Emma Bellantoni, Campus Carrier staff writer

Berry College students know Cookout’s famous 40 different flavors of milkshakes that can be combined to make even more flavors. For someone like me who is lactose intolerant, nothing is scarier than the Carrier’s Editor-in-Chief Carson Bonner’s two lactose-filled months trying every flavor and ranking them. As a sweet treat connoisseur, my go-to place in Rome stems from a New Orleans tradition of combining fluffy snow with bold flavors: Pelican’s SnoBalls. 

I went to Pelican’s with my best friend, and she had a very different shake lineup than mine, so I invite you to all go and find your favorites. After trying 101 flavors of SnoBalls, these are how my top five choices stacked up. 

Although Pelican’s is lactose-intolerant friendly, it also offers stuffed Snoballs as well – a combination of snow and ice cream – but I will leave that to dairy enjoyers. With over 100 flavors to choose from, deciding on the best Pelican’s SnoBall flavor is no simple task. Armed with just a spoon and a sweet tooth, I set out to uncover my top five flavors. I ranked each flavor based on its taste and originality. From childhood classics to unexpected surprises, here is how they stacked up.

Coming in fifth place is Piña Colada. Piña colada has the perfect balance of tropical flavors. The nuttiness of the coconut blends harmoniously with the tanginess of the pineapple, creating a flavor that is both lavish and refreshing. It’s indulgently sweet without being saccharine. In fourth place is Spearmint. An unusual flavor for a dessert, but a pleasant surprise. Its crisp, cool taste offers a refreshing flavor that is slightly sweet with a mintiness that hints at earthy undertones. Unlike artificial mint, this flavor was not overly sharp or candy-like. The flavor is natural, of a spring morning’s dew coating the grass, offering a taste that refreshes without overwhelming it.

In third place is Skylite. Skylite is a candy-like flavor that is indicative of a nostalgic sweetness from childhood. The taste is not one single thing, but rather a blend of sugary berry undertones with a hit of blue raspberry, a mysterious, almost cotton-candy-like flavor. It is fun, light, and perfect for when you are looking to taste what being a child was like.
In second place is Butterscotch. The rich, buttery savory mix of caramelized brown sugar and notes of warm nostalgia takes me back to Hogwarts. The feeling of the sorting house placing me in Slytherin is washed down with a classic Butterbeer. The flavor is evocative of creamy toffee, your grandma’s caramel candies, and hints of vanilla. Though it is rich, the taste is that of comfort.

Taking the crown is Wild Strawberry. It is a vibrant burst of summer, delivering a sweet and tangy berry flavor that is fresh. Unlike regular strawberry flavoring, it tastes nonartificial. The wildness adds a layer of complexity to the flavor, making it less sugary and reflecting the authentic taste of the fruit plucked directly from the vine. It is bright and uplifting and perfect for any day.