The Boozy Shake Shack Secret Menu Drink For Arnold Palmer Lovers
When looking for a place to eat these days it usually includes the process of everyone staring at their phones or huddled around a computer screen to scan over a menu. The menu is a first impression that a restaurant can give, so it seems counterintuitive to leave the best items for the "secret menu." Institutions like In-n-out Burger, do exactly that though, per Serious Eats. In fact, having items like a mustard grilled burger or ultimate animal-style fries as off-menu options seems to be a part of the chain's charm.
In-n-Out is far from the only chain keeping secrets from customers though. In fact, it seems to be a major part of owning a restaurant these days. Taste of Home reports that Wendy's, Starbucks, Panera Bread, Chick-Fil-A, and Burger King all have their own "secret" menu items for passionate fans to enjoy. The website Hack the Menu was even launched to help consumers navigate all these back-door ordering tricks.
Shake Shack has gotten in on the fun as well and even launched a secret "Game of Thrones"-themed menu, but you'll have to speak the in-universe language High Valyrian to order your Dracarys Burger. One item that doesn't require any language proficiencies to order though is a boozy twist on the Arnold Palmer known as the shandy.
What's a shandy?
SecretMenus claims that there's a lot to love on Shake Shack's secret menu. There's a quad-burger, protein-style "bunless" burger, and a Peanut Butter & Bacon Shackburger. Among these delicious offerings though, there's a boozy treat that sounds perfect for a summer day.
According to Guest of a Guest, one of the burger chain's best "secret menu" items is its shandy. A shandy is similar to half iced tea half lemonade Arnold Palmer in the sense that the iced tea is swapped out for something a little boozier — a half-and-half mix of lemonade and beer. Shake Shack says that it worked with Brooklyn Brewery to design its very own ShackMeister Ale. It supposedly has notes of "bready malt flavor" as well as a bright citrusy aroma. No doubt that pairs perfectly with a tall glass of lemonade on a hot day, or just to enjoy with your favorite Shackburger.
While this might seem like the ingenious invention of an Arnold Palmer fan, the shandy is actually a much older drink that dates back to 19th-century England.
History of the Shandy
The original shandy was known by a slightly different name. According to Merriam-Webster, the first version of the drink was known as the "shandygaff." Mark Dredge claims that the earliest remaining reference to a shandygaff dates back to England in the 19th century. In this reference, the drink bears explaining (meaning it was likely a novel invention), though the name itself is left as a mystery. The original drink differed slightly from the modern shandy though as it consisted of beer and ginger beer rather than lemonade. This was apparently a well-beloved drink of the Victorian Era, and Merriam-Webster notes that Charles Dickens once called it a great "alliance between beer and pop."
The shandygaff would eventually be shortened to shandy as time went on. The drink itself would change as well, and incorporate lemonade or other citrusy beverages into the mix as well, per Northern Brewer.
Now, you can find many spins on the shandy in bars and restaurants, and premade versions too like Twisted Tea to Arnold Palmer Spiked. If you're a Shake Shack fan and looking to top off your burger with something other than a brew, give its not-seo-secret shandy a go.