The Cosmopolitan’s Photogenic Treats. Credit: The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas
Few treats embody nostalgia quite like a milkshake. But as delicious as the classic chocolate, vanilla and strawberry options are, there’s always room for improvement with gravity-defying toppings, crazy flavor combinations and, of course, a little alcohol.
High-end hotels across the map are getting in on the over-the-top milkshake trend with their own unforgettable spiked drinks. These are a few of our favorites.
The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas
With 27 restaurants, including its own food hall, this luxurious Vegas property is no stranger to creative culinary offerings. So, it should come as no surprise that the high-rolling hotel is home to not one, but two venues serving up magnificent milkshakes with alcoholic enhancements.
Head for Christina Tosi’s Milk Bar for Fancy Shakes in tantalizing flavors like Cereal Milk White Russian (vodka, Kahlúa and Tosi’s signature cereal milk soft serve) or make your way to burger bar Holsteins to sip on semi-strong Bam-Boozled Shakes.
You’ll find classic combinations here, like chocolate and mint (Frozen Grasshopper) or peanut butter and banana (Drunken Monkey). But for a true taste of the Strip, order Knight Up. This tribute to the Vegas Golden Knights hockey team is made with Canadian whisky, stout beer glaze, golden grahams, gold-hued vanilla custard and crowned with gilded candies for an extra-sweet finish.
The Lodge at Turning Stone Resort Casino’s Decadent Options. Credit: Robert Mescavag
The Lodge at Turning Stone Resort Casino
One look at the mouthwatering menu of milkshakes at this Forbes Travel Guide Four-Star Upstate New York retreat and you’ll be tempted to make the four-hour jaunt from the Big Apple.
When you do, make a beeline for the property’s Upstate Tavern to savor a crave-worthy selection of spirited shakes, from the saccharine-packed Sugar Rush (cake-flavored vodka and vanilla ice cream piled high with a mini Funfetti cupcake, cotton candy and a pixie stick) to the slightly more sophisticated Bourbon Caramel (bourbon-spiked vanilla ice cream topped with a caramel popcorn ball and a vanilla wafer rim). These photogenic treats are certainly worth the caloric splurge.
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The Venetian Resort Las Vegas
This Four-Star Sin City stunner is home to an outpost of Instagram sensation Black Tap Craft Burgers & Beer. Creator of the Crazy Shake, this eatery has developed a cult-like following for its over-the-top concoctions with optional boozy kicks.
Elevated additions include Old Forester Bourbon in the peanut buttery Sweet n’ Salty or Grand Marnier in the fruity Bam Bam Shake. But the most surprising combination might be the twist of tequila in the colorful Cotton Candy strawberry milkshake — a grown-up spin on a childhood favorite.
The Ritz-Carlton, Kapalua’s Sun-Kissed Shakes. Credit: The Ritz-Carlton, Kapalua
The Ritz-Carlton, Kapalua
The only thing better than lazing the day away in front of a tri-level pool in Hawaiian paradise is sipping on an alcohol-fueled shake packed with island flavor — without sacrificing those ocean views, of course.
When you need a break from the Maui sun, head for this Four-Star resort’s toes-in-the-sand eatery, Burger Shack, to indulge whimsical treats with a sophisticated spin. For a boost of fruity flavor, try Welken’s Mai Tai Shake made with toasted coconut rum, housemade orange-pineapple jam and Tahitian vanilla ice cream. You also could opt for a sweet-and-salty combination of Jack Daniel’s and amaretto garnished with crispy bacon in the Shake, Rattle & Roll.
Chocolate-Covered Deliciousness at the Westin Cape Coral Resort at Marina Village. Credit: The Westin Cape Coral Resort at Marina Village
The Westin Cape Coral Resort at Marina Village
Pair your rejuvenating waterfront escape with an equally refreshing concoction at this coastal Florida getaway just outside of Fort Myers.
More ice cream float than milkshake, this minty triple threat is packed with scoops of vanilla, peppermint schnapps, mint candies and a sprig of the fresh herb. A drizzle of Godiva chocolate syrup makes this cool sipper even more decadent.
Work off that tipsy treat with scenic jog curated by Westin’s run concierge the next morning. Gratis group runs are available Tuesdays and Thursdays at 7 a.m.
The Grand Coral Strawberry Boozy Milkshake. Credit: Grand Hyatt Baha Mar
Grand Hyatt Baha Mar
There’s no better time to indulge than on vacation, and this Nassau resort offers a sky-high shake worthy of writing home about.
When your tropical sweet tooth calls, order a Grand Coral Strawberry Boozy Milkshake to indulge in a blend of locally distilled pineapple rum, vodka, vanilla ice cream, fresh berries and pineapple.
The dessert is capped with an outrageous assortment of sculpted chocolate fish and coral reef-shaped sugar glass, but the pièce de résistance is the gooey chocolate chip cookie garnish.
