After stopping by my local Dairy Queen to pick up this month’s featured Blizzard Treat, I was disappointed to see they were only offering the S’mores and Lemon Meringue Pie options from last month. On my way back home, I passed an Arby’s and remember hearing about the new Salted Caramel Shake they were offering. When their road sign advertisement confirmed my suspicions, I quickly turned in to try and salvage my unsuccessful attempt to secure the Tripleberry Brownie Blizzard. According to Arby’s, “What time is it? Time to indulge. Taste our decadent, creamy Salted Caramel Shake topped with whipped cream and a sprinkle of Hawaiian Sea Salt.” I paid my $2.99 plus tax and then watched the drive-thru attendant make my order.
The tall plastic cup was drizzled with a thick, golden caramel sauce and then filled to the brim with the milkshake mixture. He then added a substantial amount of whipped topping from an unmarked aerosol can and finished the whole thing with a sprinkle from a pink saltshaker before placing a domed lid on top. The entire shake contains 680 calories, but as I would soon find out, I wouldn’t even get close to finishing this one. With minimal effort, the beige colored base quickly came up through the straw and into my mouth. Not only did this lack the density of a thick, hand-spun shake from much of the fast food competition, but the flavoring caught me completely off guard.
Instead of the salted caramel I had been expecting, I picked up more of a strawberry vibe; strikingly similar to the small strawberry shakes I used to get occasionally as a kid. The salty component had been sprinkled on top of the “whipped cream” so it couldn’t be incorporated with the shake itself and the caramel was still sticking to the side of the cup (even after I poured the rest of the shake into the trash) and failed to contribute at all. Lastly, the poor, foamy excuse for whipped cream on the top did little to enhance the misguided flavorings underneath. While this may have looked nice from the outside, this was one of the worst frozen desserts I’ve had in some time.
Where I Found It: Arby's
Grade: F
