Aw Fudge I Crushed My Nuts scoops Best Milkshake

Image caption:  The Espy Café owner Duncan Wood and Milkshake Judge Deanna Yang with the winning milkshake Aw Fudge I Crushed My Nuts.

It’s official! One of New Zealand’s favourite summer destinations is officially home to the country’s favourite milkshake. Espy Café in Whitianga has taken out the top spot in Anchor’s inaugural hunt to find New Zealand’s Best Milkshake.

Four regional winners were found by popular vote with thousands of Kiwis choosing Espy Café, Snacks & Scoops of Avondale, Scott Drive 4 Square of Flaxmere and Halswell Dairy in Christchurch. A massive 320 dairies, ice cream parlours and corner stores from up and down the country put their Anchor milk-based creations forward.

The winning shake, Aw Fudge I Crushed My Nuts, was then chosen by Milkshake connoisseur and national judge Deanna Yang of Moustache Milk Bar fame. Deanna said the milkshake scored strongly across the judging criteria of uniqueness, taste, texture and aesthetic appeal.

“Espy Café came up with a delicious, unique and beautiful looking shake. Boasting fresh Anchor milk, home-made fudge, salted caramel ice cream, streaks of chocolate sauce and topped with cream and crushed nuts, it has everything you want in a shake,” says Deanna.
Espy’s winning creation Aw Fudge I Crushed My Nuts was a team effort. Husband and wife team, Duncan and Bev Wood, along with their ice cream parlour manager Ayesha McQueen put their heads together to combine salted caramel and cashew ice cream, with hazelnut and chocolate syrup, with Anchor milk.

Duncan says the team are “over the moon” with the win.

“It was Bev’s idea to add her home-made fudge which really brought the recipe together. The sweet caramel and nutty flavour was an instant hit,” he says.

“We knew we were onto a good thing when the most common immediate reaction from both locals and visitors was ‘OMG!’”

Equally ecstatic are local Anchor milk franchisee owners Noel and Sheryl Humphris. “The Espy café has only been open 5 months, getting a national title under their belt in that time is a fitting reward for the hard work and enthusiasm Duncan and Bev have put in their Café, we couldn’t be happier for them” says Sheryl.

The competition was run by Anchor from 1 December 2014 – 28 February 2015, with popular vote electing the four regional winners*, followed by Deanna Yang travelling to and judging the top milkshake in each region to name the national winner.