Tuesday, December 4, 2007
Jack in the Box latest to embrace “gingerbread” flavor with new holiday shake
They're also bringing back their Andes mint shake, with little bits of Andes mint throughout.
We are moving heavily into the season of new flavors and special limited editions and mint mint mint -- exciting even if the new product phenomenon is sinking into a dull contest between chains to see who can copy the other guy first.
Sonic and Jack in the Box are caught in a particularly excruciating duel. Two years ago, Sonic introduced Gingerbread Blast, a gingerbread-flavored shake (inspired, of course, by Starbucks who pioneered the gingerbread flavor just as they've pioneered nearly every one of these flavors). Meanwhile, last year, Jack in the Box introduced the Andes Mint shake, with little crunchy bits of Andes mints spread throughout.
For holidays 2007, Sonic has introduced the Holiday Mint Blast with little crunchy bits of Andes mints white chocolate bark. Meanwhile, Jack in the Box just this week introduced a gingerbread shake and, derivative though it may be, it is also x-l-ent. Those who might assume that "gingerbread" is just another word for "pumpkin pie" would be wrong in this instance; the JITB gingerbread shake is intensely gingerbready, with a spicy, toasty flavor and what surely feels like a bit of fine grit.
It would be nice to put up some factual data from a JITB press release and maybe a photo from JITB's Web site but, despite the fact that the gingerbread shake has been in stores since last week, there's no sign of it yet on JITB's Web site. Sigh, JITB's PR team has never been very sharp. They did have a JPEG of their new holiday antenna ball so that'll have to do.
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»Eating and drinking events in Dallas-Fort Worth December 10-16
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»Dallas-based Red Mango will start doing self-serve approach
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capteucalyptus, says:
Sounds reasonably yummy.
Anonymous
2 years agoLink to this comment | Suggest removal
cookiechef, says:
The mint blast at Sonic does not have Andes Mints in it. It has white chocolate bark. You might want to try the food before you write an article about it.
Anonymous
1 year, 11 months agoLink to this comment | Suggest removal
Teresa Gubbins, says:
cookiechef, many thanks for pointing out my mistake. and yes, you are exactly correct, i might want to try the food first before writing an article about it. sometimes i'm just so anxious to break the news of something important like a mint shake that i can't force myself to wait and try it first. i will try to improve that in 2008. i was looking for a new year's resolution. now i have one. yay!
Staff
1 year, 11 months agoLink to this comment | Suggest removal
Erin Rice, says:
Another important distinction: the Sonic mint shake tastes terrible.
Sincerely,
Disappointed-mint-lover in Dallas
Verified
1 year, 11 months agoLink to this comment | Suggest removal
LadyJustice, says:
WOW. Are you kidding me? A staff member should really have more professionalism or ability to deal with criticisms. It wasn't and isn't funny. It is condescending and sarcastic, not to mention rude to users. Grow Up!
Anonymous
1 year, 11 months agoLink to this comment | Suggest removal
CastleHills, says:
WOW. Are you kidding me, LadyJ? A reader of Peg News has got to have a better sense of humor than you evidently have. Thanks for playing, tho.
TG, I loved your response. Esp the one-word exclamation "yay!" which never fails to crack me up.
Anonymous
1 year, 11 months agoLink to this comment | Suggest removal
littlekinder, says:
Does anyone else dislike the Starbucks gingerbread flavor? Or just me? I usually love gingerbread, but the flavoring at Starbucks just seems pretty bitter. See, I tried the food first...
Anonymous
1 year, 11 months agoLink to this comment | Suggest removal
kirk, says:
Apparently, I dislike the Starbucks gingerbread flavor, which is a cynical substitute for pumpkin pie flavor. Damned staff members. Damned readers. Damned commenters. They should all stop posting here!!! Bah-humbug. $@!#$% holidays.
Anonymous
1 year, 11 months agoLink to this comment | Suggest removal
Teresa Gubbins, says:
why castle hills, thank you. (insert appreciative sniffle here.) probably the the most pathetic thing is that i was actually being kinda serious... i DO get all excited about dumb stuff like mint shakes and want to write about them right away. and cookiechef is not the only person who has scolded me for not trying food items before writing about them.
i welcome new users cookiechef and his (her?) friend LadyJustice and look forward to more of their sizzling comments. hotcha!
Staff
1 year, 11 months agoLink to this comment | Suggest removal
Teresa Gubbins, says:
littlekinder, i'm in total agreement with you (and KIRK) on the starbucks gingerbread flavor: bleh. but, being the relentless starbucks cheerleader, i do admire their ability to devise flavor combos beyond coffee+chocolate even if they don't always work. what's your opinion of the eggnog? - an also controversial flavor.
Staff
1 year, 11 months agoLink to this comment | Suggest removal
twisteddog, says:
Anonymous
1 year, 11 months agoLink to this comment | Suggest removal
littlekinder, says:
I haven't had the eggnog - but that's because I'm hopelessly hooked on the cinnamon dulce (available in sugar-free...woo hoo!). And the orange they had (maybe still do) was really yummy - I had a taster - but like I said, I'm hooked on the c-d....
I'll have to try the eggnog today when I face the shopping crowds.
Anonymous
1 year, 11 months agoLink to this comment | Suggest removal
Teresa Gubbins, says:
oh ok don't don't don't cuz i think it's awful. i wasn't defending it. i just wondered if you thought it was as awful as the gingerbread. (if i'm too late, i owe you $3.50) - altho i think our in-house Starbucks <a href="http://www.pegasusnews.com/contributor/alex-bentley/">veteran</a> may LIKE the eggnog. i forget.
Staff
1 year, 11 months agoLink to this comment | Suggest removal
Alex Bentley, says:
Well, I like pretty much anything eggnog-y, so I'm biased (the eggnog mini loaf is especially good). But we do sell a good amount of eggnog lattes, so it has to be pretty good, don't you think?
Staff
1 year, 11 months agoLink to this comment | Suggest removal
Teresa Gubbins, says:
well i am not a believer in the concept that because something sells a lot, it must be good. (see: "McDonald's") ... however, i do love that alex has the official 411. awesome
Staff
1 year, 11 months agoLink to this comment | Suggest removal
littlekinder, says:
Oh I'm so glad to get the warning - shopping crowds AND bad coffee... would just be too much. Sorry to Alex - and to whomever might be upset that I have chosen to label this flavor WITHOUT tasting it..
Anonymous
1 year, 11 months agoLink to this comment | Suggest removal