Chocolate Caramel Tornado
Date Tried - February 20, 2023
Location - Kitchen table, seated at the head
Format - Half Gallon
Milkshake It? - No
Buy Again? - Yes
Have you ever watched video footage of a real tornado? I have, mainly because my friend Matt has made me do it on several occasions. He’s an aspiring storm chaser. His reverence for—and fascination with—these rotating columns of air has, on some level, consumed him.
In Keene, we’re lucky not to be plagued with this weather phenomenon. According to this map of tornados that have occurred in New York state since 1950, there have only been three near our home, all of which took place in the ‘50s. Again, we’re fortunate that this is the case. And we should likely remember that when reading the online Stewart’s description of Chocolate Caramel Tornado. The flavor had apparently disappeared from shelves for four years and has now “stormed its way” back into the Limited Edition ranks. According to them, it “will really blow you away!”
If I were to guess, I’d say we have The Wizard of Oz and Twister to thank for these lame puns. Of course, I mean 1996’s Twister, not the 1989 comedy film with the same title that stars Crispin Glover, AKA George McFly.
[It’s also worth mentioning that there were two other tornado movies that came out in 1996, both made-for-television feature films and both with release dates that predate the star-studded blockbuster which—hold for suspense—was the first movie to be released on DVD in the United States.]
I didn’t choose this flavor. We were hosting our long-time friend Jenny and let her choose at random from the display case. Her first choice was Brownie Cookie Sundae, and why shouldn’t it be? That was the fourth flavor tried and reviewed as part of ‘I Scream, You Scream’ and it’s still a Top 10 flavor in my book.
We broke the news to her that it was off-limits and she quickly pivoted to Chocolate Caramel Tornado. I am gracious for her understanding and sustained curiosity.
There are a lot of new things to explore here. First off, the chocolate and sea salt caramel ice cream base. As previously noted, Stewart’s does not hold back with its willingness to create a new base, sometimes for better and sometimes for worse. (I like to imagine that someone at HQ spent too much money on a base-making machine without proper approval and now they need to get their money’s worth.) This one is a home run—the sea salt is more prevalent than the caramel and I would have it no other way. And it’s yet another noteworthy instance of my slow and chronicled embrace of chocolate ice cream.
Secondly, the chocolate caramel swirl. In my Star Gazer review, I outlined my past run-ins with the caramel swirl. But this chocolate caramel swirl is a first. And honestly, I’m not sure if I recognized much of a difference. But my figurative cap is off to whichever creative down in Saratoga Springs is responsible for continuing to push the swirl envelope.
Thirdly—and most dramatically—let’s talk about these chocolate covered honeycomb pieces. Such satisfying crunch! I’d be interested to know where these honeycombs are sourced from. A part of me fears that they are mock-ups, crystallized laboratory sugar concoctions posing as the real thing. But I’ll put that thought out of my head because Chocolate Caramel Tornado is a winner, an over-the-top flavor with absolutely no nuance.
All glam, all glory. We polished off the half gallon with concerning quickness.
Probably the only time you’ll see a group of people overcome the power of a tornado.