The McDonald's Grimace Shake Is Back—And It's Better Than You Remember

I’ll admit it: I was a skeptic. When McDonald’s announced last week that the Grimace Shake was returning for a limited time starting June 1, I rolled my eyes. The 2023 version was a marketing gimmick—a weird purple drink that tasted like bubblegum and spawned a thousand TikTok memes. But then I saw the press release: this year’s shake is made with “real strawberry puree” and a new vanilla soft serve base. I decided to give it another shot. I pulled into the drive-thru on Thursday, ordered a medium, and took a sip. And you know what? It’s genuinely good.

The Flavor Upgrade Is Real

The 2023 Grimace Shake was essentially a sugar bomb with artificial berry flavoring. This year, McDonald’s has swapped out the syrup for real strawberry puree, and the difference is night and day. The shake has a subtle tartness that cuts through the sweetness, and the texture is smoother—less icy, more creamy. I took a second sip, then a third. By the time I finished, I was actually impressed. It reminded me of the strawberry shakes from In-N-Out, but with a whimsical purple color that makes it Instagram-ready. The vanilla base is the same as the regular shake, but the strawberry flavor is more present. It’s not a masterpiece, but it’s a solid fast-food shake.

The Cult of Grimace

But the real story here isn’t the shake itself—it’s the phenomenon around it. Grimace, that awkward purple blob from the 1970s, has become an unlikely internet icon. The 2023 shake launched a trend where people filmed themselves taking a sip and then pretended to collapse, as if the shake had knocked them out. It was absurd, but it went viral. This year, McDonald’s is leaning into the meme. They’ve released a limited-edition “Grimace’s Birthday” meal, complete with a purple box and a toy. The marketing is genius: they’re selling nostalgia and absurdity in a cup. And it’s working. According to a report from Bloomberg on Wednesday, McDonald’s saw a 15% spike in traffic during the first three days of the promotion. People are buying the shake just for the content.

Is It Worth the Calories?

A medium Grimace Shake has 530 calories, which is about the same as a Big Mac. That’s a lot of sugar—68 grams, to be exact. But if you’re going to indulge, this is a better choice than the Oreo McFlurry, which has 510 calories and tastes like processed nothing. The Grimace Shake at least has real fruit. I wouldn’t drink one every day, but as a treat? Absolutely. The flavor is nostalgic, but updated. It’s like the McDonald’s of your childhood, but if your childhood had artisanal ingredients.

The Limited-Time Hype

Here’s my only complaint: the shake is only available until July 15, which feels too short. McDonald’s is clearly banking on scarcity to drive demand, and it’s working. I’ve already seen people on Twitter buying six at a time and freezing them. But that’s the nature of fast-food promotions—they’re designed to create urgency. If you’re curious, try it now. Don’t wait. The purple milkshake of your dreams might not be around next month.

Final Verdict: Better Than It Has Any Right to Be

The Grimace Shake isn’t going to change your life. It’s a milkshake from McDonald’s. But it’s a surprisingly good one, with a flavor that’s genuinely enjoyable and a backstory that’s pure internet gold. I went back yesterday for another one. No regrets. If you’re looking for a fun, nostalgic treat that won’t break the bank, this is it. Just don’t film yourself collapsing—that’s already been done.