Hotel Chocolat 100% Buena Vista Bar

Posted by Edmund in Chocolate, Featured Articles, Gourmet Chocolate Bars, United Kingdom | 0 comments

Composition: 100% Dark Chocolate.
Region of Production: USA.
Origin of Cocoa: Dominican Republic.
Price: 35g for $5-$5.50, or 70g for $9-$10.

Surprisingly, the bar breaks off into pieces that are completely smooth, even though it doesn’t come with any designs that separate it into convenient squares or rectangles. Instead, the surface merely features long, clean vertical lines and curves superimposed on top of a very flat, smooth surface. It’s a nice effect for something so simple. Moreover, the bar, with its cocoa intensity, literally shines with an intense, pure black gloss.

As I opened the bar, I got the fresh aroma of logs, cocoa dust, coffee, and nuts. It was so intense, in fact, that I could smell it the day after.

As for the flavor, I can’t say much other than that this is intense dark chocolate. Expect very little nuance or subtlety—this is 100% chocolate after all. Surprisingly, none of the overtones hit you rapidly or abrasively. Instead, the bar gently begins to pick up tones of smoke, char, twigs, a little salt, and walnuts. By the time you’ve finished a bite, though, the taste has turned metallic, somewhat akin to zinc. The bar leaves an incredibly long, light sheen across the mouth, which you can savor for an eternity (i.e. this bar is perhaps one of the longest I’ve ever tasted). At the same time, the intensity can be biting with its strength, and most will not be able to enjoy it.

As for the melt, I have to say I was impressed. This is pure cocoa after all, yet because it’s crafted into such a thin design, it begins to melt very quickly. Hotel Chocolat uses lecithin, but surprisingly the bar doesn’t feel waxy, probably because the cocoa is so intense. Moreover, the bar goes down smoothly and easily, never clinging to the mouth.

Scores

Presentation: 4.5/5.0
Taste:  3.0/5.0
Melt: 4.3/5.0
Length: 5.0/5.0
Value: 3.5/5.0
Verdict: 3.5/5.0. From a technical perspective, this is an extremely nicely crafted chocolate bar, but it’s not for the vast majority of people, including myself.