Mystic Drawbridge Ice Cream Serves True Homemade Flavors in Mystic Conn.

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Image of Mystic Drawbridge Ice Cream — Mystic Drawbridge Ice Cream (photo by Eric)

Many of us have visited ice cream places that say they serve homemade ice cream but if there’s any truth in advertising, these businesses might as well state they also serve homemade air.

Let me explain. Some so-called homemade ice cream contains, by volume, almost 50 percent air! So, as you can see, the claims of serving true homemade ice cream can be just a bunch of hot air!

I know only a few spots in New England that make sure to cut drastically the amount of air in ice cream — not to mention making, by hand, the flavors in small batches. One such place is Mystic Drawbridge Ice Cream in Mystic, Conn. and the results achieve legendary ice cream status, in our book.

We have found that flavors like lemon chocolate kiss, Vermont maple nut, pure vanilla, and black forest have incredibly rich textures and flavors that truly outperform most other ice cream spots we have visited. Yes, air whipped ice cream can often taste delicious, too, but there’s definitely a significant added kick to the ice cream at Mystic Drawbridge ice cream. The selection is impressive, too, with about 30 flavors including chocolate truffle, ginger, black raspberry, white pistachio, and chocolate mint Oreo. Also, Mystic Drawbridge offers sorbet and frozen yogurt, a good selection of shakes and sundaes as well as soda fountain selections like New York egg cream, ice cream sodas, floats and smoothies. In addition, Mystic Drawbridge serves some great coffee as well as specialty sandwiches, wraps, paninis, salads and baked goods. The atmosphere is quite pleasant, too, with its old-fashioned ice cream parlor look (no surprise, given, this location dates back to the 1800s) and a small dining area with tables. We all know, too, that ice cream is a great cheap travel treat, perhaps validating why Mystic Drawbridge Ice Cream is one of the busiest places in town. I have seen lines virtually going out the door.

What really puts Mystic Drawbridge over the top is its ideal location, downtown, right on the Mystic River and next to the mammoth, fascinating Mystic Drawbridge (now you know where the name comes from!). What a wonderful feeling on a nice summer day sitting on the narrow side porch and enjoying the sights and sounds of a classic seaport village. The location also benefits the traveler with a downtown that features a wonderful mix of locally-owned shops and restaurants, as well as being in walking distance to Mystic Seaport — a famous living history museum consisting of a village, ships and 17 acres of exhibits depicting coastal life in New England in the 19th century.

Sometimes, a great travel destination can make a local ice cream place seem better than it really is, but that’s certainly not the case with Mystic Drawbridge Ice Cream. In its own way, Mystic Drawbridge Ice cream is as rich in flavor as the village itself!

Mystic Drawbridge Ice Cream is located at 2 West Main St. in Mystic CT. Tel. (860) 572-7978

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