I’m gonna toss all my normal pithy, cute crap to the wayside today folks. Strictly business.
Being in the candy biz, my “job” is to buy candy I’ve never tried before, eat it, and tell you guys about it. I can’t complain about that, right? But most of the time, I hate to say it, it’s disappointment street. There’s just a lot more mediocre and bad candy than there is quality stuff. However, when I strike gold…shit gets REAL.
I bought these on a lark from Beverages & More a few weeks ago.
Keep in mind, the only other Bevmo packaged candy I’ve ever purchased were terrible. HAH-rible. They were almost expired sour lemonade belts and they tasted like grease. So clearly there was no reason for me to think these would be any better. But kids, I shit you not…these are a serious contender for candy of the year-a new classic for sure.
Here’s the deal-These are essentially little bites of a Red Vines type of licorice, coated outside AND IN (that’s the key) with sour sugary love.
We all know the kind of Red Vines we get at the movies (or in my case, The tub at Costco), but do you guys buy the super long thicker rope you get at ballgames? The two varieties taste JUST a bit different, and these bites are a combo of those flavors. Just delicious.
The sour effect on these isn’t lip curling at all – it’s much more subtle, which I usually don’t love, but I love these. LOVE these. So does my whole family, which as you know is rare.
If you think about it, all the candy that purports to be “sour licorice” really isn’t – some of it is good, yes-but it’s not licorice. Like sour straws or belts or whatever, it’s just a chewy sour candy. But these actually retain the classic Red Vines taste, while adding a bit of sour power. And before Mr. & Mrs. Smartypants raise their hands to tell me that Red Vines aren’t technically licorice either, let me just say : I’m aware. However, that’s what most of us think of when we think of licorice – mowing down Red Vines at a matinee on a weekend. And these bites conjure those memories with just a bit of an edge tossed in.
I give these my highest rating, which is no joke. Seriously-go out and get some of these and tell me what you think. Or, if you live in a bamboo village with no Bevmos but with high speed internet, pick them up here.
Randomly buying shitty candy isn’t that bad, but hitting an unknown goldmine is a delight. Makes me feel like I’ve done something right with this life.
**HORRIBLE, HORRIBLE UPDATE: Since I wrote this review, Bevmo has changed these candies. They’re no longer “Red Vines”-esque, but instead are softer, solid tubes of licorice. They don’t taste the same. They’re not as good. And I’m angry. VERY angry. Why does everything excellent have to get pissed on and discontinued?
