Impact
Calibrating the cacáo-to-sugar ratio ranks among a barsmith's primary decision in the whole creation of a craft chocolate bar. Most just accept with blindfolds fastened to the oft-arbitrary & obligatory metrics of 70% or even 75% cacáo-content, either as some mythical magic or more likely some marketing benchmark ('ooo, 70%, that sounds so heavy').
Bryan Graham of Fruition suffers none of that in this bar from The D.R.
By meticulously setting the bar at 68%, then pampering it in a cocoa butter pad, plus adding some make-up foundation with vanilla (committing a, gasp, heresy according to the Neo-Orthodox misguided by dogma & ideology), he serves notice, viz., to hell with idolators. Only 1 signpost directs his endeavor: Flavor outcome.
Hispaniola by Fruition…. all in the quest of respecting rather than indoctrinating the seed that is cacáo.
Bryan Graham of Fruition suffers none of that in this bar from The D.R.
By meticulously setting the bar at 68%, then pampering it in a cocoa butter pad, plus adding some make-up foundation with vanilla (committing a, gasp, heresy according to the Neo-Orthodox misguided by dogma & ideology), he serves notice, viz., to hell with idolators. Only 1 signpost directs his endeavor: Flavor outcome.
Hispaniola by Fruition…. all in the quest of respecting rather than indoctrinating the seed that is cacáo.
Appearance 4.5 / 5
| Color: | gorgeous crimson-orange cast |
| Surface: | flawless molding with a dynamic flow back |
| Temper: | confidently reserved |
| Snap: | packs a punch along with pinholes on the break wall |
Aroma 7.8 / 10
(Bryan) Graham crackers + very light rubber & suspiciously little else (not even the added vanilla which typically drives the scent) until all turns 'raisinous'
flares slightly on a toasted tobacco draw
flares slightly on a toasted tobacco draw
Mouthfeel 12 / 15
| Texture: | vulcanized |
| Melt: | geologic timeframe to its decomposition |
Flavor 45.1 / 50
incoming brownie bang -> underlying walnut -> beautiful coffee grounds with an understated yet well-defined blackberry sweet spot (superb) -> gradually moves toward an espresso pound cake while refusing to relinquish fruit -> intense & unexpected white crossing between pure sugar cane & the pulp of mammon -> cream filled ending
Quality 17.6 / 20
So satisfying.
And so equipoised between the Dark & the Semi-Dark almost by halves (1st versus 2nd, the light / dark, the semi bitter / sweet, yet several data-flavor points overlap to bridge them all). Notable in this regard: vanilla, which plays a subsidiary role, never rearing its orchid, simply in service of entraining the compounds to a unison whole.
For a young label of several high achievements already, this may run shy of its peak (because of the seed lot involved, good nonetheless) but among its most deft in spotlighting the culinary skills of Bryan Graham. Craft like this vaults him comfortably into the Top-5 barsmiths in the Americas; arguably the Top-3.
Perhaps THE Dark bar for the masses who think only in terms of Milk Chocolate. No mean feat.
INGREDIENTS: cocoa mass, sugar, cocoa butter, vanilla
Reviewed October 27, 2014
And so equipoised between the Dark & the Semi-Dark almost by halves (1st versus 2nd, the light / dark, the semi bitter / sweet, yet several data-flavor points overlap to bridge them all). Notable in this regard: vanilla, which plays a subsidiary role, never rearing its orchid, simply in service of entraining the compounds to a unison whole.
For a young label of several high achievements already, this may run shy of its peak (because of the seed lot involved, good nonetheless) but among its most deft in spotlighting the culinary skills of Bryan Graham. Craft like this vaults him comfortably into the Top-5 barsmiths in the Americas; arguably the Top-3.
Perhaps THE Dark bar for the masses who think only in terms of Milk Chocolate. No mean feat.
INGREDIENTS: cocoa mass, sugar, cocoa butter, vanilla
Reviewed October 27, 2014