Category: Reviews

REVIEW: Starbucks Irish Cream Cold Brew

Heather 1 Comment

Starbucks Irish Cream Cold Brew

What is the Starbucks Irish Cream Cold Brew?

The newest addition to Starbucks’ 2019 holiday lineup, the Irish Cream Cold Brew features Cold Brew coffee, Irish Cream syrup, vanilla sweet cream cold foam, and a dash of cocoa on top.

How is it?

I honestly wasn’t sure what to think about this drink when I heard about the release, only because it seemed like an unexpected add for a holiday menu. Was I the only one who heard the word Irish and thought this should be released in March?

But wow, the Irish Cream Cold Brew is GOOD. Like, probably one of my favorite Cold Brew drinks, good.

Starbucks Irish Cream Cold Brew Top

I’m a big fan of the Vanilla Sweet Cream Cold Brew beverage, so I enjoyed the vanilla sweet cream cold foam on top. Even better was when the foam sank into the drink, adding a nice touch of vanilla and the cocoa topping with each sip.

The drink is not overly sweet, which I enjoyed. That seems to be my opinion of most of Starbucks’ Cold Brews – just the right amount of sweetness. The Irish Cream flavoring was strong and smooth, and I highly considered adding Baileys to spike it. I’d be interested in trying some other Starbucks’ drinks with the Irish Cream syrup in it… a latte, perhaps?

Is there anything else you need to know?

One of my favorite things about the Irish Cream Cold Brew was that it didn’t lose it’s flavor, even after I milked it over the course of two hours. It still tasted just as good as when I got it.

Conclusion:

Well done, Starbucks. Wishful thinking, but I would love for this one to stick around past the holidays.

Purchased Price: $4.45
Size: Grande
Rating: 9 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: 200 calories, 12 grams of total fat, 8 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 40 milligrams of cholesterol, 0 milligrams of sodium, 20 grams of total carbohydrates, 0 grams of dietary fiber, 19 grams of total sugars, 2 grams of protein..

REVIEW: Dairy Queen Peppermint Hot Cocoa Blizzard

Denis 1 Comment

Dairy Queen Peppermint Hot Cocoa Blizzard

What is the Peppermint Hot Cocoa Blizzard?

The Dairy Queen Blizzard of the Month for December features candy cane pieces, choco chunks, and cocoa fudge, blended of course with DQ’s signature vanilla soft serve.

How is it?

Dairy Queen Peppermint Hot Cocoa Blizzard 2

This one definitely makes Santa’s nice list, and I was genuinely surprised how much I enjoyed it. On their own, the candy cane and hot cocoa flavors are pretty good, but together they teamed up to get my taste buds ready to celebrate the holidays all month long.

Dairy Queen Peppermint Hot Cocoa Blizzard 3

The cocoa fudge flavor certainly doesn’t scream hot cocoa (which by the way is always fun to scream for no reason at all), but it does provide a more complex chocolatey taste compared to the regular fudge and the hints of cocoa blend perfectly with the choco chunks and candy cane pieces.

Peppermint can be an overpowering flavor, but with this Blizzard there was enough to deliver that crunchy candy cane sweetness and distinctive taste while also letting the chocolate flavors join the party. I also liked the two different sensations with the hard candy crunch mixed with the softer crunch of the choco chunks.

Is there anything else you need to know?

This Blizzard is a cousin to the Candy Cane Chill and Candy Cane Oreo Blizzards that have appeared and disappeared like the Elf on the Shelf over the past few years, but I like this the best of the three. It’s unique enough to stand out among the Blizzard family in which some are too closely related.

Dairy Queen Peppermint Hot Cocoa Blizzard 4

The whipped topping speckled with candy cane pieces is a nice added touch here, especially if you are looking for the big burst of peppermint flavor that is missing from the rest of the treat.

Unlike some recent Blizzard flavors that were labeled as seasonal and seemed to be hanging around for a while, this one will be gone by New Year’s Day, so dash into your local DQ soon if you want to try one.

Conclusion:

With DQ introducing so many new Blizzards each year, along with several “let’s pretend it’s a new Blizzard even though we’ve had it in the past and just hope you forgot about it,” this one truly does rise above most others and is a great holiday treat.

Purchased Price: $3.99
Size: Small
Rating: 9 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (Small) 750 calories, 26 grams of fat, 16 grams of saturated fat, 1 grams of trans fat, 50 milligrams of cholesterol, 230 milligrams of sodium, 120 grams of carbohydrates, 2 grams of dietary fiber, 100 grams of sugar, and 13 grams of protein.

REVIEW: Kit Kat DUOS Mint + Dark Chocolate

Elaine 4 Comments

Kit Kat DUOS Mint + Dark Chocolate

What is Kit Kat DUOS Mint + Dark Chocolate?

This is Kit Kat’s newest permanent U.S. flavor. This is a big deal for American Kit Kat lovers since it’s been a very long time since a new variety has made a debut with plans to stay (i.e., not seasonal or limited time). This bar is Kit Kat’s crispy wafers with the milk chocolate replaced with mint crème on top and dark chocolate on the bottom. The result is supposed to be a “duo” of two flavors.

How is it?

Kit Kat DUOS Mint + Dark Chocolate Fingers

It smells like mint chocolate, and it tastes like mint chocolate. So if you like mint chocolate and Kit Kat’s iconic wafers, then this is your candy bar. You’ve probably now noticed that I’ve used the word mint a lot (seven times now if you count headings and titles), and that’s because mint is the dominant flavor of this Kat Kat variation.

I’m a fan of both mint AND dark chocolate and was hoping this duo would be an equal pairing, but it is unfortunately not. I think a mint + milk chocolate duo might be preferred to help increase the prevalence of chocolate taste.

Is there anything else you need to know?

It’s not minty enough to be an actual after-meal mint (it’s just that mint > dark chocolate flavor). If you need a breath freshener, then you should go for something else.

Kit Kat DUOS Mint + Dark Chocolate Split Fingers

It’s also not quite as creamy as an Andes Mint, which makes sense as it is a Kit Kat bar with crispy wafers. For me, Andes Mints set the standard for mint chocolate (and also represent the end of a carb-loaded, satisfying meal at the Olive Garden…which I now want).

Conclusion:

It’s a mint Kit Kat and still a solid candy bar choice. Like most Kit Kats, this product separates well and is good for sharing, although I don’t typically share my candy bars.

Lastly, despite the uneven pairing in this DUOS bar, I still have high hope for future DUOS flavors.

Purchased Price: $1.39
Size: 1.5 oz.
Purchased at: Walgreens
Rating: 8 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (1.5 oz) 210 calories, 12 grams of fat, 8 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 0 milligrams of cholesterol, 25 milligrams of sodium, 27 grams of total carbohydrates, 1 gram of dietary fiber, 19 grams of total sugars, 18 grams of added sugars, 2 grams of protein.

REVIEW: Jack in the Box Fruity Cereal Milk Donut Holes

Dustin 2 Comments

Jack in the Box Fruity Cereal Milk Donut Holes Sign

Desserts have never been a major focus at Jack in the Box, but they’re usually a solid offering. Their new Fruity Cereal Milk Donut Holes are a twist on the previously marketed four-for-a-dollar donut holes. I enjoy donuts and have a close relationship with fruity cereals, so it was a promising concept.

When I ordered them, the cashier said, “They taste JUST like Fruity Pebbles. I’m not even kidding.” Being that this is exactly what I hoped they would taste like, I got pretty pumped. Unfortunately, I soon found out that she was, apparently, completely kidding.

Jack in the Box Fruity Cereal Milk Donut Holes in the Bag

The fragrance that wafted from the bag was pure grease with a little kiss of sugar. I swear I caught a hint of curly fries, but that could have easily been my mind playing tricks on me. Oddly, I didn’t mind either way. I’m not quite sure what that says about me. However, I did notice I didn’t smell anything remotely fruity.

Jack in the Box Fruity Cereal Milk Donut Holes Closeup

The donut holes glistened with oil and were covered with a light dusting of sugar, dotted with little rainbow-colored specks. There was a mass of the colorful sugar sitting at the bottom of the bag.

The donut holes were warm and pillowy – they collapsed with delicate bites, which was a positive start. The initial taste was standard donut fare: doughy, oily, and sugary. There was a distinct lack of any flavors perceivable as “fruity cereal milk.”

Jack in the Box Fruity Cereal Milk Donut Holes Innards

I decided to smash the exposed portion of the donut hole into the glob of the sugar mix and picked up an excessive amount of it. After tasting it like this, I was able to discern a very faint fruity taste. Even then, it wasn’t nearly enough for these donut holes to live up to their name.

There certainly weren’t any notes of Fruity Pebbles. It was more like a sliver of a singular Skittle had been ground up and sprinkled onto the whole batch. This let me know it’s not a preparation issue, but rather that the sugar mix itself is just sub-par.

I begrudgingly ate the rest of them, wondering what could have been.

If you find yourself craving cheap gas station donuts, these should do the trick, but don’t expect any fruit-flavored fun.

Purchased Price: $1.00
Size: 4 donut holes
Rating: 4 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: Unavailable on website.

(Drive-thru sign image via Robbie.)

REVIEW: Sweet Cinnamon Kit Kat

Sam 2 Comments

Sweet Cinnamon Kit Kat

What are Sweet Cinnamon Kit Kat bars?

Have a break, have a Kit Kat, have a Cinnamon Dolce Latte?

The newest flavor in the Kit Kat lineup is Sweet Cinnamon. In an attempt to coincide with the holidays and bring something new besides candy cane or chocolate mint, the gang at Hershey’s has been “spicing” things up.

Kit Kats in America aren’t as extreme as some of its international counterparts, but sweet cinnamon offers a subtle, yet enticing option that’s around for the holiday season. But does the warm spice ever really go out of season?

How are they?

Sweet Cinnamon Kit Kat Top

The second I unwrapped the elfish-decorated minis, the fragrance wasn’t so much like opening a box of Cinnamon Toast Crunch, but instead a bag of cinnamon marshmallows.

After the first bite, I was a bit concerned. There was neither a robust nor subtle cinnamon flavor. So, was this basically a milk chocolate Kit Kat? Not that those aren’t great, but when I expect some cinnamon, I want that delicate balance of sugar, spice, and everything nice!!

Sweet Cinnamon Kit Kat Innards

However, as I kept chewing, I eventually got a subtle and sweet flavor, almost like a particular Starbucks latte I know well.

Is there anything else you need to know?

The light, crispy wafer of a Kit Kat blends perfectly with the mild cinnamon and milk chocolate, but could you imagine if they were made with white chocolate? Think horchata.

Also, I do wish these weren’t limited time only, because they could do well any time of year.

Conclusion:

If you’re looking for a light cinnamon flavor that doesn’t overwhelm, these are for you. My facial reactions after eating these are like that of the elves on the wrappers.

Sweet Cinnamon Kit Kat Elves

Purchased Price: $2.98
Size: 9 oz. bag
Purchased at: Walmart
Rating: 8 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (34 grams – 4 Pieces) 170 Calories, 9 grams of fat, 6 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, less than 5 milligrams of cholesterol, 25 milligrams of sodium, 22 grams of carbohydrates, less than 1 gram of dietary fiber, 17 grams of sugar, and 2 grams of protein.