When is a candy bar not just your average candy bar?

When they’re holiday-inspired truffle bars from Seattle Chocolates that are just in time for Halloween and Christmas.

Recently, I had a chance to sample the new holiday collections of bars. Each 2.5-ounce bar is $3.50. They’re available at select stores nationwide or on the company’s Web site.

I’ll use my patented scale of 1 to 10 lip-smackers, with 1 being the “Bleh, save your money” far end of the spectrum; 5 being the “I’m not sure I’d buy it, but if it was just there, I might nibble some” middle-of-the-road response; and 10 being the “My gawd, I could die now and never be happier, because this is the best thing I’ve ever put in my mouth” supreme ranking.

Bloody Orange: The dark chocolate bar has plenty of sizable bits of tender candied orange peel throughout. Chocolate and orange marry so well together that it’s no wonder I practically devoured this bar in one bite. Rating: 9 lip-smackers.

Dead Sea Salt: Gotta love the name that’s so appropriate for this ghoulish holiday that’s just around the corner. The smooth milk chocolate bar has crunchy bits of toffee. You notice the sea salt right on the finish. It helps balance out the sweetness of the toffee, too. Rating: 8 lip-smackers.

Christmas Cookie: This milk chocolate bar has a center of white chocolate infused with vanilla, cinnamon oil and raw sugar crystals for crunch. Best for those who like their chocolates pretty sweet. Rating: 5 lip-smackers.

Candy Cane Crunch: It’s like a Girl Scouts Thin Mint cookie turned into candy. There’s a decided tongue-tingling minty coolness to this dark chocolate bar. It’s sure to wake up your palate. Rating: 8 lip-smackers.

Hot Buttered Rum: The label is retro fun, depicting a glamorous ski bunny in green scarf, matching gloves and cat-eye sunglasses. The milk chocolate bar with toffee crunch bits definitely tastes buttery and rich. Rating: 7 lip-smackers.

Holiday Cheer Eggnog: With the fragrance of the creamy holiday beverage, this milk chocolate bar boasts a white center redolent of  notes of vanilla, cream, rum and butter. Again, it’s on the sweet side. But eggnog fanatics are sure to enjoy it. Rating: 6 lip-smackers.

Mom’s Hot Cocoa: For purists who like a little fun. This is a pure milk chocolate bar that hides tiny bites of gooey marshmallow. Rating: 7 lip-smackers.