Making milkshakes the old retro way

When I was a young boy growing up in a small town on Maui. Every Friday afternoon, after football practice. I would visit the local hamburger joint. I would order my usual, a cheese burger, and a large chocolate shake. I enjoyed watching the waiter make my shake; couple scoops vanilla ice cream, pour in some fresh milk, and a heaping amount of Hersey chocolate syrup. He would then it bring over to a weird looking blender, and with just the right touch, and timing. The waiter created a delicious frosty chocolate shake, those were the days.

Over the years I have tried to make milkshakes using a blender. But something about the shape of the impeller just blended the mixture too well, and I could never recreate the frothy, creamy thickness. Instead of milkshake I would get ice cold chocolate milk.

Then one day I was browsing through Macy's kitchenware section, when I discovered an appliance I thought was extinct. It was the Hamilton Beach 727W DrinkMaster Classic Mixer. I have to admit when it comes to appliances for the kitchen, I am a freak for the latest invention, and I was soon leaving Macy's with my new mixer.

The Hamilton Beach Drinkmaster comes in three colors: Chrome, White, and the familiar retro Green. Unfortunately the store only had them in white. Now that we are in the 21st century, this mixer is not regulated to just making milkshakes or malted shakes. But for you health nuts, it can make one pretty good yogurt fruit smoothie, along with blending eggs to make wicked omelets, and churning out creamy pudding. It has a strong 70-watt motor so it can handle any mixture you throw into the 28-ounce stainless steel cup, which by the way is dishwasher safe. The motor has two speeds: Low and High. If you are going to make a protein shake, with some mix, and ice. This blender is not designed to chop ice cubes.

So there I was in the kitchen with all the necessary ingredients to make a chocolate shake. Be advised with a small 28-ounce cup, it is best to add the ingredients according to the stamped lines on the side of the cup. I found out the hard way, and had myself a mess the first time out. I discovered making shakes required practice; with one hand on the speed switch, and the other steady with the cup I began mixing. I always had the impression that the on/off switch was part of that clip for the cup? Anyway I wish Hamilton included a taller mixing cup, because the stumpy 28-ounce cup did not give me enough blending room as I kept smacking the bottom of the cup, and who ever heard of making a small chocolate shakes? Clean up was easy; pull down on the blender shaft, and wipe down the blender with a damp cloth.

It was fun making shakes with the kids, which I believe is what Hamilton may have set out to do when they introduced this appliance. To allow parents who grew up in the era of burger joints, or ice cream parlors to share with their children the fun in making these frosty treats.

So if you are giving your kitchen a retro look, the Hamilton Drinkmaster is a must have appliance. I would recommend getting the blender in the green color. Overall I would recommend this blender to those who enjoy milkshakes. I think I will blend me up a Kahlua brandy Chocolate shake, how use to do back in my college days.