Updated on Jul. 29, 2024
Our editor can't get enough of this frozen drink maker from Drew Barrymore's kitchen line. Here's why we love this sleek and splurge-worthy blender.
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Nothing gets a party started like a refreshingly cold cocktail. However, rising restaurant prices means it’s not exactly budget-friendly to enjoy them all the time. If you’re anything like me, you’ve learned some at-home bartending skills that save a few dollars. Unfortunately, I love bar-quality frozen drinks best—and it turns out that those are trickier to tackle than a simple Tom Collins.
Margarita machines exist, but they’re often pricey and take up a ton of counter space. Plus, they always clash with my low-key kitchen decor. When Drew Barrymore added a line of frozen drink makers to the Beautiful by Drew Walmart line, I knew this was the house party game-changer I’d been dreaming of.
The Beautiful by Drew Slush Crush frozen drink maker is like a blender, but better. Like other appliances from the Beautiful by Drew line, the drink maker features a beautiful LED touchscreen display. Presets for frozen drinks, smoothies and snow cones round out this pretty drink maker.
Unlike a shaved ice machine, the drink maker automatically mixes drinks right inside the pitcher. It boasts a pour spout that makes it easy to serve daiquiris and margaritas. The no-drip design is the star of the show—a button on the front controls the spout, so it doesn’t leak when bumped.
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As you may have already gleaned, there’s a lot to love about the Beautiful by Drew Barrymore Slush Crush frozen drink maker. Here are some of our favorite things about it (and a few small pain points):
I am a shopping editor at Reader’s Digest, Family Handyman and Taste of Home as well as a former sales and deals editor. In my role I have researched, reviewed and tested hundreds of products including best water bottles, travel tumblers and Yeti’s cooler line.
Alexandra Mantella, Content Updates Editor at Taste of Home, updated and contributed research to this piece. She has over five years of experience in product testing, research and commerce writing. Previously, she served as a commerce content update editor at Bob Vila.
Sean Tirman, Content Updates Editor at Taste of Home, updated and contributed research to this piece. Sean has written shopping guides since 2016 and is a former associate editor at Gear Patrol.
Alcohol and sugar-free beverages don’t freeze, but you can still put them into your Slush Crush—just remember that they may not stay icy for as long as drinks without those ingredients. Also, we don’t recommend using the Slush Crush to make traditional smoothies, as they are too thick to flow out of the spout.
Clear liquors—like vodka, gin, white rum and blanco tequila—are some of the best options, as they’re not heavy on spices and other flavors, allowing your other ingredients, like fruit, to shine through. Darker, more robust liquors—like spiced rum, whiskey, etc.—tend to overpower other ingredients and will, therefore, overpower your other ingredients. Stick with the clearer liquors if you’re looking for bright, flavorful, summery drinks.
Yes, you can. This is a great way to make iced coffee slushies. Yum!
The closest comparison people are likely to make with the Beautiful by Drew Barrymore Slush Crush frozen drink maker is to traditional blenders—like those offered by Vitamix and Ninja. While they certainly share some similarities—like their overall form and appearance (a carafe atop a mechanized base) and some of their function (a spinning blade at the carafe’s base to blend cold ingredients), there are a few distinct differences.
For instance, the Slush Crush is designed for ice-based drinks, like slushies, snow cones and frozen cocktails. These drinks tend to be a bit thinner than those you might make in a Vitamix, e.g. fruit smoothies. The Slush Crush handles icy drinks like a champ and benefits from a spout at the carafe’s base, which makes pouring them exceptionally easy. However, thicker, fruit- and veggie-based smoothies are too thick to travel through that spout and can actually clog it up.
If you’re looking for a smoothie maker, the Slush Crush probably isn’t for you. But if you want to make daiquiris, frozen margaritas and other similar drinks, it excels.
Like me, other shoppers love the look and ease of this frozen drink maker. “I love this blender’s sleek design,” writes verified purchaser Danielle. “I would highly recommend this frozen drink maker for any occasion! It makes frozen drinks effortlessly!”
“Love this blender,” says verified reviewer Sizzi. “The features are great, easy to use and clean. It blends perfectly with its automatic cycling that stops, starts, pulses, and blends through its preset cycles. It’s lightweight and compact, which is another great feature.”
“This is definitely a must-have blender,” says Elaine in her verified five-star review. “You will not regret this blender. Your smoothies will come out perfect and slushy the way you love them, especially with the nozzle. This is top-notch kitchenware.”
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Like other Beautiful by Drew Barrymore kitchen items, the frozen drink machine is available at Walmart.com. It retails for around $90, which is about a third of the price of similar drink makers. Stop wasting money on drinks at the bar—this clever tropical blender brings the beach cabana home!
