McDonald’s has brought back its Grimace Shake to the UK after a successful summer introduction — but fans will have to move quickly as the cult drink will be available for a limited time.
The amazing mixture returns to McDonald’s Festive menu today (Wednesday, December 11) and will be available for only a fortnight or until supplies run out.
Medium and large sizes are available, and prices start at £2.69 and go up to £2.99.
So what’s all the fuss about?
Here’s what you need to know about the Grimace Shake.
What is the Grimace Shake?
The Grimace Shake is a limited-edition milkshake McDonald’s introduced to celebrate the birthday of Grimace, one of the fast-food chain’s renowned mascots.
Launched in the US in June 2023, the shake features a vibrant purple colour, reflecting Grimace’s signature look. It has a sweet, berry-like flavour, though McDonald’s has not disclosed the specific fruits used in the recipe.
The Grimace Shake is made by blending McDonald’s classic vanilla soft serve with a berry-flavoured syrup, creating a creamy and colourful treat.
After its initial success, the shake was launched in Canada, Australia, and the Philippines.
The Grimace Shake was also launched in the UK in August 2023. It became available in various McDonald’s locations, including London, Manchester, and Birmingham.
“Our fans have amazing childhood memories of their birthdays at McDonald’s… and Grimace’s birthday is all about paying homage to the amazing, fun moments we all share,” said Tariq Hassan, chief marketing and customer experience officer at McDonald’s USA in 2023.
“We’re excited to put a modern spin on these memories to continue to drive McDonald’s relevance with a new generation. Grimace is the perfect lovable icon to have McDonald’s meet our fans at the intersection of nostalgia and culture.”
What is the Grimace Shake TikTok trend?
The Grimace Shake TikTok trend emerged shortly after the shake was launched. The trend began with users creating humorous and often exaggerated videos that start innocently, with someone drinking the Grimace Shake, and then quickly turning dark or bizarre.
Typically, these videos follow a pattern: the person takes a sip of the purple shake, and the scene cuts to a dramatic or horror-like aftermath, where the person appears to have been “attacked” or overcome by the shake, often lying on the ground with the purple liquid splattered around them. The trend combines horror and comedy, with users employing creative effects, music, and scenarios to depict the shake as having sinister powers.
The trend went viral, with thousands of TikTok users participating. This led to a surge in the Grimace Shake’s popularity, making it one of the most memorable and talked-about McDonald’s promotions in recent years.
However, a TikTok video showed that some McDonald’s workers were not enamoured with the trend.
In the video, a customer asks if the drink had to be ordered as part of a meal. After being told they could be ordered alone, he asked for five. In response, the employee fell silent.
“The silence was so loud,” the on-screen text read. “McDonalds tired of this.”
McDonald’s responded to the trend on X (formerly Twitter) with a picture of Grimace with the caption: “Meee pretending i don’t see the grimace shake trend.”
