EPCOT's Controversial Pickle Milkshake is on My Mind

It's been a week since I first tasted the pickle-flavored milkshake, and its dill-infused flavor still lingers in my thoughts. When I next visit EPCOT for the Food and Wine Festival, I’m certain I’ll be getting it again—after all, a milkshake this unique is definitely ‘a big dill’!

New this year at EPCOT’s Food and Wine Festival (running until November 18), the pickle milkshake is available at the Brew-Wing Lab at the Odyssey, a muppet-themed spot featuring Dr. Bunsen Honeydew and Beaker. Besides this intriguing milkshake, the lab serves up spicy wings, peanut butter and jelly chicken wings, and delicious plant-based Buffalo tenders. Oh, and the Buffalo Brussels sprouts? They pair surprisingly well with a green milkshake.

So, What’s the Taste of a Pickle Milkshake Like?

The true standout at the Brew-Wing Lab, beyond its air conditioning and cozy seating, is the pickle milkshake. This savory-sweet creation is bright green, topped with whipped cream, fresh dill, and chocolate sprinkles meant to resemble pickling spices. I was skeptical at first, but once I saw the cute pickle jar it came in, I couldn’t resist giving it a try.

I’m a huge pickle lover, so I was curious how the tartness of a dill pickle would mix with the creamy sweetness of ice cream. I decided to give it a try, and the results were surprisingly refreshing. The first sip brings a burst of fresh dill, followed by the rich sweetness of a vanilla milkshake, and it finishes with a subtle pickle tang. I’d describe it more as a dill milkshake than a pickle one, thanks to the herb-forward taste from both the dill and the fresh dill topping. However, my husband felt it had more of a pickle brine kick at the end.

Could the Pickle Milkshake be the Most Controversial Item at the 2023 Food and Wine Festival?

My husband and I weren’t the only ones with differing opinions on the pickle milkshake’s taste. Social media, particularly Twitter, has been buzzing with passionate reactions about its flavor profile.

One Twitter user summed it up perfectly: 'IDK why, but the pickle milkshake absolutely slaps.'

Some fans are calling it 'thirst-quenching' and even crave-worthy. One person tweeted, 'It’s been two days and I’m already craving another pickle milkshake.'

Not everyone was impressed, though. One festival-goer shared, 'I tried the pickle milkshake, and honestly, it doesn’t even taste like pickle.'

For those who haven't made it to the festival yet, some are eager to try it. One Disney fan tweeted, 'Am I scared of the pickle milkshake? Yes. But will it be the first thing I grab when I get to EPCOT Food and Wine? Also yes.'

Others remain uncertain. 'I’m not the biggest pickle fan, but I love milkshakes,' one user tweeted. 'So I think I’ll tolerate it, but probably won’t love it.'

As the pickle milkshake debate continues to brew throughout the festival, households are finding themselves divided. 'There are two types of people,' reads one post, showing the contrasting reactions of two taste testers after taking a sip. 'Those who love pickle milkshakes, and those who absolutely despise them. Guess which one we are.' Perhaps they’d have better luck with a pickle margarita or a bowl of pickle soup instead.