Anthony Thomas, Cherry Cordials, Award-Winning, Chocolate Co
✅ PROS
- Liquid cherry center that actually bursts — not a gummy paste like many competitors
- Generous 20-ounce box with individually wrapped pieces for freshness
- Award-winning recipe with balanced dark and milk chocolate shells
❌ CONS
- Chocolate can develop white bloom if stored improperly or too warm
- Sugar-forward profile — not for those seeking low-sweetness dark chocolate
- Some pieces arrive with thin shells that crack during shipping
The Verdict
Let me be direct: most cherry cordials are a disappointment. You get a hard cherry lump swimming in corn syrup, wrapped in waxy chocolate that tastes more like a candle than cocoa. Anthony Thomas claims their version is award-winning. After working through a full box, I can tell you the claim is mostly justified — with some caveats worth knowing before you buy.
What You Actually Get
The box arrives at 20 ounces of individually wrapped cordials. That’s roughly 25 to 30 pieces depending on size variation. Each cherry is enrobed in either milk or dark chocolate — the assortment leans roughly 60/40 toward milk. The chocolate coating is noticeably thicker than grocery-store brands, which matters because it protects the liquid center during shipping.
What’s inside is the real story. Bite through the shell and you get an actual liquid syrup — not the gelatinous goop that plagues cheaper cordials. The cherry itself is plump and retains its shape rather than dissolving into mush. That texture contrast between crisp shell, syrupy center, and firm cherry is what separates this from the bargain bin.
Performance and Build Quality
The chocolate shell uses real cocoa butter, which is a double-edged sword. It melts cleanly at room temperature and has that proper snap when you bite in. But it also means temperature sensitivity. If your order sits in a warm mailbox, you risk bloom — that chalky white film that forms when cocoa butter separates. Multiple Amazon reviewers note this issue. One buyer wrote, “The chocolate had white streaks when I opened the box. Still tasted okay but looked awful.” That’s not a defect; it’s physics. Order during cooler months or choose expedited shipping.
Flavor-wise, the balance is solid. The dark chocolate pieces have enough bitterness to cut the sweetness of the syrup. The milk chocolate versions lean sweeter, which will appeal to those with a serious sweet tooth but might overwhelm if you prefer nuanced chocolate. The cherry flavor itself is authentic — tastes like real cherries, not artificial candy flavoring.
What Buyers Consistently Praise
The liquid center is the star. Reviewers repeatedly mention it. One long-time buyer wrote, “These are the only cordials I’ve found that actually have liquid inside. Every other brand gives you that jelly mess.” Another noted, “The chocolate is good quality — you can taste the difference from the cheap supermarket stuff.” The individually wrapped pieces also get consistent praise for freshness and portability.
Where It Falls Short
Honest downsides: First, the sweetness level. If you’re someone who eats 85% dark chocolate, these will be cloying. The syrup center is essentially liquid sugar with cherry flavor. Second, shell thickness varies between pieces. Some arrive with thin spots that crack during shipping, leaking syrup onto the wrapper. A few reviewers reported receiving pieces with broken shells — not enough to ruin the box, but enough to be annoying. Third, there’s no variety in cherry types. It’s all sweet cherries; no tart options for balance.
Who Should Buy These
These are for three specific people: the cordial purist who demands a real liquid center, the gift-giver who wants a recognizable brand with solid presentation, and anyone replacing cheap grocery-store cordials with something noticeably better. Skip them if you want low-sugar chocolate, need uniform piece quality, or live in a hot climate without climate-controlled shipping.
FAQ
Do these need refrigeration? No, but store them in a cool, dark place below 70°F. Refrigeration can cause condensation on the shells when you take them out, which affects texture.
How long do they stay fresh? The individually wrapped pieces keep for about 6 months unopened. Once opened, they’ll hold for 2-3 weeks if resealed properly.
Are these gluten-free? Yes, no wheat ingredients in the chocolate or filling. They’re produced in a facility that handles nuts, so allergy sufferers should note that.
The Verdict
Buy it if you’ve been disappointed by watery, flavorless cordials and want the real liquid-center experience. Skip it if you need guaranteed perfect shells, prefer low-sugar chocolate, or can’t control storage temperature.
Rating: 4.2/5 — a genuinely good cordial that’s a clear step above grocery-store brands, held back only by shipping fragility and aggressive sweetness.
Where to Buy
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Last updated: 2026-08-06. Ratings and prices current as of review date. Verify on Amazon before purchasing.