This week, I decided to take advice from a friend and try Dunkin’s new Shamrock Macchiato. As we are well on our way to Spring, Dunkin’ has started to release their Spring menu items. In this list of new items, they describe the Shamrock Macchiato as follows:
“[The] new Shamrock Macchiato layers bold, smooth espresso atop rich and creamy Irish Creme flavor, with notes of sweet cream and vanilla that capture the unmistakable flavor profile of Irish whiskey. Featuring a bright green hue, this festive and seasonal drink captures the experience of spring with every sip.”
As described by Caitlyn Fitzpatrick in her blog post on these new items on the Best Products blog, these new bright-green Shamrock Macchiato ingredients blend together to achieve one overall purpose:
“Layers of espresso and Irish Creme flavor with notes of sweet cream and vanilla to mimic the flavor profile of Irish whiskey.”
While these descriptions hint at a wonderfully festive drink with a nice blend of flavors and a bonus festive green color to match the holiday, I don’t think the drink matched up to its praise and expectations.
The Shamrock Macchiato
First Impressions
When I pulled up the drive-through after being recommended to this drink by a friend, I was feeling both excited and skeptical. While this drink is advertised with its bright green color, I was wondering how well I would like it. Ever since I tried Starbucks’ Iced Brown Sugar Oatmilk Shaken Espresso last week, I’ve been hooked on its smooth taste, earthy undertones, and the energy it gives me for the hours of studying I have to do each day.
So, I took my weary first sip of the drink, and I almost spit it out. My friend talked about it so highly, but when the first sip hit my mouth I was extremely disappointed. Now that I’ve become accustomed to Starbucks’ smooth and natural flavors, this drink didn’t compare. If this drink is supposed to imitate the flavor of Irish whiskey, I’m sure it did great. For a macchiato? Not for me.
Review Breakdown
BITTERNESS: 3.0 – Very bitter with mint flavors that did not stand alone well for bitterness.
FLAVOR: 2.0 – Overall, I didn’t enjoy the flavor. If they were going for mimicking Irish Whiskey, they may have done to the good of a job of that, which deterred me away from it as having the expectations of my usual macchiatos.
SWEETNESS: 3.0 – Just as the drink was bitter, it also was not sweet whatsoever.
AFTERTASTE: 6.0 – The best part of the drink was when I was done. An okay aftertaste in comparison to the initial flavor.
BALANCE: 1.0 – Even for a macchiato, I did not think this drink was well balanced at all.
OVERALL DRINK RATING: 3.0
Final thoughts on the Shamrock Macchiato
As a person who drinks coffee not only for energy but largely to enjoy its flavor, this is not a drink I would personally purchase again. The espresso in pair with the Irish Creme flavor provided for no balance in the drink. If you like your coffee strong, even minty, this may be the drink for you. If you enjoy your coffee smooth in terms of drinkability and balanced, maybe try one of Dunkin’s signature iced coffees and customize it with your own flavor shots and swirls.
For me, this drink just didn’t make the weekly rotation. The flavors of this drink just simply don’t compare to Starbucks, as Dunkin’ and Starbucks Have Dramatically Different Interpretations of Spring. Click on that link for a more comprehensive breakdown by Lillian Stone on how these two franchises take on Spring flavors in two completely different ways.
Come back next week for a new brew, new review!
Next week, I will be reviewing Starbucks’ NEW Iced Toasted Vanilla Oatmilk Shaken Espresso. Expect a picture of this pretty drink in the foreground with NYC illuminating the background!
