Taste Test: Shake Shack’s Butterscotch Creme Brulee Shake

This week, Shake Shack rolled out a quintet of drinks on its menu: three lemonades, a holiday milkshake that fans have adored returning, and the centerpiece of today’s tasting. Whether we’re entirely ready for them or not, the new Butterscotch Crème Brûlée Shake has arrived just in time for the season. Shake Shack generously sent your preferred milkshake reviewer a gift card; let’s see if this treat already feels like the most wonderful time of the year.

Shake Shack Butterscotch Crème Brûlée Shake Review

New Shake Shack Shake!

Pros: Shake Shack excels at turning sophisticated desserts into milkshakes, and this offering might be the closest translation yet. If you can believe it, the essence and texture of crème brûlée (a chilled custard-based dessert) translate remarkably well to a frozen custard-based shake. The honeycomb bits in the beverage mimic the caramelized sugar crunch atop crème brûlée, enhancing the sensation of sipping a crème brûlée through a straw. Shake Shack rarely misses, and this instance is no exception.

Cons: The addition of butterscotch amplifies the festive mood, but it may not be strictly essential. Crème brûlée and butterscotch are both assertive flavors; I’d prefer to savor them separately at their peaks rather than letting them compete for dominance in one sip (even if the harmony is surprisingly pleasant). A classic Crème Brûlée Shake on a future Shake Shack menu would be welcome.

Rating:

9/10

What else is new on the Shake Shack menu?