Candy Hunting: 2014 Holiday Candy, Part 5

Hershey's Collection

Flavors: Milk Chocolate Cherry Cordial Creme and Milk Chocolate Almond and Caramel
Place found: Meijer
Price: $5.29 for 5 oz

Turin Chocolates

Flavors: Kahlua and Bailey's 
Place found: Meijer
Price: $5.29 for 4.2 oz

Thorntons Irresistibles Truffles

Flavors: Hazelnut and Almond, Gingerbread, Salted Caramel, and Double Chocolate
Place found: Meijer
Price: $5.29 for 5.3 - 5.7 oz

Eclipse Candy Cane Peppermint

Place found: Target

Links to more Holiday Candy Hunting: 

Part 1

Peeps (Part 2)

One Pound Candy Bars (Part 3)

Holiday Assortments (Part 4)

Queen Anne Black Cherry Cola Cordials

Place purchased: Walgreen's 

Price: $2.19

Number of reviewers: 4

Appearance - 6.5

The Black Cherry Cola Cordials have a domed milk chocolate shell with a dual layer liquid filling. The top layer is deep red in color and contains a whole, pitted cherry. The lower layer of filling is glossy white. 

Flavor and Taste - 7.8

When biting into the cordial, there is an initial wave of cherry cola flavor from the filling. The flavor becomes more cherry-dominate once the whole cherry is chewed. The chocolate flavor comes into play only after the filling dissipates. Both the filling and milk chocolate shell are incredibly sweet. 

D: Don't think I am sold on the premise. 
E: Whoa... Sweet, fizzy, fruity, cola-y. 
N: Just a hint of cola. 

Texture - 7.0

The filling is liquid, gooey, and slightly effervescent. The cherry is crisp and provides a pleasant textural contrast to the liquid center. Since the filling is so runny, the cordials are best eaten in one bite. 

D: Grainy texture. 
E: Like a cherry cordial, but fizzier. 
N: Exploded in my hand. 

Aftertaste - 7.0

The aftertaste is initially that of cherry cola and chocolate. The sweetness of the filling lingers long after the cherry cola and chocolate flavors recede. 

D: Very cola and super sweet. 
E: Fruity and sweet. 
N: Quite a lot of cherry.

Overall - 7.3

While the Queen Anne's Black Cherry Cola Cordials do not have a strong cola flavor, they are still quite delicious. I view these as a successful line extension of the Queen Anne's Cordial brand and recommend cherry cordial fans to try them. 

E: Interesting take on a cherry cordial. 
N: Very good! 

Candy Hunting: Holiday Peeps

Red Velvet Peeps

Place found: Target
Price: $1.99

Sugar Cookie Peeps

Place found: Target
Price: $1.99

Hot Cocoa & Cream Peeps

Place found: Target
Price: $1.99

Candy Cane Dipped in Chocolate Peeps

Place found: Target
Price: $1.99
There are also Candy Cane Peeps without chocolate. 

Peeps Marshmallow Minions

Place found: Walmart
Price: $1.08

Links to more Holiday Candy Hunting: 

Part 1

One Pound Candy Bars (Part 3)

Holiday Assortments (Part 4)

Part 5

Candy Hunting: 2014 Holiday Candy, Part 1

Seasonal Edition Extra Candy Cane Peppermint

Place found: Walgreens

Peeps Candy Cane

Place found: Walgreens

Brach's Candy Cane Candy Corn

Place found: Walgreens

Brach's Peppermint Creme Candy Canes

Place found: Schnuck's

Cherry Apple Twist and Candy Cane Tic Tacs

Place found: Schnucks

Hershey's Cookies 'n' Mint Nuggets 

Place found: Walmart

Russell Stover Oatmeal Raisin Cookie Santas

Place found: Walgreens

Russell Stover Dark Chocolate & Coconut Macaroon Santas

Place found: Walgreens

Twizzlers Cherry, Green Apple, and Lemonade Pull 'n' Peel

Place found: Schnucks

Queen Anne Black Cherry Cola Cordial Cherries

Place found: Walgreens

Whiskey Flavored Chocolate Flight

Place found: Target

Chocolate Covered Nuts and Berries

Varieties: Hot Toddy Chocolate Covered Peanuts, Egg Nog White Chocolate Covered Almonds, Mulled Cider Chocolate Covered Cranberries, and Buttered Rum Chocolate Covered Raisins

Place found: Target

Caramel and Fudge Bites

Varieties: Chili Pecan Caramel Bites, Scotch Whiskey Caramel Bites, Maple Bacon Caramel Bites, and Jamaican Rum Fudge Bites

Place found: Target

Holiday Mr. Sketch Markers

Ok... These are not candy, but they are awesome. 

Scents: Candy Cane, Santa's Cookie, Christmas Tree, Sugar Plum, Gingerbread, and Chimney

Place found: Schnucks

Links to more Holiday Candy Hunting: 

Peeps (Part 2)

One Pound Candy Bars (Part 3)

Holiday Assortments (Part 4)

Part 5

Ritter Sport Coffee and Hazelnuts (Kaffee + Nuss)

The Ritter Sport Coffee and Hazelnuts bar is a new addition to Ritter Sport's Winter Edition range, replacing the Caramel Orange flavor from last year. Returning for 2014 are Ritter Sport Coconut Macaroon and Caramelised Almonds. 

Place purchased: Free from the Sweets & Snacks Expo

Number of reviewers: 5

Appearance - 7.2

The Ritter Sport Coffee and Hazelnuts bar has a milk chocolate shell with a coffee flavored filling studded with hazelnut pieces. Also, the bars sold in stores obviously will not have a sticker over a generic white wrapper, as pictured. I received this bar in May, before the bar went into full production. 

C: Love the wrapper - especially the snowman! 
E: Ritter classic. 
S: Cute snowman made out of sugar cubes on package. 

Flavor and Taste - 7.9

Mild, milk chocolate is the first noticeable flavor in the Ritter Sport bar. Then the coffee flavor hits along with a stronger chocolate flavor. The flavor of the hazelnuts comes in toward the end and balances well with the coffee and chocolate flavors. 

C: The hazelnut really comes through and the coffee is a little light but comes through and works for this flavor. 
E: Flavor builds slowly. First coffee, then chocolate, then hazelnut. Could use more chocolate flavor (i.e. wish it were dark instead of milk). 
E2: Want more hazelnut! Roasted coffee note is unexpectedly delightful. 
S: Hazelnut, chocolate with slight espresso bean. 

Texture - 8.0

Both the chocolate shell and coffee filling are rich and smooth. The hazelnut pieces bring a textural contrast with their slight crunch. 

C: Creamy chocolate. 
E: Very rich and creamy with crunchy nuts. 
E2: Kind of ganache like, creamy. 
S: Creamy with nut pieces. Melts in your mouth! 

Aftertaste - 6.8

The aftertaste is mostly coffee flavor.

C: Coffee, creamy chocolate, and hazelnut. 
E: Fatty, sweet, nutty. 
E2: Small amount of sour dairy, mostly espresso/roasted coffee.

Overall - 7.8

Overall, the Ritter Sport Coffee and Hazelnuts bar is excellent. The combination of coffee, hazelnuts, and chocolate work very well together. I hope this bar becomes a mainstay in the Ritter Sport Winter Edition range. 

E: Really good, but could have been great with darker chocolate. 
E2: Has potential to be really awesome, just want more hazelnut. 
S: Delicious!