calories: 56 calories (estimate) in 1 piece
Cost: $2.00 in 1 piece
Purchased from: Chocolate Maya, Santa Barbara, CA

Welcome to Day #5 of Chocolate and Santa Barbara Theme Week. I'm working my way through a few different assortment boxes of chocolates recently purchased in Santa Barbara, CA.

Today's purplish, flower-shaped confection came from Chocolate Maya (Santa Barbara, CA) and was filled with elderflower liqueur (St. Germain I believe) infused dark chocolate ganache. This filling had just the right amount (for my taste) of slightly berry-tart elderflower flavor.

Giraudi - white chocolate bar + Italian hot chocolate - July 20, 2014

Chocolate of the Day:

Giraudi
White chocolate bar with nuts and candied fruit
Good + - Very Good
Weight: 4.24 oz. (120 g.) in total package
Calories: 630 calories (estimate) in 1 package
Cost: N/A - gift (Thank you Claudia!)
Purchased from: Cafe Venetia, Palo Alto, CA

Today was Day #2 of Chocolate and Italy Theme Week.

This large white chocolate bar with nuts and candied fruit from Giraudi (Torino, Italy) was sweet and very tasty. The almonds, hazelnuts, pistachio and pine nuts helped add crunchy texture and were fine counterpoints to the sweet fruits and rich and creamy white chocolate.

Because I don't "count" white chocolate, I made some Italian hot chocolate to accompany this Giraudi bar.

I swizzled in a bit of Torani Raspberry syrup into some "European" style Sipping Chocolate (from Trader Joe's), and experimented with a tiny splash of Galliano (a sweet, herbal liqueur containing vanilla and anise) from Tuscany. (Amaretto (a sweet almond liqueur from Italy) or Frangelico (a hazelnut and herb flavored liqueur produced in Canale Italy) also would have been nice mix-ins.)

Cafe Venetia, a local cafe, in Palo Alto, CA, specializes in Italian coffees, chocolates and other treats.

Chocolates + Liquor - April 20, 2013

Chocolate(s) of the Day:

1.) Roshen Confectionery Corporation
Cherry in Liqueur
Weight: .5 oz. (14.28 g.) (estimate) for 1 piece
Calories: 75.7 calories (estimate) for 1 piece
Cost: $0.19 (estimate), sold by weight ($5.99/lb.)
Purchased from: Crossroads World Market, Palo Alto, CA

2.) Solidarnosc
Caffe
Weight: .6 oz. (17.46 g.) (estimate) for 1 piece
Calories: 92.5 calories (estimate) for 1 piece
Cost: $0.23 (estimate), sold by weight ($5.99/lb.)
Purchased from: Crossroads World Market, Palo Alto, CA

Today's individually wrapped chocolates hailed from Eastern Europe -- and arrived in my neighborhood via Crossworlds World Market, an international store that stocks interesting foods from Russia, Ukraine, Poland, and other exotic (for many Californians at least) locales.

The first item: a chocolate covered cherry bathed in a liquor-flavored, liquid center that was made by Roshen Confectionery Corporation (Kiev City, Ukraine).

The second "Caffe" chocolate with a creamy, caramel-like center (also flavored with liquor) was from Solidarnosc (Firma Cukiernicza "Solidarnosc - rok zalazania 1952" Sp. z o.o.; Lublin, Poland)

Trying to decipher the text on these chocolates (sold in individual pieces, by the pound) was a fun adventure, complete with geography lesson. (No, Ukraine is not the same as Russia).

However, the flavors of chocolate needed no translation. Spirits-soaked, sweet centers were harmoniously balanced with and within their chocolate skins.

Today was Day #6 of Chocolate and Spirits Theme Week.

ChocolateBet: July 11, 2012

Chocolate of the Day:

Royce' Chocolate
Nama Chocolate - Au Lait - Cherry Marnier
Good + - Very Good
Weight: .975 oz. (27.9 g.) in 3 pcs. / 6.5 oz. (186 g.) total box
Calories: 140 calories (estimate)
Cost: N/A - gift
Purchased from: N/A - gift (from Asia/Japan)

Thank you to Elise and Kerry for sharing some of this Royce' Chocolate (Japan) Nama Chocolate Au Lait gift box, from an overseas (Singapore) colleague, with me. These soft chocolate pieces, with a slight dusting of cocoa and flavored with just the right touch of Cherry Marnier (liqueur), were good served slightly chilled. Not every chocolate should be refrigerated, but I believe keeping these cool helped prolong their shelf life. The box came with a special little serving spoon to help in the serving process.

Today was Day #4 of Chocolate and Fruit Theme Week.