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Kcal 269 Fat 15.0g Carbs 27.8gIf the three so called 'new' products weren't enough for you this last Monday you will be pleased to see that today's review contains another 'innovation' for 2011. Indeed, at the start of the month Mars sent a PR statement announcing the launch of this limited edition Snickers Maximus. This new limited edition bar is supposed to be the 'the next phase in Mr T’s campaign', and the launch is being supported by a £1.5m TV and radio campaign'. The Snickers Maximus comes billed as a 'Snickers without nougat, leaving even more room for the maximum serving of nuts and caramel'. Despite trying a million and one different Snickers bars from all across the globe in the last few years, this wasn't a variation I had yet tried ... lets see how it did.
It came as no surprise to me that this bar came in a smaller 52.5g compared to the 58.0g original - this is the size that all Snickers limited edition have come in down the years. I'm not one for usually getting all that fussed about wrappers, but I would of expected more of an effort from Mars than just the change to a beige and brown colour scheme and minor branding changes. Why not use our man Mr T for a more decorative pack? I'm no graphic designer but they could have made it a little more exciting. In better news there were no issues when it came to the bar keeping it's shape despite the lack of a firm nougat base. When I pierced the wrapper the usual glorious peanut sweet scents overcame my senses, smelling every bit as enticing as usual.
For those of you wondering the chocolate, caramel and peanut ratio of this bar was 31.0% chocolate, 42.0% caramel and 26.0% peanuts. For what this bar was, this was a decent proportional mix, and the bar still managed to retain the original Snickers bars great quality of allowing each constituents say in the taste. The flavour development was obviously lead by the outer milk chocolate, which melted at fine rate supplying it's standard chocolate flavour hit to every bite with it's sugary milky cocoa emphasis. Below the chocolate, both the caramel and peanuts were blended into one, ensuring the bar kept some level of viscosity even at room temperature. The golden caramel was chewy even when soft and when heated supplied it's usual array of sweet, buttery toffee flavours. Comparatively the roasted nuts were crunchy and salted in taste, providing a contrast in flavours that was dexterous and of course totally delicious. The only thing missing ... well duh the nougat!?
Overall I felt my experience with this bar was very similar to the times when I used to come across solid milk chocolate Kit Kats as kid. The fact that things weren't how they usually are was a novelty for a second, but at the end of the day the lacking element (in this case the nougat) didn't benefit the product at all. Quite simply without the nougat the taste wasn't as progressive or interesting, and I certainly didn't get the same level of satisfaction that I do from a normal Snickers. If there was ever a bar suitable for being a limited edition it is certainly this one, as I don't see anyone repeat purchasing having tried it the once. Unless you are someone that doesn't like nougat (I have genuinely never met anyone that has said this haha!) I just don't see the point in recommending it for any reason other than to just say you have tried one. It would be harsh to brand this bar as pointless, but I'm personally struggling to think of a reason for making it - wouldn't of it been cooler if they had given us the new Snickers Peanut Butter Squared they have now in the US? What do you guys think?
7.5 out of 10
Posts
58 comments:
Oh god the worst snippet of info I've taken from this post is that they are spending more on the whole Mr T thing. Speaking as a female I find the whole thing so wearing.
I know we have things like the Flake that are pitched at women, but the degree they play up that the snickers is a bar for blokes is bordering on the excessive, almost repulsive. A joke is a joke, but I think they take it too far. Us girls like our Snickers too you know ;)
Rxxx
Ahh shucks this sounds like it is another disapointing new one for us. One of these days Mars UK will finally bring us one of the decent limited editions that they make in the other countries. The best one I have ever had was the cruncher, but the UK guys can't take credit for that because I think it was made in Poland or somewhere like that. One day Jim, One day.
Boy you have been busy getting these new bars haven't you mate :) It's always good getting your POV on these things before I try them myself. Lol I try to not let what you say influence what I think but sometimes I can't help it.
I never use to analyse chocolate bars as much as I do now, that is your fault I think lol.
The nougat is my least favourite bit so I don't think I would miss it all that much. I suspect this is amazing if you put it in the fridge for a bit before you eat it. That would make the caramel extra chewy mmmm.
Dx
I had totally forgotten about this one coming out, I look forward to finding my own to try. It's been months since I last had a snickers. I used to have one like at least every week. I will wait till I can get one of these for now.
Omg I so totally got one of those Kit Kats awhile ago :-) Lol and there was me thinking I was all special. It must be more common than I thought it was.
Price check? Under 60p and I will buy one. If it comes in over that I point blank refuse to pay more money for a chocolate that is different because they cut their costs by taking something out. That would be so stupid.
Can anyone here think of a single good reason why taking the nougat out would be a good idea? Do they really think that people who don’t buy snickers are now going to buy this one because it doesn’t have it in?
They are just going to stick to what they are eating already whilst the rest of us who do like it just have to sit back and wish they had done something a whole lot less boring. Eugh FAIL Mars FAIL!!!
Jim in your review you say that all the limited editions come in a smaller size. Why do they do that?
Jim mate - age old question that you get bombarded with everytime you find these things early...........
WHERE DID YOU BUY IT?
I would welcome any help if people know of locations to buy.
@Rachel you make a really good point. It's not on the same level as Yorkie but I can see how the adverts would annoy women. Trust me us blokes don't think they are that funny. After you have seen them once they are pretty annoying, they have been running the campaign for years now aswell. They should try come up with something different because its wearing v v thin with us all not just you girls.
Jim,
Please please please don't take this as a criticism but do you genuinely remember the last time you thought a new product was decent? I genuinely can't remember a single thing that has come out lately that you have rated highly.
Most of the time I agree with you btw? Could we be thinking about these things too much though?
Lol people are going to be saying you are biased against Mars now aren't they.
It's disappointing to hear that this special edition isn't worth buying. Now I think about it, it's a pretty crappy idea taking the nougat out. It's not really a Snickers bar without it.
Overall I felt my experience with this bar was very similar to the times when I used to come across solid milk chocolate Kit Kats as kid.
That has to be your most random opening snippet to your 'overall' bit ever lol.
It would be harsh to brand this bar as pointless, but I'm personally struggling to think of a reason for making it - wouldn't of it been cooler if they had given us the new Snickers Peanut Butter Squared they have now in the US? What do you guys think?
That is a far more sensible idea .... which is why they probably didn't do it :) Mars are really dumb here. They wouldn't allow anything new or exciting to happen.
GO AWAY MR T.
Rachel I'm with you girl, those adverts are disgustingly sexist. They are just so dumb.
The reason I don't buy snickers normally is because I find them too stodgy and big. I like both the nuts and the caramel bits so I will defo being buying one of these when I find them.
I hadn’t even heard of this one before I saw this post. I must have missed the weekend when you showed the news clipping cause this has come out the blue.
Errr anyway. It doesn’t look all that good does it :-/ I’m a tad disappointed to hear this is the best idea they could come up with to be truthful. How about a white chocolate snickers? Or a Snickers with macadamia nuts or some other type of nut. A Snickers with pistachio nuts would be mega.
I was so close to posting the worst msg ever then J Lol I nearly put ‘why didn’t they choose to get rid of the nuts, I would buy one then’. Lmao J I then realised that is what they call the Mars bar eeeek embarassment.
Jim-
How lucky can one team be? How the hell are Man U still unbeaten. Blackpool smashed you last night for 45 mins + they should have got a penalty.
It kills me but it is just so typical Man U to come back from the dead. I feel so sorry for Blackpool. I think they deserved loads more than the 0 points they got last night.
Snickers Maximus: I have been looking forward to this review since you mentioned it was coming out. I don't see why some people on here are complaining that it is smaller than the original. Of course it is going to be smaller, it's not got the nougat in it, what were you all expecting? You might have been too harsh on this one mate. I will let you know how I rate it when I find one for sale.
I really want a Snickers now after reading this. I would buy a normal one though lol I can't be doing without the nougat. Thats just silly business.
How come the number of calories hasn't gone down from a normal snickers? It's smaller and not got the nougat in :S Nougat wasn't calorie free last time I checked.
Ready for more spankage in an ODI today Jimbo? Just seen we need 300 to win - easy peasy ;)
Mars must have created this maximus for you poms who can't handle your nougat. In Aus the last limited edition we got was called the muncher I think. That had added rice krispies in the chocolate. It was decent you know.
Am I missing something here? How the hell can they call it the Maximus when it has less parts to it than the normal one? It should be called the minimum-us shouldn't it lol.
The jokes on all of us by the looks of things. Bloody corporations lol.
First the aeros and now the new snickers. I can't handle all these new things.
You are the first to complain about brands not making enough new chocolate bars but then you dig at them when they do make new ones?
Make up your mind. You are a broken record just saying that the older things are better all the time.
Oooooh heres a new one for me to try. Thank you for the review. It sounds to me like we have a Mars bar with nuts in on our hands. As long as they don't take the nuts out any snickers bar will still rule in my book.
Is there a particular reason why we are seeing new chocolate bars from all the companies now?
I can think of loads of new ones that have come out in the last couple of weeks.
Nice shot of the bar Jim you can really see the amount of nuts in there. Is it my eyes or is it thinner and longer than a normal snickers? Judging by your snap it looks so.
You do this to me everytime =( Build up my hopes with your news announcements only to later dash them with posts saying they aren't any good. It will be different one of these days im sure.
I want a Peanut Butter Squared so badly it hurts :(
I've tried this in the States (it's available now and again as Snickers Xtreme) and quite liked it. I like the texture, it's a good chewy caramel that's not too sweet because of the nuts. (Unlike the Milky Way Simply Caramel, which would be like this without the nuts.)
I didn't care much for the Snickers PB Squared as much, but that was a textural problem for me.
I don't think it needs to be a permanent bar or anything though, just a seasonal thing.
Dear oh dear its not good to hear of another disappointing one in prospect for us all.
Give us some good news for once come on now.
This is a pathetic attempt at a cash in if ever I have seen one.
I like seeing brands try out limited editions but if they are all as uninspired as this one they needn't bother imo.
I just looked at that link to candyblogs peanut butter snickers bar. Could it be any more unfair? It looks like ten million times better than this crappy thing.
Mars need to pull their finger our their backsides. The difference between the bars released in the states and here is horrendus.
I really like the idea of this! lol I'm not a fan of Snickers normally, I find them too heavy and the nougat is just bland with no flavour so I'd have a Mars over a Snickers anyday. I hope I actually see this anywhere so I can try it lol
@James.. not quite a Mars has nougat in it! Although its a nicer sort, being malty chocolate flavured rather than tough and bland as in Snickers.
I haven't tried one of these yet but I think it's a good idea. Surely there's more room for peanuts and caramel without the nougat?
Also I never felt comfortable buying a regular Snickers as the nougat contains egg, which isn't free-range (I know that might sound a bit silly but it's a personal thing).
I hope I come across one of these soon.
Phil - me too. It's nice to see someone else with a conscience, who actually thinks. I'm sure it wouldn't occur to most people, and if it was pointed out to them, they probably wouldn't even care. I can't believe some people actually still buy battery eggs (or that it's even still legal). Aren't they supposed to be banning it soon?
Calm down people. How can you all be so critical of something you haven't even tried (assuming that of most of you).
Like Jim says it's still fundamentally a good chocolate bar. Just not as good as the normal one in his estimation. No dramas :)
Snickers - Nougat = a winner for me. I don't see why people like nougat, its not like it ever adds anything to the taste.
I can't think of a single time that I have tasted something and thought 'Yay thank lord the nougat' is in there. If it frees up more space for peanuts and caramel you can count me in on this. Thank you for your review. Your photos are too yummy looking for me at this time of day.
Cheers Jim. I do like the nougat as it def adds to the Snickers experience texturally. I'll try this new bar when I spot them tho as am intrigued. Snickers Peanut Butter Squared looks delicious - I want one! x
Now this was another surprise, I'd forgot all about this bar after all the "new" Aero launches. As much as you say you liked it as a novelty but wouldn't repeat buy, this sounds like something I'd quite like every now and then (of course, that may change after tasting haha). On the other hand, a peanut butter version does sound one hundred times better and is always something I think should be introduced over here. I'm surprised this bar has a reasonable calorie count, considering the contents, even when you consider the bar is smaller than a normal one.
Thanks for the review nd the photo looks great. I'll definitely be keeping an eye out for this bar.
They are spending £1 million on marketing this chocolate? What a load of fuss about nothing.
Its just crazy how much these people spend on marketing. ONE MILLION POUNDS on talking to people about a chocolate bar with no nougat. The worlds gone crazy.
Wooop woop for me I found one whilst on my lunch break :-)
I didn't think it was that bad. Although you don't get the nougat you do get a heck load more nuts and caramel instead. One thing that was noticeable was that the choc was thinner which wasn't that cool. All in all I thought it was ok. Im not sure I would buy it again so soon.
The retorts on this so far has been surprisingly negative.
@Kevin you are right I don't think people should have a go at something they haven't tried yet.
@Nigel Manchester aren't lucky mate they are skilled.
@
Woops wrong button
@Paul did yours look any different to the one in Jim's photo? I would bet any money that the amount of nuts you get is highly variable from bar to bar.
reading this review my brain created this funny image of some marketing/developer guy in Mars HQ. His boss asked him to create something innovative and after hours and hours of designing chocoltae bars the develloping guy comes up with "hey why not make a normal Snickers but smaller and without nougat, yeah great idea!" - I'd fire him.... ;-)
I didn't have a Snickers in years, don't think this "new" one will change that anytime soon.
@ Phil - I don't think it is silly at all! That is one of the reasons I tend to stay away from store bought cakes etc.
@Anne LMAO the people who work on the innovative ideas at Mars UK must be the most boring people ever. Do you think they were all patting themselves on the back when they came up with this one. Like you I think I would have told them their services were no longer required lol.
My sister came home with one of these for me, she tried one and thought it ok but she said it didnt actually taste that much different to a normal Snickers. I tried mine tonight and I do sort of agree with her.. until the smaller normal one, once the caramel has gone abit gooey its nicer but still, its rather a boring bar. I find too many peanuts in relation to the caramel.
I obviously wont give you my final judgement until I have tried one but from what I see here they could have made something far better than this. What a shame they made such a lazy attempt for a limited edition.
lol sorry some of my last comment make no sense :P I think I was saying it should have been the ame size a anormal snickers to have more impact!
Why all the negativity hey? It looks well nice in Jim's photo. I would be well happy to get more peanuts and caramel. They are the best bits by far.
Hi All,
Thanks again for all the feedback, Its marvellous to hear from so many of you about this new one from Mars.
Mars aren't a company who have approached me at all before. I do wonder if they are reading over all of these comments - Haha some of them wont make the easiest of reading judging by some of the feedback.
What I think some people have overlooked is that the idea of the nougat being taken out was to make room for more peanuts and caramel. This bar hasn't been made with the idea of taking the nougat out and just not replacing it .... that would be admittedly pretty rubbish haha!
Anyway, I hope you guys/girls give this a try at some time. It would be great hearing from you guys with first hand experience of it.
Question Time:
Rachel - The Mr T ads are funny the first few times but they have very quick wearing time. I can't stand them now.
Richard - I paid £0.59 for my bar.
Golden - I bought it from a Martin's newsagent.
Andrew - I liked this bar, just not as much as the original. I also highly praised the Cadbury Bliss and several of the new Ritter flavours. :D There you go evidence.
Ryan - There are still several things they could do with a Snickers. A white chocolate variety wouldn't be first on my list, but I would try one if it ever came about.
Nigel - A famous golfer once said 'the more I practice the luckier I get'. United have ridden their luck this season but that is just what football is like. Lets face it, it happens to often for it to be luck all the time :D
Alicia - The calories are round about the same because there are more nuts and caramel in place of the nougat.
Justin - It's 3-1 now chap :D It looks like you were over confident haha!
Matt - I don't see how my review is complaining about this bar. The score it has got is hardly harsh or anything. Am I not allowed to prefer one thing over another now?
Christian - I have no idea why all the new chocolates are coming out now. I will try ask someone in the business why it's all going off now.
Frank - It was thinner though thats sorta understandable given the chunkiest bit got removed.
Cybele - Thanks for dropping by, its been a while :D I'm pretty desperate to try the squared bar to be honest with you. I think it sounds exactly like my sort of thing.
All - Cybele's review of this bar is here --> http://www.candyblog.net/blog/item/snickers_xtreme
Phil - Spot on chap. Some people on here have wrongly assumed that the peanuts and caramel volumes have stayed the same. I understand your views about the eggs thing. Its not something I worry about, but thats just me. I respect people that do have that view.
Linz - I'm not sure about the battery eggs thing. I would say it was a good move myself. I have seen too many disturbing programmes on that sort of thing now. It's so horrible.
Roxy - I look forward to hearing what you think.
Ria - It sounds like people really want to see a review of the Peanut Butter Squared. I might see if I can get one of my American importing companies to get me one. It does sound pretty awesome doesn't it.
Anne - Haven't had a Snickers for years :O That is a bit of a shocker. Well it would be for me anyway. I do love a good Snickers bar, As you can see from the leaderboard it's one of my favourites of all time. Your idea of what things are like at Mars H did make me laugh :D :D I imagine things are probably like that.
Alan - You were a bit underwhelmed by it then? Oh well at least you tried it now. Its always best to try these things anyway just to make sure I think. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks again for all the nice words on the review etc. I look forward to hearing from more of you as and when you try it.
There is a special review up tomorrow ... it includes a very long requested set of products so be sure to tune in. This new cold snap couldn't make the post any more appropriate ;)
JIM
Jim, it's only been a while since I commented. I read it all. (Well, maybe I skim a few when they're really not my thing.)
@Ben lol meeee I'm one of the few excited about this!
@Anne that picture of Mars HQ is hilarious
@Phil yeah me too with the eggs, but cause of allergies. btw weren't you the one who couldn't do marshmallows? I just found some in Japanese grocery stores, with agar agar instead of gelatine. lol sorry to go on about food restrictions, but marshmallows go so well in hot chocolate, I hate to think of anyone being deprived :D
I have been eating snickers for many years and I have been looking online for sooo long for a caramel and nutts bar without the nougat and the only thing I cud find was in the usa as i am from the uk this was noooo good. I am sooooo loving the new snickers and i hope they make them permanaent as they are better than the original...who needs nougat!!! Snickers Maximus I loveee you!!!!
I am a Lacto Vegetarian (no meat fish or eggs), so was excited to see a Snickers without the nougat!
Many of my close family and friends are all Lacto vegetarians also - this has massive appeal to this population!
Keep the eggless editions coming Mars!!!
CSJ
haha I just got on to post that I would buy this again, and rereading the review, what did I find but this: "...I don't see anyone repeat purchasing having tried it the once." :D I better stock up on them in that case ;) Brilliant combination of peanut+caramel+chocolate. Remember though, this is coming from someone unable to compare it with the original :)
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