GODIVA Chocolate Liqueur

Score: 13/23 Nose: This presents an earthier, smokier aroma compared to Van Meer's. It's a more authentic chocolate scent, though perhaps a little less inviting. Alcohol is detectable on the nose, carrying a slight bitterness and off-notes, but it's not overly problematic. Palate: Similar in viscosity to Van Meer's, which is a letdown as a richer, more syrupy experience was anticipated. It has a milky quality like Van Meer's, but the chocolate is more robust and genuine, though disappointingly not significantly fuller. Also, some of the bitterness unfortunately merges with the vodka base. The chocolate taste is good, but the vodka detracts from it. A hint of cereal emerges, introducing an unintended mineral lightness, and the complexity is unbalanced due to the chocolate flavor clashing with the alcohol. Finish: The chocolate notes persist longer than the vodka, except for the vodka's bitterness, which actually integrates well. However, it's a disappointingly brief finish. It mostly just dissipates into a watery milk taste with a touch of chocolate. This is acceptable. It surpasses Van Meer's Chocolate, but it's not something I'd particularly enjoy sipping on its own. The main drawback is that the chocolate flavor lacks sufficient depth. I suspect this is due to the expense of chocolate and the effort required to make it prominent when mixed with alcohol, but cost-saving measures are likely the primary reason. Given the low alcohol content, its thinness is quite surprising. Its flavor is not as rich and captivating as Sheelin White Chocolate's, regrettably. It falls into a similar category as Disaronno, where I really want to appreciate it more, but I don't. It doesn't quite measure up to Bailey's. I place it in the 12 to 13 range. Its drinkability is somewhere between Disaronno and Bailey's, even if its intended use is unclear, hence a score of 13.

This has an odd, meaty and sour aroma. Upon tasting, it's not intensely creamy, but it has its own character. It tastes like a mix of chocolate and sour evaporated milk, which doesn't work well. The overly sweet Van Meer's is still obviously too sweet, but this has additional problems. It's somewhat sour, which is an undesirable flavor for chocolate, and it has a cheesy umami quality, resulting in a failed attempt to mask Van Meer's syrupy sweetness. Compared to Tolon Tolon Chocolate, this is less intensely bitter and less spicy. Despite the off-putting flavors, this is more palatable than Tolon Tolon Chocolate. This appears more like chocolate than Tolon Tolon Chocolate; it's much less green. The palate is smoky, like a pleasant campfire, with sweetness and creaminess that are well-balanced. The smoke has a peculiar Ghirardelli-like quality, but it's not unpleasant. It does taste somewhat artificial, similar to Van Meer's. It's a decent chocolate flavor combined with somewhat sweet smoke and perhaps some toasted marshmallows. It's akin to a toasted marshmallow fudge flavor. Has anyone encountered such a thing? Tolon Tolon Chocolate has a slightly smoother mouthfeel, but it possesses strange bitter herbal notes and some misplaced spiciness. Godiva's misplaced smoke, conversely, is more luxuriously sophisticated. This strives to be superior to Van's Chocolate, but the fact that it's trying indicates it's significantly overpriced.

A chocolate liqueur from Rochester, NY, starting with a fragrant nose, followed by a creamy, smooth finish. 2000, 2003, 2006, 2009, 2012, 2015, Oct 2016.

Enjoyed this as dessert. Superior to chocolate cake. Entirely chocolate on the nose and in the mouth. Not much more to add. But it's delightfully as anticipated.

Delicious. Tastes exactly like Godiva chocolate. I combine it with Skrewball to create a Reese's Peanut Butter Cup drink.

You can always count on anything from Godiva...