Cherry Seinfeld.
That’s what I want to call Ben & Jerry’s and Netflix’s Limited Batch Punch Line Ice Cream as sort of a callback to Cherry Garcia. Because, according to the pint’s packaging, the flavor has a “chuckle of cherries.” It also has brown butter bourbon and almond ice creams with roasted almonds.
But naming it after Jerry Seinfeld wouldn’t be fair to the zillions of comedians who also have stand-up specials or shows on Netflix. The same can be said if this variety was named Bill Burrbon or Dave Cherryppelle.
Like almost every Ben & Jerry’s flavor and Netflix comedy special, this limited batch offering brings a smile to my face. Although, I have to admit it’s not a huge smile.
Let’s start with the ice cream bases. When I eat the almond-flavored one on its own, I can’t help but think of pistachio. I experienced the same thing with a Magnum flavor that also had almond-flavored ice cream. Not even the almond bits, which were plentiful, do anything to make me think otherwise, but their mild snap does contrast the softer parts in the pint.
The brown butter bourbon base isn’t as alcohol-y as I remember Ben & Jerry’s other bourbon-flavored variety. The ice cream also has a slight butteriness, but overall, the flavor is a bit muted when tasted on its own, which makes it hard to notice among the other ingredients.
The pint’s headliners are the sweet and slightly tart cherries that complement the almond ice cream exceptionally well. I’d be happy if Ben & Jerry’s sold a flavor with that combo and perhaps called it Cherry Galmondcia (yes, I’m available for freelance work, Ben & Jerry’s marketing department). Although the cherries are the headliners, the amount in my pint was lacking. But when my spoon did find one, they tend to almost overwhelm everything else, so much so that, at times, it kind of tastes as if I’m eating a spoonful of Cherry Garcia without fudge flakes.
Look, I dig the combo that the kids from Vermont have put together with this pint, and I’ll dig my way through the entire thing. But it’s not a flavor that makes me want to binge eat the whole container in one night.
While Ben & Jerry’s Punch Line seems like a random combination of components, I think there’s a deeper meaning that ties in with stand-up. The almond-flavored ice cream and roasted almonds represent the nuttiness of comedy, the cherries are the redness in one’s face when laughing too hard, and the brown butter bourbon base is, um, the alcohol served at comedy clubs? I got nothing with the last one.
DISCLOSURE: I received a free sample of the product. Thanks, Ben & Jerry’s! Doing so did not influence my review.
Purchased Price: FREE
Size: 1 pint
Purchased at: Received from Ben & Jerry’s
Rating: 7 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (2/3 cup) 310 calories, 19 grams of fat, 10 grams of saturated fat, 0.5 grams of trans fat, 90 milligrams of cholesterol, 80 milligrams of sodium, 29 grams of carbohydrates, less than 1 gram of fiber 25 grams of sugar, and 6 grams of protein.
This doesn’t sound appetizing to me. Since I live in a small town, I probably won’t get the chance to taste it.
It’s probably just me, but is anyone else a little confused by this: “But I have to admit, I do wish my pint had more cherries. Also, they tend to almost overwhelm everything else, so much so that, at times, it kind of tastes as if I’m eating a spoonful of Cherry Garcia without fudge flakes”?
If you want more cherries/cherry flavor, wouldn’t you just buy Cherry Garcia (and maybe pick out the fudge flakes)? It sounds like Punch Line already doesn’t taste “enough” like the almond/bourbon because they are “overwhelm[ed]” by the cherries, yet you want to mute them even more with more powerful cherries?
Or is it something like “I want more cherries because they at least add some pop because the almond and bourbon parts are too mild”? But wouldn’t the solution then be to increase the almonds or bourbon proof in order to give them some pop/keep them from getting overwhelmed/somewhat live up to the flavor description?
Yeah, I can see how that would be confusing. What I meant to say with that line was that the amount of cherries in my pint was lacking, so I wish there were more. I hope that clears things up.
I wish my tub had as much as the brown butter side that yours had. Mine was almost all the almond flavor, which was very good with the cherry, but I would have loved just the brown butter with the almonds and the cherry.
To me it tastes like the black cherry ice cream my grandma used to eat but with almonds added. It tastes pretty good to me, but I also, am not tempted to binge on it. (which is actually probably a good thing!)
I absolutely loved this flavor, I think because it reminds me very strongly of the tastes you’d find in a bakewell tart. Perhaps if you have no prior reference to this combination in this kind of way it’s strange, but for me it was strangely nostalgic in a way I can’t quite put my finger on. I’m sad it’s only a limited batch, because this would be one of my go-to flavors if it were available year-round.
That said, I also know what you mean about cherries–my pint had enough, but it still could have used more!
Dave ChAPPLE, FTFY
What was the punchline?
Ben and Jerry’s is so full of saturated fat. Bad for your heart!!!!
not true
You and your company Ben and Jerry’s suck. I hope the company goes down the tubes and takes everyone that works for your shithole company with it. May God strike each and everyone of you and all your family members as well. Take your nasty products and stick it where the sun doesn’t shine.
I Back the Blue