The Shamrock Shake Is Back at McDonald’s

What is it about manufactured scarcity that makes fast food that much more delicious? Knowing we can only catch certain menu items in a narrow window of time builds both urgency and anticipation, and it turns a routine trip to the drive-thru into something resembling a mission. McDonald’s is the undisputed GOAT of such tactics, and one of its most elusive offerings has returned for a few weeks only: the Shamrock Shake. 

Starting today, the Shamrock Shake is back at McDonald’s nationwide for a limited time. Featuring a blend of vanilla soft serve, minty flavoring, and whipped topping, the shake returns to stores like clockwork each year in advance of St. Patrick’s Day. It first debuted at McDonald’s in 1970, and it’s now an annual offering that generates as much buzz as the periodic return of the McRib. 

This year, the reappearance of the shake is even more exciting than usual, however, because it brings with it the resurrection of a long-dormant bit of McDonald’s IP: Uncle O’Grimacey, the fuzzy green mascot who, according to McDonaldland lore, is the rarely seen uncle of the purple monster known as Grimace. The Irish spin on the character was first introduced in 1975 but “hasn’t been seen in decades,” according to press materials. 

The return of Uncle O’Grimacey is part of McDonald’s recent strategy to mine its vast archives for the most potent nostalgia, further endearing the brand to its fans (and hopefully getting lots of those fans through the door). Last year, the Collector’s Meal included a limited-edition cup printed with McDonald’s most popular Happy Meal toys, including Teenie Beanies, Barbie, and Hot Wheels. In 2023, the chain celebrated Grimace’s birthday month (June — he’s a Gemini) with a new limited-time-only purple shake and a line of retro Grimace merch. McDonald’s even named its entire spin-off concept, CosMc’s, after a lesser-known alien character featured in some ads from the ’80s. 

Given the success of these initiatives, it only makes sense that McDonald’s licensed Irish monster character would be virtually omnipresent for the next several weeks. O’Grimacey is described in McDonald’s press materials as “joyful,” “generous,” “iconic,” and, of course, “green.” A special line of O’Grimacey merch is now available for preorder on Golden Arches Unlimited, the official McDonald’s online store. 

From February 10 through March 23, $0.25 from each Shamrock Shake sold will be donated to Ronald McDonald House Charities, which, like Uncle O’Grimacey himself, is celebrating 50 years of existence. In honor of the monster and the charity’s dual anniversaries, McDonald’s has announced that O’Grimacey “is traveling coast to coast, spreading Shamrock cheer with fans everywhere.” While we don’t yet know what form those travels will take, it’s safe to assume that he’ll be making appearances to promote his signature shake. Fans had best keep their eyes peeled for a joyful, generous icon the next time they hit the drive-thru.