Ugh: the new Napoleon cocktail mix is a complete flop
Napoleon candies: here in the newsroom, we can’t get enough of them. A sore palate isn’t pleasant, but that bag always has to be finished.. So we were absolutely thrilled when we discovered that Napoleon had a bag with new flavors: the Cocktail Mix. But honestly: these new flavors are a huge flop.
The mix contains the familiar cocktail flavors Limoncello Spritz, Tequila Sunrise and Pina Colada. We’ve had plenty of them in our lives, and that makes us a very fair jury, we think. Time, then, to give an utterly honest, independent verdict on this new product.
The first verdict
What immediately stands out to us: what an incredibly small bag. For €1.99, you get a 175-gram bag. Weren’t Napoleon bags always quite a bit bigger? Yes: all the other flavors come in 225-gram bags. For the same price. Could this be a case of shrinkflation?
Limoncello Spritz
First, we taste the Limoncello Spritz. Sharon finds it completely uninteresting. ‘This is even weaker than Napoleon’s original lemon flavor.’ And the rest of the jury completely agrees. Is this really that innovative? No, it isn’t.
Tequila Sunrise
Next up is the Tequila Sunrise. After just a few seconds, Rick immediately recognizes what this candy tastes like: a Raketje. Sharon: ‘It really is just like a Raketje, but it’s the least tasty part of one.’ It does indeed taste a little bitter. But does it actually have anything to do with the Tequila Sunrise cocktail? No. Not even close.
Pina Colada
Our hopes are pinned on the final flavor: the Pina Colada. Three seconds after the candy lands on our tongues, we’re already surprised. A blend of coconut and pineapple. This one is the most similar to the drink. ‘You really have to be a fan of it,’ says Rick. ‘And it’s missing the bitterness of the alcohol, just like the other flavors. But this comes closest to the cocktail.’ Even so, the flavor disappears quickly. We do like the sour powder that offsets the sweetness of the coconut-pineapple flavor.
The final verdict
The final verdict of this taste test: Napoleon’s Cocktail Mix is neither innovative nor interesting. The Pina Colada candy is the most similar to the drink itself, but the other two flavors don’t even come close. Nowhere do we taste a hint of bitterness that reminds us of alcohol. Yes, we find only the Tequila Sunrise bitter, but not alcohol-bitter.
One more critical note: there are many more Pina Colada candies in the bag than the other two flavors. The balance of flavors is therefore completely off. €2 is not a fair price for a bag like this. What a shame, Napoleon—what a missed opportunity!
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