Dot’s, Dot’s, Dot’s, Dot’s, Dot’s, Dot’s

Dot’s, Dot’s, Dot’s, Dot’s, Dot’s

Dot’s, Dot’s, Dot’s, Dot’s, Dot’s

EVERYBODY!

About here is where the DJ would probably drop some kind of siren sound effect, and scream, “SNNNNNNNACCCCCCKKKK MIXXXXXXX. Exclusive. Exclusive. Exclusive…”

Dot’s Pretzels has a new snack mix that definitely has a flavor exclusive to the brand. I never actually clocked what the flavor of its flagship pretzel is, but it’s categorized as “bold and savory,” which explains it pretty well. Dot dot dot, I guess.

Joining the mini versions of its pretzel twists are knockoff Chex pieces, garlic rye chips, and cheese-seasoned pita chips. On the surface, that sounds like a slam dunk snack mix; unfortunately, said surface is absolutely blasted with bold seasoning.

I’ll get the good out of the way — If you’re a fan of Dot’s original flavored pretzels, you’ll think this is just fine. I really like its spice blend, and dig the cute little versions of its typical pretzel sticks.

Pita chips are an inspired ingredient for a snack mix and are easily better than the typical cracker-y adjacent thing that gets tossed into other mixes of this ilk.

The rye chips are excellent. They’re smaller than the bagel chips in Chex Mix, and nowhere near as hard. You don’t have to fear for your molars with these.

The “corn cereal” pieces are solid but have tighter weaves and are denser than the superior, airier Chex pieces. I will give them a little credit, though, because they have an almost Bugles consistency. Bugles are underrated.

So yeah, what’s not to like? You get four distinct, crunchy pieces, you get a little cheese flavor, you get a little garlic, and… actually, no, you don’t, you just get the “bold and savory” Dot’s spice mix. It overwhelms everything.

You can taste cheese and garlic if you isolate the pita and rye chip, respectively, but when eaten as a mix, forget it; you might as well just get a bag of the pretzels. Not only does the flavor mask everything else, but the pretzels also intrude on the specific crunch of the other pieces. There are SO MANY pretzels. I had to stage the photos to give the rest of the cast some spotlight.

“Well, yeah, dummy, it’s a mix made by a pretzel company.” Fair point, Mom, but the ratio is still out of whack. They could’ve easily cut the pretzels by thirty percent and had a better actual mix.

If you’ve had Dot’s, you know the seasoning makes it tough to eat too many at once. They aren’t necessarily hot and spicy, but they still do a number on your mouth. My mouth is usually so dry that I yearn for the much maligned gumdrop candies of the same name. Yeah, that’s right, Dots are good actually!

Dot’s Snack Mix is a nice attempt, but the brand’s most distinct trait is also its fatal flaw. I like that flavor, but it wears out its welcome and makes for an unsuccessful “mix.” I actually think peanuts would do well to cut the flavor and texture. If you choose to indulge, maybe add some peanuts.

Oh, hey, that DJ is back…

No one will ever top Chex, Chex, Chex, Chex out my medley!

Purchased Price: $6.17
Size: 14 oz.
Purchased at: Walmart
Rating: 5 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (1/2 Cup) 140 calories, 6 grams of fat, .5 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 0 milligrams of cholesterol, 300 milligrams of sodium, 19 grams of total carbohydrates, less than 1 gram of total sugars, less than 1 gram of dietary fiber, and 2 grams of protein.

Even though my weather app tells me it was 95 degrees this past weekend, the store shelves and the calendar tell me we’re in the thick of Pumpkin Spice season. Excessively seasoned pretzel purveyor Dot’s, however, didn’t get the message. Instead, it’s choosing to fight off the impending Autumnal chill with the tangy heat of a new Buffalo version of its popular twists.

When it comes to Dot’s, I’m mostly a purist. I’ve tried the Garlic Parmesan and the Honey Mustard, and while I enjoy both, the original is still my favorite. I’ll also posit that there’s always a bit of trepidation that accompanies taste-testing a new flavor; these things ain’t cheap, and if they’re bad, well, it’s hard knowing you could’ve had two bags of Doritos for the same price. (At least in Walmart money.)

So when I tried the first one, I thought to myself, “What the hell is this?” I was a bit let down. Like a punch-drunk boxer with a costly Faberge egg habit, however, I don’t know when to quit. And so I had another. And I went, “Hey, this is pretty okay.” And by the third, I was thinking, “Oh, wow, okay. This is nice.”

The “Buffalo” seasoning is all that it claims to be via the top of the packaging: “spicy ’n tangy.” The spice isn’t anything the weakest of spice wimps wouldn’t be able to handle, but it’s definitely noticeable. The vinegary punch of the buffalo seasoning really shines, though, and in classic Dot’s fashion, there’s plenty of coverage along the whole twist. There’s even something that evokes the tang of bleu cheese, but I think that’s just my overheated 95-degrees-in-the-middle-of-September imagination working overtime.

In the end, I really liked these. But having said that, I feel like I’ll only buy again if I can find them in the 5-ounce bag. A 16-ounce pouch is just a lot of Buffalo for an itch that a couple of servings can scratch.

Purchased Price: $6.17
Size: 16 oz pouch
Purchased at: Walmart
Rating: 7 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (1 oz) 140 calories, 6 grams of fat, 0.5 gram of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 0 milligrams of cholesterol, 340 milligrams of sodium, 19 grams of carbohydrates, less than 1 gram of fiber, 0 grams of sugar, and 2 grams of protein.