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Spring has sprung early for minty treat enthusiasts as McDonald’s iconic Shamrock Shake makes its annual return, bringing a taste of St. Patrick’s Day before the calendar even flips to March. This year, the emerald-hued milkshake arrives on February 20th, marking the 53rd year of this beloved seasonal tradition.
Shamrock Shake: The St. Patrick’s Day Flavor
The Shamrock Shake, with its blend of vanilla soft serve, minty syrup, and whipped cream topping, has captivated taste buds since its 1970 debut. It’s minty magic has earned it a devoted following, and every year, await its return, sharing their excitement and green-stained mustaches on social media.
This year’s launch comes with an extra bit of anticipation, as rumors swirled of an earlier-than-usual release (last year the Shamrock Shake hit on Feb. 20th). Whether it’s to capitalize on the extended winter blues or simply spread some early shamrock cheer, McDonald’s isn’t revealing their reasoning. Regardless, fans are ready to celebrate with the iconic green cup in hand.
But the minty festivities don’t stop there. Alongside the classic Shake, the Oreo Shamrock McFlurry also makes its comeback. This blended treat combines the signature Shamrock Shake flavor with crushed Oreo cookies, offering a textural twist to the familiar minty taste.
McDonald’s announced the Shake’s release on their website, with of delicious description of the treat: “Our classic Shamrock Shake® is made with creamy vanilla soft serve, blended with mint syrup and topped with a sweet, whipped topping. Or, for a hint of something different, try our fan-favorite OREO® Shamrock McFlurry®, which comes blended with crushed OREO® cookies.”
As the luck of the Irish would have it, there have already been a few reports coming in that the Shamrock Shake has hit locations even earlier than anticipated.
The Shamrock Shake and Oreo Shamrock McFlurry are available for a limited time only, typically disappearing after St. Patrick’s Day. So, mark your calendars!
In other frozen treat news, Wendy’s recently brought back the Vanilla Frosty after months of being MIA to make room for other seasonal Frosty flavors. The Peppermint Frosty, and the Pumpkin Spice Frosty were introduced in place of the Vanilla Frosty for limited-time runs. In case you’re wondering why the Vanilla has to bow out of the races for seasonal flavors, it’s because Wendy’s only has the capability to make two flavors at a time. And the Chocolate Frosty is considered to be more popular!
