I’ve never really looked at a straw and thought that it needed to be reinvented, but here we are. McDonald’s announced this week that it has completely reinvented the drinking straw ahead of the launch of its annual Shamrock Shake special next month. The straw was developed by two engineering firms – yes McDonald’s actually paid engineers to build it – to create a perfect mint/chocolate ratio in its Chocolate Shamrock Shake.
“The Chocolate Shamrock Shake, one of four new seasonal McCafé beverages, has dual layers of delicious chocolate shake below Shamrock Shake,” McDonald’s explained. “The new recipe presented McDonald’s a unique challenge to reinvent the shake experience. To deliver the ideal flavor ratio of 50% chocolate and 50% mint in each sip, versus enjoying each flavor separately with a traditional straw, McDonald’s turned to highly-qualified engineering firms. JACE and NK Labs created the probably-more-revolutionary-than-actually-needed Suction Tube for Reverse Axial Withdrawal (the STRAW). The STRAW’s j-shape provides optimal flavor flow dynamics.”
How to get McDonald’s special new straw:
Suction Tube for Reverse Axial Withdrawal (STRAW). It’s either the most brilliant or the silliest thing I’ve ever heard of. The straw will make its debut soon, but McDonald’s said only 2,000 of them were made. That means it’ll only be available in “select participating restaurants” and only if you buy the chocolate Shamrock Shake.
Want a shot at getting one? Head to these locations at the right time:
Alabama 1208 6th Avenue, SE, Decatur, AL at 10:45 a.m.
California
8660 Sierra College Boulevard, Roseville, CA at 6:00 p.m.
410 Grand Ave, Arroyo Grande, CA at 12:00 p.m.
Georgia
101 South Westover, Albany, GA at 11:00 a.m.
1105 Northside Drive, Atlanta, GA at 3:00 p.m.
Idaho 1375 Broadway Ave. Boise, ID
Minnesota 2322 7th Street West, St. Paul, MN at 11:30 a.m.
New Jersey 326 S. Washington Ave. Bergenfield, NJ at 12:00 p.m.
New York
160 Broadway (Wall Street) New York, NY at 12:00 p.m.
1510 Deer Park Ave. North Babylon, NY
South Carolina 1533 Johnnie Dodds Blvd., Mount Pleasant, SC
Tennessee 4608 Hwy. 58, Chattanooga, TN at 9:05 a.m.
Texas
4439 Lemmon Ave., Dallas, TX at 12:00 p.m
1302 Westheimer, Houston, TX at 11:00 a.m.
4717 US Highway 83, Laredo, TX at 4:00p.m.
1610 South Padre Island Drive, Corpus Christi, TX at 4:00p.m.
4590 Southmost Road, Brownsville, TX at 4:00p.m.
Utah 3550 N. Digital Drive, Lehi, UT
Pennsylvania 80 Old Valley School Rd, Danville, PA at 5:00 a.m.
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