Looking for a way to entice more adults into the bar? How about offering ice cream sundaes? The idea may at first sound a little wacky, but it’s actually the latest hot trend in the world of deserts and and liquor.
In essence, the idea is that you take the foods and drinks that children–or an adult splurging and reliving his youth–would want and you make them all grown up.
The “Milkshake Program”
The idea started out in Brooklyn, NY where Laurent Tourondel came up with the concept for his BLT Burger Restaurants. He introduced the “milkshake program”. Now others are trying to copy his idea, with restaurants offering spiked ice cream to adult customers who wanted an update on a childhood favorite.
The idea in essence is to grab people and offer them their childhood memories packaged in a new, upscale, adult-oriented version. The foods and drinks aren’t hard core and no one is getting drunk off a Kahlua milkshake, but the concept has been getting rave reviews. More importantly, it’s also getting people in the door.
Stand Out with “Adult” Milkshakes!
In essence, the concept is just another way to differentiate yourself from the competition. When every corner restaurant and bar is serving liquor and Buffalo wings along with fried cheese sticks, you’ll do yourself (and your guests) a favor when you offer something that truly is different.
A Universal Concept
Of course the idea has not taken hold only in Brooklyn. Restaurants all over are now offering spiked milkshakes and coffee ice cream of the Irish variety. One favorite combination is ice cream combined with bourbon. In the words of master sommelier Fred Dexheimer, they just work “well together.”
Whether the concept would work for your establishment is of course a matter of judgment. For those looking for a new concept for a bar or restaurant which anyway caters primarily to an adult audience, the Butterscotch milk shake with real scotch may be just the thing.
Jim Balis' Blog 