Today, June 20, 2014, is National Vanilla Milkshake Day. A milkshake is a sweet, cold beverage which is usually made from milk, ice cream, or iced milk, and flavorings or sweeteners such as butterscotch, caramel sauce, chocolate sauce, or fruit syrup. When the term "milkshake" was first used in print in 1885, milkshakes were an alcoholic whiskey drink that has been described as a sturdy, healthful eggnog type of drink, with eggs, whiskey, etc., served as a tonic as well as a treat. By 1900, the term referred to "wholesome drinks made with chocolate, strawberry,or vanilla syrups." By the "early 1900s people were asking for the new treat, often with ice cream." By the 1930s, milkshakes were a popular drink at malt shops, which were the "typical soda fountain of the period.
