Stoked Chocolates - Japanese Whiskey Caramels - Aug. 6, 2026

Chocolate of The Day

Stoked Chocolates
Japanese Whiskey Caramels
Good ++ 
Weight: .5 oz. (14.1 g.) / 2 oz. (48 g.) in total box of 6 caramels 
Calories: 73 calories (estimate) in 2 caramels/pieces
Cost: $16.00 + shipping
Purchased from: Stoked Chocolates, online order

Welcome to Day #1 of Chocolate & Spirits Theme Week, including bars and chocolate confections flavored with spirits.

Today's Japanese Whiskey Caramels were from Stoked Chocolates (Hermosa Beach, CA).

Aroma and flavor notes for these golden-hued, dome-shaped chocolate confections included smooth, dark chocolate outer shells (chocolate-y, dark ganache) filled with gentle but flavorful whiskey-infused caramel filling. These caramels were well-balanced and subtly, boozy-sweet with a satisfying, warm whiskey and chocolate finish.

Texture: The firm chocolate outer shells had a very creamy dark chocolate melt. And the soft, silken caramel fillings were light, almost delicate; i.e., they weren't too heavy or stiff.

I enjoyed the well-executed flavors and texture; the small size of these chocolate caramels; and the packaging. (The illustration of the octopus on the outside of the box was very nice.) These caramel-filled confections would make a very nice gift.

Ingredients: (No ingredients listed on label); contact company for more information

Allergen-related information: Contact company for more information

Xocolatl Chocolate - Barrel-Aged Dark with ASW Distillery Duality Double Malt Whiskey 70% Dark Chocolate (bar) - Sept. 14, 2025

Chocolate of the Day

Xocolatl Chocolate
Barrel-Aged Dark with ASW Distillery's Duality Double Malt Whiskey (R) 70% Dark Chocolate (bar)
Good ++ 
Weight: 1.3 oz. (37.5 g.) / 2.6 oz. (75 g.) in total bar
Calories: 200 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $11.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Xocolatl, online order

Welcome to Day #8 of Chocolate & Spirits Theme Week.

Today's Barrel-Aged Dark with ASW Distillery's Duality Double Malt Whiskey (R) 70% Dark Chocolate (bar) was made from bean-to-bar by Xocolatl LLC (Atlanta, GA). 

Founders Elaine Read and Matt Weyandt started their chocolate making journey with Costa Rican cacao over a decade ago, and are committed to sourcing sustainably grown cacao from farmers in the Americas--where cacao originated. Their company name (Xocolatl, the "Aztec word for chocolate") is a tribute to the civilizations and people who have cultivated cacao for many centuries. 

Today's bar is a collaboration with ASW Distillery (Atlanta, GA). Presumably cacao nibs were barrel-aged in whiskey casks that imparted the very subtle, smooth and naturally sweet spirits aroma and flavor that mingled with the cacao flavors.

Aroma and flavor notes for today's chocolate (bar) included: rich dark chocolate with medium, balanced acidity; faint diffuse fruit (very faint sweet pomegranate and fig syrup); sweet green botanical (with a touch of spirits, brown sugar, smooth wood/oak, red wine); and very faint (barely detectable), fleeting herb (dill pickle chips, salt)--that dissipated soon after opening the wrapper.

Texture: smooth was a very faint (fruit) astringency.

I appreciated the short list of high-quality and organic ingredients and the subtle, balanced flavors that gently lingered into the finish. You may want to savor this bar slowly; and lean in a little to get some of the nuances.

Ingredients: Cacao*, Cane Sugar*, Cocoa Butter*, ASW Distillery's Duality Double Malt Whiskey(R) (* = organic)

Allergen-related information: "Made on equipment that processes peanuts, soy, wheat & tree nuts (almond, coconut, hazelnut, pecan)."

Nuance Chocolate - Special Series Cherry Whiskey 70% Dark (bar) - Sept. 11, 2025

Chocolate of the Day

Nuance Chocolate

Spirit Series - Cherry Whiskey 70% Dark (bar)
Good ++ - Good +++
Weight: 1 oz. (28 g.) / 1.9 oz. (55 g.) in total bar 
Calories: 155 calories (estimate) in 1/2 bar
Cost: $17.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Nuance Chocolate, order by phone/online 

Welcome to Day #5 of Chocolate and Spirits Theme Week. And Happy 19th Year of Chocolate Banquet.*

Today's Spirit Series - Cherry Whiskey 70% Dark (bar) (Batch #40413) was from Nuance Chocolate (Fort Collins, CO). Nuance is a small-batch, bean-to-bar maker producing high-end bars and confections.

This bar was a Colorado collaboration between Nuance Chocolate's blend of premium cacao beans and a lovely whiskey from Leopold Bros., an independently-owned distillery in Denver, CO.

Aroma notes for this chocolate (from Nuance Chocolate's "Spirit Series" of bars) included: rich, smooth chocolate-y chocolate with subtle, rounded red fruit notes (cherry) and faint spirits (whiskey, brown sugar, oak, vanilla).

Texture: Pleasing, hearty, creamy melt and mouthfeel. Just the right thickness, that enabled easy access to aroma and flavors as well as a great melt.

Flavor notes included: deeper, richer, smooth dark chocolate and more of the layered spirits (whiskey) notes mentioned above. Lingering, balanced, cherry, chocolate-y (dark chocolate chips, chocolate torte, and the ghost-of-a-good-whiskey in the pleasant finish. 

I loved the rich, nuanced flavors in this bar, all coaxed from just four ingredients. This subtly spirited 70% dark chocolate was great all by itself...

...But, if you want to fancy things up, this Cherry Whiskey bar could be a part of a dessert plate, a chocolate and spirits flight, or incorporated into almost any chocolate dessert. There was enough natural sweetness to evoke a high-end chocolate cocktail or a slightly-spiked hot chocolate. Warm and inviting; nothing too harsh or spiky. Relatively low in acidity and bitterness. Versatile and classy, with warm overtones.

Maker's description: "A transcendent pairing of barrel-aged Leopold Brothers Cherry Whiskey and a special blend of fully-fermented cacao from around the world. First on the palate is chocolate, followed by cherry, whiskey and charred-oak barrel. No trickery--just cacao, cane sugar and real American whiskey."

Ingredients: "cacao, cane sugar, cocoa butter, cherry whiskey."

Allergen-related information: "Manufactured in a facility that also processes tree nuts, peanuts, milk, eggs, wheat, and soy."

*Chocolate Banquet is the blog-site that celebrates cacao and chocolate makers--and has featured Corinne DeBra's tasting a different chocolate every day for (as of today) 19 years.

Goodnow Farms Chocolate - Limited Release Dark Chocolate Demon Seed Whiskey 77% Cacao (bar) - Dec. 6, 2024

Chocolate of the Day

Goodnow Farms Chocolate
Limited Release Dark Chocolate Demon Seed Whiskey 77% Cacao (bar)
Good ++ 
Weight: .97 oz. (27.5 g.) / 1.94 oz. (55 g.) in total bar
Calories: 145 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $35.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Goodnow Farms Chocolate, online order

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

Today's Limited Release Dark Chocolate Demon Seed Whiskey with Maple Sugar 77% Cacao was made by Goodnow Farms Chocolate (Sudbury, MA) in collaboration with Boston Harbor Distillery (Dorchester, MA). The cacao bean origin was Colombia (Boyaca).

Aroma notes included: dark chocolate (dark cocoa, ganache), and very faint spirits (whiskey) and maple sugar. 

When I bought this bar, I didn't know it contained scorpion pepper, one of the world's hotter peppers. (The name Demon Seed Whiskey should have clued me in.) If you don't detect a chili/pepper smell to this bar, you might be surprised by the bit of heat that kicks in a bit later. So, for the heat-sensitive, I'd advise taking a small bite first.

Texture: relatively smooth (all ingredients were fully incorporated), with a tiny bit of (possibly imagined) astringency toward the end.

Flavor notes included: dark chocolate (bittersweet chocolate), warm maple sugar, and very faint whiskey, chili spice and earth notes. The whiskey added flavor depth without being obvious.

Given the relatively bold flavor elements, this was a very balanced and well-executed chocolate. There were no pyrotechnics or rushes to grab a glass of water because of the scorpion pepper. Yes, the pepper had some heat, but it wasn't overwhelming (thank you). The ginger was barely detectable, but it likely added some warm spice that melded flavors together nicely.

The 77% cacao (single origin Colombia, Boyaca) seemed relatively smooth for a higher percentage chocolate, and the sweetness level seemed to be just right. The maple and ginger were subtle but added some warmth that makes it appealing for colder/winter days. And this is a fun bar to share with others.

Maker's tasting notes: "...Heat from scorpion peppers dances with ginger and melds with flavors of rich, maple fudge. A warm caramel syrup sensation lingers..."

Ingredients: Single Origin Cacao Beans, Maple Sugar, Single Origin Cocoa Butter, Whiskey, Scorpion Pepper, Ginger

Allergen-related information: "Soy Free, Gluten Free"

Creo Chocolate - Whiskey Milk 65% Milk Chocolate (bar) - Dec. 4, 2024

Chocolate of the Day

Creo Chocolate
Whiskey Milk 65% Milk Chocolate (bar)
Good ++ 
Weight: 1.75 oz. (50 g.) in total bar
Calories: 250 calories (estimate) in 1 bar
Cost: $12.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Creo Chocolate, online order

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

Today's Whiskey Milk - 65% Milk Chocolate Infused with Westward Whiskey (bar) was from Creo Chocolate (Portland, OR).

The single origin cacao used to make this bar was from Ecuador, which contributed to the smooth rich chocolate-y flavor.

Aroma notes included: dark milk chocolate; very faint, sweet spirits (whiskey); and subtle rich caramel.

Texture: creamy, smooth chocolate.

Flavor notes included: smooth, dark milk chocolate; subtle sweet spirits (whiskey) and rich caramel and light cream; and an unexpected (but wonderful) sparkling of salt. But, not just any salt -- mesquite sea salt. 

Disclaimer: I like savory/smokey chocolates. Chocolates with a judicious dose of sea salt that also was smoked. Yes, that is just fine. I find that salt and/or a savory element balances out higher levels of sugars, even natural and authentic-tasting sweetness. I can't be sure; but the 65% cacao might have been too sweet for me. But the maker's choices of salt, milk and whiskey all blended very nicely in this case.

Maker's tasting notes: "Flavor notes: barrel-aged whiskey, malt, smoked sea salt -- creamy and sophisticated"

Ingredients: cacao beans, organic cane sugar, organic whole milk powder, mesquite smoked salt, malt whiskey. 

Allergen-related information: "Contains: Milk" "Manufactured on shared equipment with products containing eggs, wheat, sesame seeds, soy, peanuts & tree nuts"

 

Kasama Chocolate - Odd Society Single Malt Canadian Whisky 70% Cacao (bar) - Dec. 1, 2024

Chocolate of the Day

Kasama Chocolate
Odd Society Single Malt Canadian Whisky 70% Cacao Barrel Aged (bar)
Good ++
Weight: .97 oz. (27.5 g.) / 1.94 oz. (55 g.) in total bar
Calories: 163 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $19.50 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Intrigue Chocolate, online order

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

Today's Odd Society Single Malt Canadian Whisky 70% Cacao Barrel Aged (bar) was from Kasama Chocolate (Vancouver, B.C., Canada).  

This Special Release bean-to-bar chocolate was made using cacao beans from Northern Ecuador (Costa Esmeraldas). These roasted cacao beans (broken into pieces, aka nibs) were "aged with Odd Society Distillery's Commodore single malt whisky*. The nibs were then dried and stone ground to create a...rich dark chocolate with oak and whisky notes."

Aroma and flavor notes included: smooth, dark chocolate; a bouquet of marinated fruits (ripe cherry, sweet/boozy orange, citron and sweet lime); barrel-aged whiskey; very, very faint (fleeting) vegetable (green beans + nopalitos cooked with a little lemon); and very faint herbal (licorice). In the finish: fudge brownie, whiskey, vanilla and cherry tobacco, subtle oak.

Texture: smooth, chocolate-y with a pleasing melt and mouthfeel.

I enjoyed the balanced, rich complexity and unexpected fruitiness in this bar. It was flavorful, not too sweet (thank you!), and satisfying. I liked that the complex cocktail of flavors extended into a relatively long finish with mellow, authentic, barrel-aged whiskey, vanilla and light cherry. 

This would be a great bar to share with friends and family over the holidays, or to provide a little warmth to any winter day/evening.

Ingredients: Commodore Whisky Aged Cacao Nibs, Unrefined Cane Sugar*, Cacao Butter* (* = Organic) 

Allergen-related information: None listed, except "Made in a facility that contains nuts."

*The Odd Society Commodore small-batch whisky in this bar tasted closer to Bourbon than Scotch. It was "distilled with 100% BC grown, malted barley, and aged in ex-bourbon barrels, giving it a...peppery-sweetness, along with dark fruit, clove, and toffee notes." 

Intrigue Chocolate - Scotch Whiskey Truffle - Nov. 29, 2024

Chocolate of the Day

Intrigue Chocolate Co.
Scotch Whiskey Truffle
Good ++ - Good +++
Weight: .314 oz. (8.9 g.) / 4.09 oz. (116 g.) (estimate) in total box of 12 (13) truffles
Calories: 49 calories (estimate) in 1 truffle
Cost: $44.00 for 1 box of 12 (13) different truffles
Purchased from: Intrigue Chocolate, online order

Welcome to Day #5 of Chocolate and Spirits Theme Week.

Today's Scotch Whiskey Truffle was from Intrigue Chocolate Co. (Seattle, WA).

Intrigue Chocolate's Chef Aaron has created an estimated 400 different chocolate flavors in the past few decades. (A person after my own chocolate-marinated heart.) I found 13 of those flavors (including some with spirits) in this baker's dozen truffle assortment box--as well as several flavors in bar form (ordered online) that I'm looking forward to trying soon.

Aroma and flavor notes for today's, precision-cut, very slightly boozy square truffle included: rich, true dark chocolate and spirits (Scotch whiskey).

Texture: buttery, soft, creamy (yet firm enough not to melt in your hand immediately) with a generous dusting of cocoa powder.

This satisfying, small chocolate was one to savor. It landed squarely in the Goldilocks zone for me: not too sweet or acidic, subtle and authentic flavors. If you like dark chocolate and you like whiskey, especially Scotch Whiskey, try this one.

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.

Honeymoon Chocolates - Switchgrass Spirits 75% Dark Chocolate Rye Whiskey (bar) - June 21, 2024

Chocolate of the Day

Honeymoon Chocolates
Switchgrass Spirits 75% Dark Chocolate Rye Whiskey (bar)
Good ++
Weight: 1.1 oz. (31 g.) / 2.2 oz. (62 g.) in total bar
Calories: 171 calories (estimate) in 1/2 bar
Cost: $12.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Honeymoon Chocolates, online order

Welcome to Day #5 of Chocolate and Honey Theme Week.

Today's Switchgrass Spirits 75% Dark Chocolate Rye Whiskey (bar) was from Honeymoon Chocolates (St. Louis, MO).

This dark bar was created using organic Kokoa Kamili, Tanzania cacao, raw Missouri wildflower and clover honey, and (alcohol-removed) Switchgrass Rye whiskey.

The complex bouquet of aroma notes included: dark chocolate (fudge-y, very slightly earthy), sweet green, molasses/brown sugar, and very faint sweet herbal and barely detectable fermented fruit/whiskey.

This bar had a smooth, cocoa buttery, almost creamy texture and melt.

Flavor notes included: dark chocolate (very slightly earthy, roasted (coffee latte with molasses)); very faint sweet tart green (oxalis); very faint nuanced (floral, herbal) honey-like sweetness and naturally sweet/aged whiskey.

I enjoyed the rich, complex, and balanced aroma and flavor notes in this dark chocolate. And I appreciated that this bar was made with just four high-quality ingredients. (I also liked the hexagon (honeycomb) pattern on the back and the (compostable) packaging design.) A portion of the proceeds from this numbered bar were "automatically donated to support honeybee research."

Ingredients: Cacao, Raw Honey, Cacao Butter, Rye Whiskey 

Allergen-related information: Made in a facility that processes Dairy products. "Free of refined sugar, soy, and gluten."

 

Teeling Distillery - Whiskey Chocolate Truffles - Sept. 20, 2023

Chocolate of the Day

Teeling Distillery
Teeling Whiskey Truffles - Dark Chocolate
Good +
Weight: Missing information
Calories: Missing information
Cost: 6.00 Euros ($6.00 (estim.) USD) for 1 box of 4 pieces
Purchased from: Teeling Distillery, Dublin, Ireland

Welcome to Day #4 of Chocolate and Ireland Theme Week.

Today's Teeling Whiskey Dark Chocolate Truffles were purchased at Teelings Distillery, in The Liberties (Dublin, Ireland). These chocolates were made for Teeling by Skelligs Chocolate (St. Finian's Bay, County Kerry, Ireland). 

Teeling Distillery offers a lively tour and tasting on-site; and the chocolates in the gift shop were a fun find/take-away. 

Aroma notes included: dark chocolate, and faint spirits (whiskey).

A firm, outer dark chocolate shell surrounded a flavorful, sweet dark chocolate ganache (center) that was infused with attractive whiskey notes.

Ingredients: Dark Chocolate (cocoa mass, sugar, cocoa butter, Emulsifier (Soya lecithin), natural vanilla flavouring), Dark Chocolate Compound Vegetable Fat, sugar, fat-reduced cocoa powder; Whey powder, Emulsifier (Soya lecithin), creme, Teeling Irish Whiskey. 

Allergen-related information: "Produced in a factory that handles nuts."

 

Spinnaker Chocolate - 70% Belize with Bourbon - Jan. 1, 2023

Chocolate of the Day

Spinnaker Chocolate
70% Belize with Bourbon (bar)
Good +++ - Very Good
Weight: 1 oz. (28.3 g.) / 2 oz. (57 g.) in total bar
Calories: 120 calories in 1/2 bar (per label)
Cost: $13.00 for 1 bar

Welcome to Day #1 of 2023, and the first day of Chocolate and Belize Theme Week.

Today's 70% Belize with Bourbon (bar) was crafted by Spinnaker Chocolate (Seattle, WA) using cacao from Maya Mountain Cacao in southern Belize, and with 100% Proof Straight Bourbon Whiskey supplied by Seattle distillery 2BAR Spirits.

Aroma notes for this New Year's Day bar included: Relatively "mellow(ed)" dark chocolate, sweet green notes, heady bourbon whiskey spirits, and faint, diffuse fruit (sweet orange, goji berry, very faint, fleeting fig and cherry).

Wow, the flavor. Notes included dark chocolate; diffuse and gently morphing/fluxing fruits (listed above); bourbon; sweet butter/cream; vanilla; very faint sweet corn; and much more. 

Flavorful may be an overused word to describe single origin chocolates, but today's 70% dark chocolate raised the bar for use of this term. There was more flavor per (ounce, gram, square, bar, ingredient, etc.) than 90% of 70%ers out there. 

And yes, I do like the flavors that spirits impart. Whiskies pair very nicely with many chocolates. Today, e.g., I enjoyed getting the maximum residual distilled and aged flavors without much (if any) alcohol.*

Thank you to Spinnaker Chocolate for making today's special chocolate. After some heavy rain yesterday in California (that included minor flooding in my kitchen, today's soothing, flavorful chocolate was especially welcome--and the Spinnaker "nautical" theme was humorously appropriate. Ride the waves!

Ingredients: Cacao, organic cane sugar, straight bourbon whiskey (for flavor)

*Maker's Note: "This product contains liquor and the alcohol content is one percent or less of the weight of the product."

Allergen-related information: Processed in a facility that uses milk powder and nuts.

Homemade Barely Spiked Hot Chocolate flavored w/ vanilla, Amaretto, whiskey-soaked nibs

Chocolate of the Day

Homemade Barely Spiked Hot Chocolate

(flavored with vanilla, Amaretto, whiskey-soaked nibs)

Good +

Weight: Approx. 8 fl. oz. (30 mL) glass

Calories: 175 calories (estimate) for 1 glass

Cost: N/A - various ingredients already on hand

Purchased from: N/A - various stories

Welcome to Day #5 of Chocolate and Holiday Spirits. After over-doing it a bit this past week (multiple chocolate entries per day), I am relaxing with a homemade, very lightly spiked hot chocolate.

Today's homemade hot chocolate was a blend of hot milk, dark chocolate (2 squares of dark chocolate + 1/2 teaspoon dark cocoa powder), and a very small amount of melted butter, flavored with vanilla, 1 Tablespoon of whiskey-soaked cacao nibs (strained out after heating), and 1/4 teaspoon of Amaretto (almond flavored liqueur). The alcohol in the whiskey was no longer detectable but the flavor remained in the cocoa nibs.*

No sugar or added sweeteners. And very little alcohol. So, I was able to taste all the other wonderful ingredients. 

I've felt very grateful for being able to spend time with friends and family this holiday week. This morning, however, I enjoyed a chocolate that was less buzzy, and more relaxing. This was closer to a hot milk than a sweetened hot chocolate. The wonderful thing about cacao is that it doesn't have to be candy to be enjoyed.

Happy Holidays all.

*Spirits-infused cacao nibs (pieces of cacao beans) are very easy to make and can be used in baking and to infuse flavor into desserts and beverages. (Adding cacao nibs to brownies or cookies is worth trying.)

To make your own, put about 1/4 of a cup of cacao nibs into a small glass jar with a metal screw lid. Pour whiskey, rum (or your spirit of choice) over the nibs, enough to barely cover them. Then put the lid on and put them in a cool, dark place (dark cabinet, refrigerator door). Over time the alcohol dissipates; but the flavor remains, and the nibs are left with a more hydrated, softer crunch.

If you like the results, I recommend experimenting with different cacao bean varieties and origins (e.g. cacao nibs from a specific country if available). Different cacao origins will have a slightly different aroma and flavor. Some may be fruitier; some may have a slightly nuttier flavor. And others will smell more like "true" chocolate (brownies).

Godiva - Limited Edition Assorted Chocolates; Butlers - Irish Whiskey Milk & Dark Chocolate Truffles - Dec. 25, 2022

Chocolate(s) of the Day

Godiva 
Limited Edition Assorted Chocolate Collection
1.) Salted Caramel Lion of Belgium - Good +
2.) Midnight Swirl - Good ++
3.) Dark Chocolate Ganache Bliss - Good +
Weight: 1.325 oz. (37.5 g.) / 3.52 oz. (100 g.) in total box of 8 piece box
Calories: 180 calories in 3 piece(s)
Cost: N/A - holiday gift (Thank you Milo and family!)
Purchased from: N/A - holiday gift

Butlers Chocolates
Irish Whiskey Milk and Dark Chocolate Truffles
Good + 
Weight: .88 oz. (25 g.) / 4.41 oz. (125 g.) in total box of 10 pieces
Calories: 115 calories in 2 truffles
Cost: $5.99 for 1 box of 10 pieces
Purchased from: Grocery Outlet Bargain Market, Palo Alto, CA

Welcome to Day #5 of Chocolate and Spirits Theme Week.

Merry Christmas to all who celebrate. May your days be merry and bright--and filled with good chocolate.

Today's Christmas Day chocolate line-up included: 1.) three filled chocolates from Godiva (U.S. headquarters: New York City, NY) and 2.) Irish Whiskey Milk and Dark Chocolate Truffles (one of each flavor) from Butlers Chocolates UC (Dublin, Ireland). 

These two companies have been producing chocolate confections for more than 96 years and 90 years, respectively.

Godiva

Godiva was founded in Belgium in 1926. The following three chocolates were enjoyed from a holiday assortment box.

The regal-looking, shield/crest shaped "Salted Caramel Lion of Belgium" was covered in sweet, smooth dark chocolate with a soft, flowing lightly-salted caramel filling inside.

The "Dark Ganache Bliss" had a dark chocolate shell filled with a fudgey, sweet 72% cacao dark chocolate filling (ganache).

The "Midnight Swirl" ultra-dark chocolate had an 85% cacao dark ganache center, and had aroma and flavor notes that included: fudge brownie, very faint fruit, warm spice and earth.

The Midnight Swirl was my favorite of the three pieces, largely because more of the cacao flavors were detectable. (Less sugar generally results in more complex underlying flavors shining through, as does less-alkalized cacao.) It was great to see this higher-percent cacao filled chocolate in the dark chocolate Godiva line-up.

Ingredients: Ingredients list for assortment box not separated by flavor. 

Allergen-related information: (May contain traces of milk and nuts.)

Butlers Irish Whiskey Milk and Dark Chocolate Truffles

Butlers Chocolates (founded by Marion Butler in 1932 and originally called Chez Nous Chocolates) has been making chocolates in Ireland since then, and is still family owned.

Aroma notes for today's spirited milk chocolate and dark chocolate truffles included: sweet whiskey and sweet milk and/or dark chocolate.

The texture for the relatively thick (outer) dark and/or milk chocolate shells surrounding the softer chocolate centers was smooth and creamy. And the sweet, mellow, Irish whiskey aroma and taste perfumed both milk and dark truffles and lightly lingered into the finish.

The Irish whiskey added some flavor depth and interest to these sweet, substantial chocolate truffles.

Ingredients: Cocoa mass, sugar, cocoa butter, whole milk powder, invert sugar syrup, Irish whiskey (5%), sweetened condensed milk (milk, sugar), emulsifier (soya lecithin), natural flavoring. (Dark chocolate contains: 58% cocoa solids minimum. Milk chocolate contains: 32% cocoa solids minimum, 20% milk solids minimum).

Allergen-related information: Contains milk and soya. May contain traces of tree nuts. Alcohol by volume: 2.15%

Ethereal Confections - Whiskey and Nibs (bar) - May 26, 2021

Chocolate of the Day

Ethereal Confections
Whiskey Infused Chocolate Bar topped with Whiskey Cocoa Nibs
Good +
Weight: 1.25 oz. (35.5 g.) / 2.5 oz. (71 g.) in total bar
Calories: 207 calories (per label) in 1/2 bar
Cost: $9.00 (estimate) for 1 bar
Purchased from: SweetE Organic (now closed), Mill Valley, CA 

Welcome to Day #8 of Chocolate and VWXYZ Theme Week, featuring chocolate items with origins and flavor inclusions that begin with the letters V, W, X, Y and/or Z.

Today's Whiskey Infused Chocolate Bar topped with Whiskey Cocoa Nibs was made by Ethereal Confections (Woodstock, IL). The company offers a variety of bean-to-bar chocolates and hosts on-site classes and events in their space.

Whiskey and chocolate are a great match. The Whiskey in this 66% cacao dark chocolate provided a fragrant, boozy aroma, and rich, well-rounded, barrel-aged flavor. The spirits harmonized quite well with the chocolate. 

Whiskey-soaked cacao nibs added concentrated cocoa flavor with a flavor kick. (Whiskey-infused nibs are a wonderful garnish for, or inclusion in, sweet/dessert items as well as savory dishes (roasted meat rubs, vegetable marinades, salads).

Ingredients: Organic Chocolate (Whiskey Infused Organic Cocoa Beans, Organic Cane Sugar, Organic Cocoa Butter); Whiskey Infused Cocoa Nibs. 

Allergen-related information: "Made on shared equipment with peanuts and three nuts." Vegan.

Triangle Roasters - Dark Rye Whiskey 70% Nicaragua (bar) - Apr. 5, 2021

Chocolate of the Day

Triangle Roasters
Dark Rye Whiskey 70% Nicaragua La Colonia (bar)
Good +++
Weight: .85 oz. (24.05 g.) / 1.7 oz. (48.11 g.) in total bar
Calories: 132 calories (estimate) in 1/2 bar
Cost: $8.50 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Bar and Cocoa, online order

Welcome to Day #6 of Chocolate and Nicaragua Theme Week.

Today's Dark Rye Whiskey 70% Nicaragua La Colonia (bar) was from Triangle Roasters--a small batch coffee roaster and chocolate maker in Philadelphia, PA. 

Years ago, when I led chocolate tastings with beverage pairings, people assumed wine would be the beverage of choice. They were surprised to hear my preference was usually whiskey.

So, I was excited to taste today's Whiskey bar. The trick was how to eat this bar slowly, when it had such a seductively subtle, clear, sweet chocolate and whiskey aroma. 

The sophisticated tart, fruity, dark chocolate blended perfectly with the Dad's Hat Pennsylvania Rye Whiskey.* This craft chocolate + craft distiller collaboration bar offered the best of both worlds.** 

The base chocolate (insofar as it could be separated from the whiskey) provided bright, sweet fruit flavor, but also offered satisfying glimmers of light earth, umami, and the textural luxury of rich cocoa solids and smooth cocoa butter. 

The finish was lovely and lingering.

Ingredients: Cacao, cane sugar, cocoa butter, rye whiskey

Allergen-related information: Made in a facility with nuts and dairy

*Dad's Hat is distilled and bottled by Mountain Laurel Spirits, LLC (Bristol, PA).

**This chocolate reminded me of a whiskey cocktail with a cherry and a twist of orange and chocolate bitters I had years ago after a long walk along San Francisco Bay. (I don't drink alcohol that often, and a good drink is memorable.) 

Manoa Chocolate - Old Pali Road Whiskey 70% Dark Chocolate (bar) - Dec. 4, 2020

Chocolate of the Day

Manoa Chocolate
Old Pali Road Whiskey 70% Dark Chocolate bar
Good ++
Weight: 1.05 oz. (30 g.) / 2.1 oz. (60 g.) in total bar
Calories: 180 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $15.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Manoa Chocolate, Kailua, HI

Welcome to Day #13 of Chocolate and Hawaii Theme Week.

Today's Old Pali Road Whiskey 70% Dark Chocolate bar was from Manoa Chocolate (Kailua, HI). 

This dark chocolate was infused with a generous slug of Hawaiian-made whiskey.* The whiskey permeated both aroma and flavor. (It was strong enough that I wondered if I should drive after I finished.) There was no real need for concern here, though this fleeting thought illustrated the strength of this inclusion.

I liked these flavors. The whiskey did overpower more subtle notes from the chocolate. But the spirits and the dark chocolate harmonized well together. The melt and texture was creamy, almost a light whipped creamy--a perceived "lightness" that complemented the heavier whiskey and dark chocolate flavors.

Ingredients: Cacao, organic cane sugar, cocoa butter (Note: no whiskey listed was listed in this ingredients list, but I am guessing that this was left off the ingredients list accidentally. See below for additional information.)

*I found on the Manoa Chocolate website the following information about the whiskey source/distillery for a very similar (likely the same) bar: 

"In Kailua, O'ahu, minutes from our chocolate factory, Ko'olau Distillery makes Old Pali Road Whiskey (using water filtered through volcanic rock). (The distillery is now also making ethyl-alcohol based hand sanitizer for the Covid-19 pandemic.)

We then soak our Costa Esmeraldas (Ecuador) cacao nibs in their smooth and balanced whiskey and turn the flavored nibs into chocolate."

"Ingredients: whiskey soaked cacao, organic cane sugar, and cocoa butter."

Cultura Craft Chocolate - 70% Whiskey + Nibs bar - Dec. 26, 2019

Chocolate of the Day: 

Cultura Craft Chocolate
70% Whiskey + Nibs bar
Good ++
Weight: .6 oz. (17.16 g.) /.9 oz. (26 g.) in total bar
Calories: 101 calories (estimate) in 2/3 bar
Cost: $5.00 (estimate) for 1 bar
Purchased from: Shop in Albuquerque, NM

Welcome to Day #5 of Holiday Tea and Spirits Theme Week.

Today's 70% Whiskey + Nibs bar was from Cultura Craft Chocolate (Denver, CO).

On her website, Cultura head, Damaris Ronkanen, recalls visiting her grandparents in Mexico and her early exposure to chocolate traditions, such as her grandmother's delicious champurrado (chocolate atole) and mole. Ronkanen seeks to honor her chocolate origins in her bars.

The four-ingredient* 70% Whisky + Nibs** bar had dried fruit notes, mellowed by a very faint hint of (Deerhammer's single malt) whiskey. Satisfying true chocolate flavor was enhanced by a smattering of cacao nibs. The chocolate had high-quality, complex flavor that was not overpowered by sugar (thank you!).

*Organic cacao, organic cane sugar, whiskey, organic cocoa butter

**Nibs (pieces of cocoa beans) add a soft crunch and can magnify the essence of true chocolate flavor, taking it to the next level. Marinate nibs in whiskey and you can use them in cooking (in brownies, cookies, over vanilla ice cream, in savory dishes/rubs...or to sprinkle on chocolate.).

Goodnow Farms Chocolate - Dark Chocolate with Putnam Rye Whiskey 77% bar - Aug. 22, 2019

Chocolate of the Day: 

Goodnow Farms Chocolate
Special Reserve - Single Origin bar
Dark Chocolate with Putnam Rye Whiskey 77% Cacao (Ecuador)
Good +++
Weight: 1.94 oz. (55 g.) in total bar
Calories: 290 calories in 1 bar
Cost: $18.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Chocolate Covered, San Francisco, CA

Welcome to Day #13 of Chocolate and Spirits Theme Week, and the first day of Chocolate and Ecuador Theme Week.

In the early 2000s, people were being exposed to new $6.00 (USD) or, gasp, $8.00 (USD) single origin, craft chocolate bars. Was it worth it they asked me? In response, I would set up a blind taste test for friends and family to let them see/taste for themselves.

Most people I spoke to agreed that most of the relatively new, carefully crafted chocolate they experienced was worth the higher price. And once they learned about supply chains and fair prices for cocoa farmers, more came to accept this model.*

Fast forward to almost two decades later...Today's Special Reserve Single Origin Dark Chocolate with Putnam Rye Whiskey bar—from Goodnow Farms Chocolate (located on a beautiful farm in Sudbury, MA)—was $18.00. Times have changed and there is a better understanding of value vs. volume in many craft foods, including chocolate, distilled spirits, coffee, and beer.

This award-winning bar won a Good Food Awards prize in 2019. The Good Food Awards organization has focused on recognizing the best in high-end, small batch artisan foods.

The chocolate for this 77% cacao dark bar,** was made from (Esmeraldas) cacao beans grown in Ecuador. The beans were soaked in Putnam Rye Whiskey. It was creamy and smooth and the bar was thin enough to allow direct palette access to all the rich flavors and textures in this infused bar.

Flavor notes included chocolate with very faint green/floral notes, and balanced and subtle whiskey, light caramel, cream/milk (there was no dairy or milk in this bar**), and mild red berry.

*Similar trends were taking place with coffee, beer, organic farmers market produce, preserves, distilled spirits, etc. Coffee and cacao are also grown farther away from markets in the U.S. and Europe (than, e.g. grapes, hops, fruit and vegetables), so it took some education for people to understand that most cacao growers were small, subsistence farmers in Africa, Central/South America, or Caribbean and Pacific islands and were barely eking out a living. 

In turn, small chocolate makers spent (and continue to spend) more time and money cultivating these relationships with far-away farmers, which meant not every craft chocolate startup succeeds initially without a second income. (Chocolatiers, who buy their chocolate from chocolate makers, have an easier go of it.)

**Ingredients: cacao beans, organic sugar, single origin cocoa butter, whiskey

Timothy Adams - Bourbon, Scotch and Cognac chocolates - July 15, 2018

Chocolate(s) of the Day: 

Timothy Adams Chocolates
Bourbon, Scotch and Cognac chocolates
Good ++, Good ++ and Good +++
Weight: .39 (11 g.) (estimate) x 3 = 1.17 oz. (33 g.) in 3 pieces
Calories: 175.5 calories (estimate) in 3 pieces
Cost: $7.50 (estimate) for 3 pieces
Purchased from: Timothy Adams, Palo Alto, CA

Welcome to Day #6 of Chocolate, Bourbon and Whiskey Theme Week.

Today's trio of dark chocolate truffles (Bourbon, Scotch and Cognac) were created by Timothy Adams Chocolates (Palo Alto, CA).

Each had a 58% creamy filling infused with the spirit of choice, and was covered in a 72% dark chocolate shell.

All three flavors were worth sampling. And a side-by-side, blind tasting was enjoyable and informative.

Ritual Chocolate - Bourbon Barrel Aged 75% bar - July 11, 2018

Chocolate of the Day: 

Ritual Chocolate
Bourbon Barrel Aged 75% Cacao bar
Good +++ - Very Good
Weight: 1.06 oz. (30 g.) / 2.12 oz. (60 g.) in total bar
Calories: 159 calories (estimate) in 1/2 bar
Cost: $18.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: The Chocolate Garage, Palo Alto, CA

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

Today's Bourbon Barrel Aged 75% Cacao bar from Ritual Chocolate (Park City, UT) was made from a blend of cacao nibs that were aged in High West Distillery* bourbon whiskey barrels for several months.

This 75% Cacao dark chocolate bar had a dark chocolate and slight bourbon aroma. The vegan,  relatively thin, bar had an even, smooth melt—and a complex, smooth and uniform dark chocolate flavor with notes of coffee, very slightly smokey, bourbon-soaked fruit (mild cherry), light oak and honey, and a slight nuttiness.

The bar came with this evocative tasting suggestion: "Best enjoyed alongside an alpine babbling brook with a flask of your favorite whiskey."

*Based in Park City/Salt Lake City (Utab), the High West Distillery is a "ski-in gastro-distillery." Their Old Town Park City mountain location (approx. 7,000 ft. in elevation) is based at the bottom of "Quittin' Time" ski run near the Town Lift. 

Nathan Miller - Strawberry & Rye Whiskey bar - April 5, 2018

Chocolate of the Day: 

Nathan Miller

Strawberry and Rye Whiskey bar

Good - Good +

Weight: 1 oz. (28.3 g. ) / 2 oz. (56.6 g.) in total package

Calories: 150 calories (estimate) in 1/2 bar

Cost: $12.00 for 1 bar

Purchased from: Chocolate Covered, San Francisco, CA

Welcome to Day #4 of Chocolate and Strawberry Theme Week.

Nathan Miller is one of the few chocolate makers brave enough to incorporate buttermilk* into some of his craft chocolate bars. Buttermilk adds a tart sweet and salty freshness to milkshakes and desserts, so why not chocolate bars? 

Today's Strawberry and Rye Whiskey bar from Nathan Miller (Chambersburg, PA)—wrapped in festive yellow, green and orange (what looked to be handmade) paper and sky blue foil—had an intriguing dark chocolate aroma with fresh strawberry aroma.

The 55% dark chocolate had a relatively smooth, almost creamy melt and texture, and a slightly complicated flavor profile. It had a somewhat unexpected earthy (dirt, mushrooms) flavor spike about a 1/3 of the way through the tasting experience. However, on the back side of this note, there was a very faint hint of what was likely whiskey, followed be a pleasant slight strawberry and buttermilk ice cream finish. 

Ingredients: 55% buttermilk chocolate made with Oko-Caribe direct trade organic Hispaniola cacao, organic buttermilk, raw fair trade organic cane sugar, organic strawberry, organic cacao butter, organic rye whiskey.

*The company also sells a bar made with camel milk.