Butlers Chocolates - Drumshanbo with Sardinian Citrus Gunpowder Irish Gin flavoured Truffles - Sept. 21, 2023

Chocolate of the Day

Butlers Chocolates
Drumshanbo with Sardinian Citrus
Gunpowder Irish Gin flavoured Chocolate Truffles
Good + - Good ++
Weight: 1.76 oz. (50 g.) / 3.52 oz. (100 g.) in total box of 8 pieces
Calories: 249 calories in 4 pieces (498 kcals in 100 g.)
Cost: 9.00 Euros or $9.00 (estimated USD) for 1 box
Purchased from: The Loop Dublin Airport (shop), Collinstown (Dublin), Ireland

Welcome to Day #5 of Chocolate and Ireland Series.

Today's Dumshanbo with Sardinian Citrus Gunpowder Irish Gin flavoured Chocolate Truffles was from Butlers Chocolates UC (Dublin, Ireland). 

Butlers was founded in 1932 by Marion Bailey-Butler. It subsequently was acquired; and in the 1980s the company name became Butlers Irish Chocolates.

. It subsequently was acquired; and in the 1980s the company name became Butlers Irish Chocolates.

The Drumshanbo Gunpowder Irish Gin with Sardinian Citrus used to animate these chocolates was "slow distilled at The Shed Distillery--located in the village of Drumshanbo, County Leitrim. Founded in 2014 by PJ Rigney, this producer of gin (including Gunpowder Irish Gin), whiskey and vodka was the first distillery in this area in over 100 years. 

Aroma notes for these filled confections included: sweet milk chocolate and faint citrus (lemon, various other citrus) and spirits (gin, botanicals).

The thick, Butlers Chocolates 32% milk chocolate* outer shell was thick, creamy and sweet. But, things got a lot more flavorful inside, after the first bite.

Botanical inclusions in the gin (that flavored the centers) included the traditional juniper, angelica root, orris root, caraway seed, coriander seed, meadowsweet, cardamom and star anise. But the flavor notes were even more multi-layered and complex, and included citrus (lemon, lemon peel, sweet grapefruit), botanicals (herbal, floral (meadowsweet), gunpowder tea, and balanced juniper in the finish)...and very faint cedar.

The citrus, tea and herbal notes really helped to counter the inherent sweetness of these milk chocolates. 

Ingredients: Sugar, whole milk powder, cocoa butter, cocoa mass, Drumshanbo Irish Gin with Sardinian Citrus(R) (6.9%), sweetened condensed milk (milk, sugar), invert sugar syrup, glucose syrup, lemon compound (lemon 47%), sugar, nature flavouring, acidity regulator: sodium citrate, anti-oxidant: ascorbic acid), emulsifier: soya lecithin, glycerol, citric acid, natural flavouring. (Milk chocolate contains: 32% cocoa solids minimum, 20% milk solids minimum. White chocolate contains: 26% cocoa solids minimum, 20% milk solids minimum). Alcohol by volume: 3.15%

Allergen-related information: Contains milk, soy. "This product may contain nut traces."

*The cacao origin listed: "West Africa."

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."

 

The Fumbally - Hot Chocolate and Gluten Free Chocolate Cake - Sept. 19, 2023

Chocolate(s) of the Day

The Fumbally

Hot Chocolate
Good ++
1 Cup
Calories: Unknown
Cost: 4.10 Euros ($4.10 (estim.) USD) for 1 cup
Purchased from: The Fumbally, Dublin, Ireland

Gluten Free Chocolate Cake
Good ++ 
1 Slice
Calories: Unknown
Cost: 4.90 Euros ($4.90 (estim.) USD) for 1 slice
Purchased from: The Fumbally, Dublin, Ireland

Welcome to Day #3 of Chocolate and Ireland Theme Week. Sometimes the best way to explore chocolate is to sit in a cafe.

Today's two chocolate items were from The Fumbally, located in The Liberties area of Dublin, Ireland.

This community cafe was a wonderful place to have breakfast, and watch the world go by. As the weather shifted from light showers to dry pavement and back again, I enjoyed eating fresh eggs and sipping a cup of hot chocolate. I also tried the Fumbally gluten-free chocolate cake. 

The cocoa was warm, sweet, chocolate-y and inviting, with a decorative dash of cocoa powder across the top.

The gluten free chocolate cake was silky smooth, authentic and chocolate-y with a very thin flaky layer on top (like you'd find on a brownie or tort).

Both items were a bit on the sweet side; but portions were enjoyable (not too big/heavy, or too small), and were very satisfying as a dual dose of chocolate on a rainy day. 

I don't have a list of ingredients or potential allergens for these two gluten-free chocolate offerings, but The Fumbally's food tasted healthy and made from scratch to me.

Lir Chocolates - Guinness Dark Chocolate (bar) - Sept. 18, 2023

Chocolate of the Day

Lir Chocolates
Guinness Dark Chocolate (bar)
Good +
Weight: 1.06 oz. (30 g.) / 3.18 g. (90 g.) in total bar
Calories: 175.5 calories in 1/3 bar
Cost: 3.00 Euros ($3.00 (estim.) USD) for 1 bar
Purchased from: Guinness Storehouse, St. James's Gate, Dublin, Ireland

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

Today's Guinness Dark Chocolate (bar) was made by Lir Chocolates (Johnstown, Navan, County Meath, Ireland)--"with chocolate from multiple countries." In addition to producing their own chocolates, Lir partners with famous Irish product brands like Guinness to produce novelty chocolate offerings. (Lir also makes a box of small Guinness chocolate ("glasses"), and a Guinness Chocolate Rugby Ball.)

Aroma notes for today's Irish stout-forward chocolate included sweet dark chocolate and sharp, sweet malted barley--just like the aroma in the Guinness facility where I bought these.

The bar's texture was silky smooth, buttery and slightly oily (butter oil).

Flavor notes included: smooth dark (52%) chocolate and bold brew notes (roasted, malted barley, hops, stout, dark beer).

Tasting notes: "Intense dark chocolate flavoured with the complex notes of Guinness (TM)."

Ingredients: Cocoa Mass, Sugar, Cocoa Butter, Butter Oil (Milk), Flavourings, Emulsifier: Lecithins (Soya), Guinness (TM) Beer (contains Barley and Gluten). Dark Chocolate contains Cocoa Solids 52% minimum. 

Allergen-related information: Contains: Milk, Soya, Barley, Gluten. May contain traces of Nuts and Peanuts. This product contains alcohol (0.2%). Not suitable for children. 

Bombus Natural Energy - Raw Energy Orange and Cocoa - Sept. 17, 2023

Chocolate of the Day

Bombus Natural Energy
Orange and Cocoa Beans Raw Energy (bar)
Good +
Weight: 1.76 oz. (50 g.) in total bar
Calories: 183.8 calories in 1 bar (367.6 kcals per 100 g.)
Cost: $1.89 (estimate) USD for 1 bar 
Purchased from: Wicklow Gaol (shop), Wicklow, Ireland

Welcome to Day #1 of Chocolate and Ireland Week. 

Today's Orange and Cocoa Beans Raw Energy (bar) was from Bombus Natural Energy (Krnov, Moravskoslezky kraj, Czech Republic). The company offers a variety of health-oriented, gluten free bars created at lower temperatures (to preserve nutritional properties), and without extra sugar or preservatives.

This chocolate may have been from somewhere else in Europe, but it was bought during a stop at the Wicklow Gaol*, an historic spot in Wicklow, Ireland. 

Aroma notes for today's energy bar included: cocoa, orange and dried fruit (dates).

The texture was substantial, soft, "date-y" and chewy.

Flavor notes included: authentic cocoa/cacao, natural orange, dried fruit (date), and faint coconut.

Ingredients: Dates (67.5%), Coconut (15%), Cocoa (8%), Cocoa Beans (8%), Orange Concentrate (1.2%), Orange Oil (0.3%).

Allergen-related information: (Gluten Free and Lactose Free); "Possible allergens: nuts, sesame"

*Wicklow Gaol is an ancient Irish jail with a lot of interesting history--most of it sad (as you might have already guessed). 

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Hedh-Escalante Chocolatier - Swedish Chocolate Ball - Sept. 16, 2023

Chocolate of the Day

Hedh-Escalante Chocolatier
Swedish Chocolate Ball
Good+ - Good ++
Weight: 1.59 oz. (45 g.) in 1 ball
Calories: 215 calories (estimate) in 1 ball
Cost: $3.50 (35 Swedish Kr.) for 1 ball
Purchased from: In-flight purchase, SAS airline flight to Stockholm, Sweden 

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

Today's Swedish Chocolate Ball was from Hedh Escalante Chocolatier (Malmo, Sweden). Jan Hedth and Maria Escalante have been producing a variety of chocolate confections since 2005, including some specially made for SAS Airlines--which is where I found today's Chocolate Ball.

Aroma notes for this round confection included: chocolate (fudge-cake), butter, and very light coconut.

The texture was soft, almost cake-like chocolate interspersed with chewy coconut shreds on the outside/covering.

Flavor notes for this generously sized ball included: rich chocolate fudge cake, with slightly buttery, nutty, mocha, very faint vanilla--and coconut.

Ingredients: "OATMEAL (Gluten free), Lactose free butter (pasteurized CREAM, lactase enzyme, salt), Sugar, Dark chocolate 70% (cocoa mass, sugar, cocoa butter, emulsifier, lecithin (SOY), vanilla), Syrup, Coconut, Cocoa powder, invert sugar, Preservative (Potassium Sorbate) (E202), Coffee, Vanilla, Salt.

Allergen-related information: (Contains dairy, soy.)

Fjak Sjokolade - 72% Mork (Dark) Guatemala Alta Verapaz, Lachua (bar) - Sept. 15, 2023

Chocolate of the Day

Fjak Sjokolade
72% Mork (Dark) Guatemala - Alta Verapaz, Lachua (bar)
Good ++
Weight: .935 oz. (26.5 g.) / 1.87 oz. (53 g.) in total bar
Calories: 146 calories (estimate) in 1/2 bar
Cost: 85,00 (Norwegian Kroner) / $7.98 (USD) for 1 bar
Purchased from: Hotel Ullensvang (Hardangerfjord), Norway

Welcome to Day #7 of Scandinavian Chocolate Week.

Today's 72% Mork (Dark) Guatemala - Alta Verapaz, Lachua (bar) was from Fjak Sjokolade (Eidfjord, Norway).

The company produces the chocolates in small, single origin batches.

Aroma notes included: smooth dark chocolate (ganache) and balanced botanical (sweet green, floral, nut, seed).

The texture was rich, chocolate-y and smooth with a slight astringency toward the finish.

Flavor notes included: dark chocolate, and faint caffe latte, dried fruit (peach), and very faint green sweet nut/seed. 

This dark chocolate was relatively low in bitterness, but not in flavor. It had nice, elegantly complex and well-balanced flavor notes that extended into a pleasant finish.

Maker's Tasting Notes: "Velvety dark chocolate with apricot and a touch of light roasted coffee notes"

Ingredients: Cocoa beans, Cane Sugar & Cocoa butter

Allergen-related information: (None listed.)