The Boston Cooler, Explained - Tasting Table

"The Boston cooler has all the cultural markers of a regional specialty. For starters, the infamous soda shake boasts a distinct recipe and trademarked identity that's built directly on its historical ties to Detroit. Coupled with its legacy placement and celebrated status in Michigan culture, there's no denying that the Boston cooler is Detroit's signature ice cream soda shake. So, you may be asking yourself, what makes this ice cream float so special?"

"Well, let's get one thing straight: The Boston cooler isn't a float. Since the vanilla ice cream and ginger soda are blended together - not simply placed over top - Detroiters are quick to distinguish their signature soda shake from any old float. While soda fountain traditionalists might still say it's technically a type of float, albeit one with a unique preparation, the widely accepted distinction among Detroiters and food writers is that a Boston cooler's texture and experience comes from the blending."

The Boston cooler functions as a regional specialty centered in Detroit. The soda shake features a distinct recipe and a trademarked identity tied to Detroit's history. The drink blends vanilla ice cream with Vernors ginger soda, producing a smooth, creamy, milkshake-like consistency sipable through a straw. Detroiters distinguish the blended Boston cooler from a Vernors float, which features ginger soda poured over ice cream with separate textures. Vernors ginger ale dates to the late 1800s when a Detroit pharmacist created the distinctive ginger soda at a drugstore fountain. The Boston cooler maintains celebrated status in Michigan culture.

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