Red Robin Introduces Wine Milkshake

Red Robin is now selling the Mango Moscato Wine Shake, a new milkshake made with wine, vodka, mango puree, and vanilla soft serve ice cream. Red Robin Gourmet Burgers, Inc. announced the shake in a press release last Tuesday, March 18th.

“The success of our uber popular O’Fest Beer Shake inspired me to develop another playful twist on an American classic that raises the bar on our beverage innovation and captures our guests’ imaginations,” said Donna Ruch, Red Robin’s master mixologist said in The Wall Street Journal press release. Ruch noted the popularity of Muscato wine over the past few years. Gary Stibel, CEO of New England Consulting Group, told USA Today that the new shake gives Red Robin media buzz.

It’s all about Red Robin “continuing to stay on the leading edge of fun trends,” chief marketing officer Denny Marie Post told USA Today. Red Robin was the first national restaurant chain to introduce beer shakes with its popular Sam Adams Milkshake, the O’Fest Beershake, two years ago.

Alcohol Justice’s executive director, Bruce Lee Livingston, expressed concern over these boozy shakes. “It’s alcohol on training wheels. It’s an attempt to get a younger market drinking.”

On the contrary, Red Robin lists the shakes in their adult-only section of the menu. The shake is not even served in a milkshake glass, but in a cocktail glass. As with any responsible restaurant, costumers must be 21 to buy the shakes and will be carded.

Post argues that “for a mom to enjoy a wine shake with a burger is reasonable — and fun. It won’t be one of our highest-selling item, but there will be people who love it.” Stibel added his personal opinion on the mango milkshakes: “These things are outrageously good.”

“They’re just trying to find ways to get people to consume more alcohol,” Livingston protested. “It’s about the money.” The O’Fest Beershake costs $5.29 and the new Mango Moscato Wine Shake costs $7.49.

Well, Red Robin isn’t giving away its burgers for free, either.

Red Robin is also adding two new premium burgers, The D.G.B. (Damn Great Burger), made with oven-roasted tomatoes, savory roasted garlic aioli and fresh arugula tossed in citrus olive oil dressing — and the Black & Bleu, a burger with sauteed, blackened Portobello mushrooms, grilled onions, house-made Bleu cheese sauce and Bleu cheese crumbles with Dijon sauce.

The wine milkshake and premium burger additions come just in time for the spring season, along with the Citrus Moscato Fizz, Red’s Tavern Fries, and the Chocolate Banana Chunk Bite-Tini.

Related Article: Red Robin Ad Makes Fun of Vegetarians

Written by Michelle Ristuccia.