These days it seems like there is a new craft chocolate producer popping up every day. Many of them have a schtick that appeals to our inner ironic mustache. Hipster, packaging and vibes all around. These days most of them even preserve enough of the phenolic flavors in the beans to make the bars actually taste like they came from plants vs. the indistinguishable vanilla flavored candy approach to dark chocolate so often favored in Europe. Unfortunately, most of it tastes like a moldy old apothecary gone rotten.

In true brash hipster American style Dick Taylor’s bars blast you with blaring flavors from start to finish. However, the flavors stay clean and pure through all their length. If Amedei is a chocolate symphony, Dick Taylor is chocolate’s Led Zeppelin. They are among a handful of American greats with a style all their own.

Figs and chocolate are an underappreciated match. Fruity Madagascar 72% chocolate gets some textural and flavor play from chopped dried black mission figs. Pair with an oloroso sherry.

• 72% Madagascar cacao
• Ingredients: Cacao, cane sugar, dried Black Mission Figs
• 2-ounces