Where can you get the best '99 cone?

We recently received plenty of suggestions on the Westmeath Independent’s Facebook page as to where you can find the best '99 in Athlone.

While we were unable to travel back in time to put the '99 at Keogh’s to the test (although some of our newsroom team have fond memories of these ice cream cones), we did put all of the other suggestions to test in a bid to find the best '99 in Athlone. 

Each '99 was scored out of ten and while there wasn’t one clear winner, one thing is for certain - there’s plenty of choice when searching for a '99 on a sunny day in Athlone!

Shop: Vanilla Gardens, Golden Island Shopping Centre
Price: €2.50
Score: 6.5

A regular whipped cone cost €2, while the '99 was €2.50, which we thought was a little on the pricey side especially considering the flake wasn’t that nice.

The '99 was generous in size, but it was quite messy and the ice cream melted too fast. It wasn’t quite as creamy as we would have liked. The wafer of the cone was more on the chewy side, rather than crunchy. As mentioned, the flake didn’t live up to its reputation and tasted a little odd, which may be down to the fact that it was refrigerated.

All in all, a little disappointing, but the presentation was good and although the ice cream wasn’t as creamy as we wanted, it still tasted nice.

Shop: Spollen’s Glasson
Price: €1.80
Score: 9

The '99 at Spollen’s in Glasson was well worth the money and was truly delicious. The ice-cream was rich and creamy and the cone was really generous in size and presented well.

The flake was fresh and the perfect compliment to the ice cream, which didn’t melt too quickly due to its creaminess. The ice cream was full of flavour and even though the cone was huge, you could definitely go back for seconds! It was obvious it was an ice-cream machine that gets lots of use. The wafer of the cone itself was fresh and crunchy. All round this one definitely gets a big thumbs up!

Shop: Kilmartin’s N6
Price: €1.90
Score: 8.5

This '99 was a fairly good size and presentation was good with lots of swirly, creamy vanilla ice cream and a crumbly flake to finish it off. The ice cream itself was nice and cold, ensuring it was refreshing and very welcome on a warm day.

The flake was fresh and indeed fulfilled its 'crumbliest, flakiest chocolate’ billing, the perfect compliment to the ice cream, as it should be.

Even though it was a warm day the ice-cream didn’t melt away, due to its consistency. The wafer was fresh and crunchy the ice-cream lasted almost all the way down the cone. Definitely worth stopping off on a nice, sunny day or if you simply fancy an ice cream.

Shop: Griffins, Northgate Street
Price: €1.70
Score: 9

Fresh and creamy, generous in size, and extremely good value; there’s little fault you could find with the 99 served at Griffins.

It was very large in size, so much so that some of the ice cream was sitting somewhat lobsided on the cone wafer. In spite of this it was not messy. It just meant there was more delicious creamy ice cream to enjoy.

The presentation was impressive, with lots of swirls and was noted by a couple of passers-by as I walked back to the office. The wafer was very fresh and crunchy. While there was no particular fault with the flake it could have been crumblier and this is the only area where it loses a mark. All in all if you want a generous, filling, tasty 99 that gives value for money you won’t be disappointed with this one.

Shop: Gala, The Crescent
Price: €1.80
Score: 6.5

Size was more than adequate and presentation neat but the actual taste of the ice cream was not too hectic. Indeed, the usually reliable flake did not taste fantastic either! However, somewhat strangely, the cream appeared to get tastier the more I progressed and particularly when mixed in with the wafer.

The wafer was fresh and nicely crunchy while the cream (despite its overall lack of wow factor) remained consistent. There was no mess but also no real delight to eating this particular '99.

Shop: Scally’s Convenience Store, Clonbrusk
Price: €1.80
Score: 8.5

There is an Irish love affair with ice-cream and I count myself chief among that crew. Maybe it’s the childhood nostalgia of the Sunday ice cream wafer, or maybe it’s just that a delicious '99 reminds us of all too infrequent appearances of the sun, but we love the stuff, so much so that we scoff more per capita that the Italians!

Scally’s in Clonbrusk was my stop for a bit of a taste test (I’m available for other similar experiments for free by the way!)

Despite my cone being a little bit wonky, this is clearly an ice cream machine which gets plenty of use as it was super creamy, ice-cold and the wafer was fresh as a daisy, well as crunchy as, if you get my drift. It could have been a small bit bigger for €1.80, (the small version was €1.20) but this is a minor quibble really, as an argument could be made for me being a bit a greedy guts where anything sweet is concerned. I did miss the offer of syrup to top-off the scrummy cone though.

However the taste, large flake and the fact that the ice cream made its way right down to the bottom of cone more than made up for that small shortcoming. In fact, I wouldn’t say no to another right now!

Digan’s Londis, Athlone Road, Moate
Price: €1.70
Score: 9

This taster usually prefers ice-cream cones without the addition of a flake. Nothing against that crumbly chocolate, mind you. Yet that distinctively soft, creamy ice cream one gets in a good quality cone needs no accompaniment.
However, the 99 cone I purchased in Digan’s Londis shop in Moate was so delicious that I think I may choose the flake option more frequently.

I’m one of those people that normally only eats cones on a warm, sunny day. What’s seldom is wonderful and all that. Dashing for cover with the raindrops falling on one’s cone holds little appeal!

It was about 16 degrees Celsius when I savoured the substantial cone from Digan’s and, with the day being quite humid at that stage, it proved a refreshing treat. And, at €1.70, Digan’s cone was quite keenly priced.
Like many people, I like the ice cream to go as far down the wafer as possible and Digan’s cone also scored highly here. It got messy towards the end but that was because I was flicking through a newspaper as I enjoyed this treat. Overall, absolutely no complaints.

Shop: Mulligan’s Londis, Baylough
Price: €1.85
Score: 7.5

Interestingly, a choice of flavours through the cone was offered to this customer at Mulligan’s in Baylough. Being a bit of a '99 purist, I asked for a plain cone and was, therefore, a little disappointed to taste small traces of strawberry and chocolate flavouring in the ice cream. This minor flaw didn’t stop me from devouring the cone with relish.

It was suitably creamy, replete with a tasty flake and fresh, crunchy wafer. The ice cream filled the cone, providing a satisfying experience right to the very end. This cone might not have been perfect, but, to paraphrase Larry David in the TV series 'Curb Your Enthusiasm’, it was “pretty, pretty good.”

Shop: Ballinahown Post Office and shop
Price: €1.85
Score 6

'99 cones are expected to have flowing peals of ascending ice cream topped off with an extravagant peak - thanks to a flick of the wrist as the shop assistant allows the last ice cream to fall on the cone. This though was compacted and squashed, more like a meringue than a '99.

Size was middling, but the real disappointment was the taste - a slightly bittertang lingered on the tongue. Though the ice cream did fill all of the cone - right down to the very last bite, a real plus!

Shop: Spar Garrycastle
Price: €1.60
Score 8

This 99 was a good size and nice and creamy. The flake was lovely and crumbly and complemented the ice-cream. The waver was fresh and crunchy and overall there was no particular fault with the 99. Points were docked on a comparable basis but this 99 proved to be well worth the money at an affordable €1.60.