Saturday, January 9, 2016

Baskin-Robbins Gold Medal Ribbon Ice Cream


Update! Boardwalk Frozen Treats, the folks behind Baskin Robbins pints, say the product line is definitely not dead and that we'll actually see 4 new flavors in 2016. My apologies for my incorrect assumptions about this product line going away. I have edited the review, but tried to leave it as much intact as possible as most of my thoughts still hold true.

[New for 2014] So this next review will be our last latest review of the Baskin-Robbins at home products. Why you ask? Because I'm pretty sure this line up is dead (but it's not!). Market Basket had all their pints discontinued down to 99 cents and I just ran through all of Stop&Shop's selection and all the pints are expiring within the next 3-6-9 months when in general many fresh pints expire after 18 months on the shelf (though this does vary by brand). A cancellation really shouldn't surprise us wouldn't have surprised me. Baskin-Robbins makes a fine in store product, but when you throw your name on a lower end product, what do you really expect to happen? Sure you might grab a few sentimental buyers, but all the crazy flavors they are known for are no where to be found. Instead we got budget versions of 15 of their more basic flavors. What a waste, but at least it will clear room for some other company to expand.

Baskin-Robbins Gold Medal Ribbon Ice Cream
vanilla flavored and chocolate ice creams with caramel ribbon

Side note: Yeah, I picked up pralines 'n cream first for this farewell post, but Nick reviewed that one a year and a half ago. Uggg. I knew I should have went with the gold medal ribbon instead on that first trip to the store (though it was 2 months from expiring which is why the pint in this post is from a different stop & shop)... or I wish they would have had some rocky road pints left over. Oh well, at least the praline pecans were quite tasty.

That's actually a pretty interesting opening shot.

No shortage of caramel in this shot.

Ok, I may have cheated in the first scooping and just aimed at the fairly tasty caramel swirl to keep things exciting. The base is boring so what else was I to do? I mean, it basically tastes like a hoodsie cup with a caramel swirl, and while a hoodsie cup is great at a 5 year old's birthday party, it's not exactly what you expect from the Baskin-Robbins name.

I will say that I'm making short work of this faux pint as I've had at least 8 of the 14 available ounces here. It's not that it's terrible, the bites with caramel are good enough, but this is Baskin-Robbins. I want to be wowed like they do with (some of) their in-store Quarts. That's the good stuff (that comes from a plant in a different state). This is was feels like a scam to get money out of us. For shame BR, I hope you learned your lesson.

On Second Scoop: Ok, just to clarify my point (because I feel like I haven't made myself very clear these last several months), I want to point out that if this was some kind of generic pint that I picked up for $2, I would say it's not that bad. There is a certain pleasantry to how the caramel blends with the budget base flavor. In other words, it tastes cheap, but I've had much worse.

Verdict?  bu-bye try harder!
Buy Again?  nope/can't/won't


13 comments:

  1. This ice cream is so overpriced...I once got it in a huge sale so it was fine but for the price they normally charge, no wonder it's being discontinued! I checked market basket but mine must not carry this brand.

    I did see a turkey hill flavor that looked great...dark chocolate with chocolate slivers. Dubba, have your seen it? If so, have you or will you be trying it?

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  2. I must be the only one who likes these! I love the chocolate chip and kind of like the gold medal ribbon. I've also had the jamoca almond fudge and praline flavors for nostalgia but didn't re-purchase.

    All of my local stores still carry these although the chocolate chip is very hard to find. Makes sense that they would be discontinued though because they are pricey for the quality and they are not even full pints. I think you are right that they wouldn't appeal to many people. It's been many years since I've been in an actual BR store but the four flavors I've had are really close to what I remember eating growing up.

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  3. @Deb: this is the third year for "deep dark chocolate". http://www.onsecondscoop.com/2014/08/turkey-hill-deep-dark-chocolate-ice.html

    @Anon: you, my friend, are the target audience on this one :)

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  4. Deb, this dark chocolate is one of my fav limited editions from TH. I once compared that next to the Friendly's Forbidden Chocolate and TH's version is pitch black comparatively and tastes divine, you'll love it!

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  5. Thanks Dubba and Danielle. I may have to try it!

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  6. @Anon: If I know when something debuts, I tag it, even if it's old. In this case, the BR@Home lineup debuted in 2014.

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  7. Thanks Dubba for updating us. I'm the anon who likes this stuff and am glad to hear it will stick around. My taste in ice cream is unsophisticated and I can't afford the good stuff anyway!

    I know you sometimes review store brands and am wondering if you have tried any of Safeway's lines. I remember you're in New England so not sure if you have that store?

    Also, do you know what happened to Giant's premium line? Thank you!

    Mollie

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  8. @Mollie: nothing wrong with enjoying what you enjoy! There are no Safeways around here, but we do have stop&shop (giant). now that you mention it, i don't think I've seen their premium stuff recently either, but if you live in or near Ohio, those flavors were actually made by Pierre's http://www.onsecondscoop.com/search/label/pierres

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  9. I have been eating Gold Medal Ribbon since I was a kid (at least 35 years). I was shocked to see it here in NC at the Grocery Store.

    Anyway, I went ahead and bought it because my nearest 31 flavors is literally like 15 miles away. I was sad to say that the caramel is very weak in it. Way too little. I have noticed this for the last few years.

    If you get the pints hand-packed at the store, I always say "GO FOR THE CARMEL" because usually those 5 gallon containers have way more in them at the stores.

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  10. @Deviant: Baskin-Robbins does not make these pints, it's a company called Boardwalk at Home that licenses the BR name to bring the flavor ideas closer to your home. (when you say 15 miles, i'm guessing you mean it takes about half an hour to get there right? I'll do 10 - 15 minutes but after that I need a excuse to be in the area)

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  11. Hmm dub gold medal could have got better reviews , it is very tasty . It makes a killer shake . Though the vanilla is a bit dull , the chocolate is good enough for br

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  12. Just to verify, you are referring to the home product and not the in-store product right? Their scoop shop stuff is more premium than the home stuff.

    Also, shakes make everything better :)

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