Last month J.C. Reid raved about DQ's Pumpkin Pie Blizzard, ushering in the 2009 holiday-beverage season. Frozen or not, these are guilty pleasures at best. But we'll still take them intravenously if given the option, from tried-and-true drinks like the Starbucks Gingerbread Latte to Jack in the Box's more questionable eggnog shake.
As the Pumpkin Pie Blizzard goes quietly into the night, replaced by the Girl Scout® Tagalong® Peanut Butter Patties Blizzard®, a new champion, the Chick-fil-a Peppermint Chocolate Shake is back for its second season.
Paired with Chick-n-Minis, this shake turned out to be the perfect Nutcracker Market pregame meal last weekend. Maybe milkshakes are only the breakfast of the brave, but unlike a lot of fast food holiday drinks, this flavor combination isn't overkill. Rather unnatural in hue but clean and light in taste, the shake is made with a minty vanilla base. The texture is perfect - I've never been a fan of drinks with chocolate chips, but interspersed with little crunchy tidbits of candy cane, the combination is pure holiday joy.
