Arcádia Línguas de Gato 70% cacao

Fairly bitter taste, which is noticed in the persistent aftertaste. Bourbon and oak notes are noticeable, with some honey. 7.7

Ingredients: Couverture dark chocolate -- cocoa: 70% minimum (cocoa mass, sugar, emulsifier: SOYA LECIHIN)

Note that "Couverture" means "chocolate made with extra cocoa butter to give a high gloss, used for covering sweets and cakes."

www.arcadia.pt

This bar was purchased by my colleague, Todd, on his recent trip to Portugal. The bar is manufactured in Porto.

Middlebury Belize Maya Mountain 80% cacao

Rich, chocolaty taste, with cherry and walnut flavors. Moderately bitter for an 80% bar, with clean and short aftertaste. 9.1

Ingredients: cocoa beans, cane sugar, cocoa butter

I previously reviewed this bar in 2015. At the time it had different packaging and I gave it a lower rating. Not sure whether the change is in me or in an improvement of Middlebury's manufacturing technique.

Ritual Bourbon Barrel Aged 75% cacao

Hearty flavors flow from this bar, including cherry and honey. This bar is "aged in bourbon barrels," but I am not noticing oak notes. The finish is clean and moderately bitter. 9.3

$16 / 2.12 oz

Ingredients: cacao, organic cane sugar, organic cocoa butter

Auro Philipine Savoy 70% cacao

Very flavorful bar with robust nuttiness. Also noticed are caramel notes, nearing on butterscotch. Clean afertaste. 9.0

www.aurochocolate.com