Shamrock Shake 2021

Sean Glover, beloved leprechaun, writer, and photojournalist of The Scroll, shares his hot-take on this cold, limited-time milkshake returning to McDonald's in 2021 to celebrate St. Patrick's Day.

St. Paddy's Milkshake of Choice

Alternate Title: "The Shamrock Shake: A Sham? Or Does It Rock?"*

By Sean Glover

Do you ever feel lonely and forgotten, like there’s a never-ending force pushing against you-- telling you that you are worthless and will never live up to the person who you were destined to be? Does life always give you constant misgivings and disappointments that always feel like they’re out of your control? Do you wish for satisfaction to fill the empty void that consumes your short and seemingly insignificant life? Well, for just $2.99, that can all change today.

Now, I’m not a proper salesman, but I think I just grabbed your attention pretty well. There’s nothing like low prices that barely affect wealthy mega-corporations to make the stomach of a person’s empty pockets rumble. Not to say that everyone reading this is poor, but I can assume that if you’re a high-schooler and you’re still reading this article, you are probably just dying to find some quality within your life, or you genuinely find this article interesting. Either way, my job here is to provide you with the knowledge of the famed, limited-time milkshake being served at McDonald’s, and the history behind its unchanging glory.

History & Effects

The Shamrock Shake was first created by Hal Rosen in 1967, who served as a McDonald’s Owner and Operator in Connecticut. He made the milkshake as a celebration of St. Patrick's Day, which then became a McDonald’s-branded drink that made its debut across the U.S. in 1970. It became a hit across the nation, which wasn’t surprising, because you probably only had to pay a quarter for it back then, and McDonald’s was the only restaurant that existed along with the local Red Barn. The drink was such a hit that, with proceeds from the Shamrock Shake, enough money was raised for the opening of the first Ronald McDonald House in Philadelphia-- a charity, nonprofit organization that directly supports programs that improve the health and well-being of children. I would say this is one of the most wholesome stories I’ve ever heard, but I don’t like the fact that this organization is named after their demon-clown mascot which, news flash, no living child admires.

Availability

Most years, Shamrock Shakes would be available starting late February and would cease to exist the day after St. Patrick's Day. In 2021, however, this half-month span of time that the milkshake normally was obtainable stretched to a month-- which elongated the time frame in which I’ll eat at McDonald’s from half a month to a full month. This may be due to marketing reasons, since the Shamrock Shake does, indeed, bring in more revenue for the company, or it may be that the company just can’t hold in their excitement for the return of the beloved milkshake. Realistically, the first guess was probably the correct one. Whatever their reasoning may be, the Shamrock Shake is back at an earlier date, starting February 15th.

If your mouth hasn’t been watering yet from just hearing about the delicious, mint shake, McDonald’s provides some descriptions of the limited-time desserts to catch their consumer’s eye. They describe the Shamrock Shake as a “creamy, vanilla soft serve, blended with our unmistakable Shamrock Shake flavor and finished with a whipped topping for a delicious minty treat.” Recently making its debut in 2020, the Oreo Shamrock McFlurry also makes its reentrance alongside the milkshake. The company describes this heaven-in-a-cup thoroughly-- giving a little entail on the short history of it as well: “The OREO Shamrock McFlurry, which first debuted on U.S. menus last Shamrock Shake Season and is back by popular demand, features creamy, vanilla soft serve with our Shamrock Shake flavor and OREO cookie pieces blended throughout. It’s a flavor combination that is ‘mint’ to be!” Normally I despise big, rich, meaty mega-corporations, but I have to agree with this journalist-- McDonald's has created something beautiful and worthy of a taste-test if you haven’t had one yet.

Now, I’m not forcing you Scroll readers to go to Mickey D’s right now and get yourself a Shamrock Shake, but also, at the same time, I am. If you try the milkshake and happen to not like it, it’s perfectly okay. Everyone has different taste buds that react to certain tastes differently! Just know that if you come up to me and tell me you don’t like it, I will have no choice but to shun you for the rest of my life. And for all of the readers out there who are lactose intolerant, I feel for you. My heart goes out to you, and I wish you the best of luck when drinking soy milk and eating cheese-less pizza.

AUTHOR’S NOTE: Do not eat cheese-less pizza. I have made that mistake once in my life. It’s disgusting.

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*Special Thanks to Milan Geurin for the neat and clever Alternate Title!

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