Yesterday was an exciting day for McDonald’s fans across the UK, as the viral Shamrock Shake officially made its way across the pond.
A beloved staple in the US since it was first created in the 60s, it has become a bit of an icon for its refreshingly minty taste and green colour. However, us simple Brits were not able to tell if it was worth the hype…until now.
Now, as someone who enjoys a good old-fashioned milkshake, especially in the summer, I was quite intrigued to see if the Shamrock Shake was worth the over 50 year wait. Since it will only be around for a limited two weeks, it’s not something I wanted to miss.
Due to its limited run, I didn’t want to repeat my mistake of not getting to try out the purple-hued Grimace Shake that went viral last year. Which is exactly why this milkshake fan headed to her local McDonald’s the day the Shamrock went available on Thursday, March 12.
Limited availability aside, it’s almost St. Patrick’s Day, so what better time to try out something green? Considering the minty shake was initially launched in the US for the Irish celebration, it’s almost like fate was tempting me to give it a try.
So, if you want to read about whether or not I would be rebuying the Shamrock Shake, you can find my full thoughts on the green drink just below.
My initial thoughts
If there’s something I will admit, it’s that I have never bought a McDonald’s milkshake before (blasphemy, I know). Nevertheless, I was intrigued to see if the Shamrock Shake offered the ‘wow’ factor it seems to have a reputation for.
Once I received my order from the counter, I’ll be absolutely honest that it looked a little…lacklustre, for want of a better word. It’s not like I was expecting anything amazing, but with no whipped cream or any toppings, it seemed a little generic.
Looks aside, when I opened the lid, there was no mistaking that green shade, which seemed a little bit less vibrant than its advertisements. Nevertheless, it did boast a thick, creamy texture, which is exactly what I like.
The taste of it certainly made up for the mediocre shade, although I am not entirely sure in a good way. As soon as I took my first sip, I was hit with a rather overpowering taste that reminded me of Colgate toothpaste.
Now, since I like the taste of peppermint, I can safely say it wasn’t the worst drink I have tasted, although it was a little bizarre. I expected the flavour to be more reminiscent of mint choc chip ice cream, not like I was drinking something to clean my teeth.
I will admit, that the taste does tend to get a bit milder the further you drink the shake, which made it a bit easier to drink. However, before I was even half-way through it, the thicker texture does cause havoc with the paper straw, inevitably disintegrating before it was finished.
Overall verdict
If I was asked if I would buy the Shamrock Shake again, my answer would probably be a no, although that’s not to say that it’s not something others will enjoy.
It’s thick, creamy texture is certainly something that will appeal to a lot of milkshake fans, just remember that it will get stuck in the paper straw at some point, making it a little bit difficult to drink after a few sips.
I think the overly strong peppermint taste is going to be something that divides a lot of customers. Some might be all for it, while many others, including myself, might find it a little bit too overly chemically, with an experience that feels like drinking a tube of toothpaste.
That being said, I do think it is a fun drink that is worth taking advantage of it while it is available for the next two weeks. With St. Patrick’s Day on March 17, this might be one of those novelty drinks worth ticking off your list, just to say you have tried it.
The Shamrock Shake is officially available in UK McDonald’s branches until Tuesday, March 25. Prices start from £2.19 for a small, £2.69 for a medium and £3.09 for a large.
It is worth mentioning that the Shamrock Shake is seasonally available in the Republic of Ireland in time for its national holiday. So if you’re heading to the Emerald Isle to celebrate, you can also grab one there.