NYC Shamrock Shake Prohibition Lives, Shake Shack Has Homage

Food companies have a history of rolling out faux-Gaelic, ersatz mascots around St. Patrick’s Day: Carvel space cadet Cookie Puss flies his cousin Cookie O’Puss (seen here in the 1980s; 2009 Cookie O'Puss after the jump) in for the short season, and Grimace once welcomed his Uncle O’Grimacey (video below), who in a typically avuncular move introduced the dining public to the Shamrock Shake, a minty green milkshake.

As we've noted every year, Shamrock Shakes are never sold in the city. Serious Eats tried last week (with no success) to find the beverage. Despite an explanation proffered by McDonald’s, the Shamrock Shake paradox still seems unacceptable to some. To make things worse, Uncle O’Grimacey was last seen in Toronto creating a Facebook profile. In a statement released to Gothamist, NY Metro Region Marketing Supervisor Marcelo Fajnerman said:

“The Shamrock Shake has been offered seasonally in regions throughout the country. We are always listening to our customers' needs and changing tastes. It's a regional decision and currently the New York market is not offering the Shamrock Shake.”

For New Yorkers, there is one choice alternative to the missing shake: every Tuesday in March, the frozen custard flavor at Shake Shack is “Peppermint Patty,” or peppermint custard garnished with the chopped candy on top. St. Patrick’s Day happens to be next Tuesday.