I Tried Red Lobster’s New Cocktails—and Was Not Prepared for the Free Lobster Drink Shaker

Apparently, Red Lobster has been dropping new cocktails like it’s nobody’s business. I recently went there to try their newest cocktails, but was met with a menu filled with enticingly unfamiliar drinks like the Old Salt's Smoked Old Fashioned and Guava Chili Margarita. As tempting as those new additions were, I was there to try the sips featured during Lobsterfest. In total, there were three new drinks: The Lobstar, Shoreline Spritz and Dockside Sipper. I absolutely tried all of them and one drink reigned supreme (and it’s not even because of the freebie it came with). Read ahead to check out my review of the trio of new Lobsterfest cocktails!

Dockside Sipper and The Lobstar

Dockside Sipper ($12)

I took a swig of the Dockside Sipper before fully taking a look at the ingredients list. And if I did, I would have known what I was in for. It was wayyy too sweet. There exists no place in this realm where honey and grenadine should be used in the same cocktail. They’re just way too cloyingly sweet to be mixed together. In addition to honey and grenadine, the Dockside Sipper also included fresh lime and Casamigos Reposado. For me, more citrus and less sweeteners would have really elevated the taste of this cocktail.

The Lobstar ($15)

Meet my fave! Yes, it does come in an adorable take-home lobster cocktail shaker, but it really was the taste that won me over. If you haven’t had a margarita made with cognac, consider this your sign. It still tastes like a standard margarita, but the cognac adds a bit of warmth and just a touch of spice that you don’t get with tequila. The Lobstar, which is described as “a triple-citrus margarita,” was made with both Hennessy VS and Grand Marnier. I also love when you get a cocktail presented in a drink shaker, because you can easily get at least one-and-a-half to two cocktails out of it.

Shoreline Spritz

Shoreline Spritz ($12)

You can’t miss with the combination of St. Germain and Grey Goose. Add yourself some bubbles, and you’ve got a bougie beach party in a glass. I will say that the Shoreline Spritz is heavy on the St. Germain, so if you’re not an elderflower fan, you might want to consider something else. I thought the spritz was pretty light and refreshing—there’s also fresh citrus and mint—but maybe a little too “bright” for a January drink.

Lastly, I have to give an honorable mention to the Lobster Dip. It was a piping hot bowl of ooey-gooey, cheesy, lobster-y goodness. The dip was rich and flavorful, and I was shocked to see pretty sizable pieces of lobster on top and mixed throughout.

Lobsterfest is available for a limited time, so be sure to gather up your crew for a visit ASAP.