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Milkshake

What was One of the Original Ingredients of a Milkshake?

The modern milkshake was invented in 1922 by Ivar Coulson who was an employee at a Chicago Walgreens. It started with two scoops of ice cream and malted milk. But did you know that the older version of the milkshake was very different?

The term “milkshake” was first used in 1885, but not for the kid-friendly drink that we know today. The first milkshakes were made with cream, eggs, and whiskey.

The Milkshake’s Surprising History

In 1885, milkshake referred to an adult beverage made with eggs and whiskey. By the early 1900s, however, the term milkshake had come to refer to a drink made with ice cream and chocolate, strawberry, or vanilla syrup.

Milkshakes were hand-shaken mixtures of crushed ice and milk, sugar, and flavorings before the widespread availability of electric blenders. Hamilton Beach invented the drink mixer in 1911, and it quickly became a soda fountain staple.

Ice cream milkshakes did not become popular until 1922 when Walgreens began advertising malted milkshakes after employee Ivar Pop Coulson began adding vanilla ice cream, which was an instant hit. Milkshakes became popular, and ice cream machines provided the consistency we know today.

Milkshakes now have seemingly limitless customization options, from thickness to flavor to toppings. While sitting at the counter, drugstore soda fountains offer a nostalgic sip of a chocolate or vanilla milkshake. A night out promises a unique milkshake topped with peanut butter and gummy worms for dessert. Days-in guarantees an easy treat to end the day with, is it blended with your favorite yogurt flavor for a taste that’s all you without any effort or a mix of all the ingredients in the cabinet that make you think of a special place? You can’t go wrong with either option. (Source: The Dairy Alliance)

The Origin of Whiskey

Whiskey is a globally regulated spirit with many classes and types. The fermentation of grains, distillation, and aging in wooden barrels are typical unifying characteristics of the various classes and types.

The word whiskey comes from the Gaelic term usquebaugh, which means water of life. Uisge translates to water. Beatha translates to life. It’s a name that’s been applied to various energizing spirits over time, such as Eau de Vie.

The difference comes from translating words from the Scottish and Irish Gaelic forms. Because Scottish Whisky was similarly of poor quality in the late 1800s, Irish distillers sought to distinguish their product. However, Scotch and Irish whiskey are two of the world’s best spirits nowadays.

Due to the enormous number of Irish immigrants who built up stills across the United States,  whiskey is the American spelling. Whiskey is the favored spelling, even though Whisky is the legal spelling. Some distilleries prefer the Scottish variety. (Source: BBC Good Food)

Who Invented the Straw?

Equally relevant to the invention of the milkshake is the creation of the straw. The patent was recognized in 1937 by Joseph Friedman. He created the straw after he realized how difficult it was to drink a milkshake straight from the glass. (Source: Hamilton Beach Commercial)

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