McDonald's just got in on the dirty soda trend, and we are so here for it.
The Golden Arches is putting its spin on the dirty soda trend, and I have to say, I’m not mad about it. Dirty sodas were first popularized in Utah and have started to enter the mainstream this year. An original combo was Diet Coke, coconut syrup, creamer and lime juice, but they’ve since expanded into pretty much any combination your heart desires. And while they may not have been dirty sodas, the drinks once offered at CosMc’s included plenty of fresh takes on sodas, juices and refreshers. When McDonald’s announced that all the CosMc’s locations would be closing, the chain did confirm that some of the drinks would move to the McDonald’s menu itself.
I was sad to see the spinoff restaurants close, but happy to know the drinks would reappear at some point. The time has come, and there’s a new era at the McCafe. It’s kicking things off by dropping a new line of dirty sodas and refreshers.
What are the new McDonald’s dirty sodas and refreshers?
The biggest difference is that the dirty sodas have carbonation and are topped with cold foam, while refreshers focus more on fruit juices and extra fruit inclusions while still offering a caffeine boost.
- Dirty Dr Pepper: Takes your favorite Dr Pepper soda and layers vanilla and cold foam for a creamy finish
- Orange Dream: Uses Hi-C Orange Lavaburst as a base with a sprinkle of vanilla, all topped with cold foam
- Sprite Berry Blast: Combines the fan-favorite fountain Sprite with a bright blue raspberry syrup and tops it off with fluffy cold foam
- Blackberry Passion Fruit Refresher: Decadent blackberry and passion fruit flavors are mixed with lemonade and topped off with freeze-dried dragon fruit
- Mango Pineapple Refresher: Tropical mango and pineapple flavors melt together with lemonade and a sweet addition of strawberry popping boba
- Strawberry Watermelon Refresher: Strawberry and watermelon flavors are mixed and topped with freeze-dried strawberry
How do the McDonald’s dirty sodas taste?
Dirty Dr Pepper
Dr Pepper is objectively my favorite soda, and while I was a bit wary of the concoction at first, I was pleasantly surprised. The cold foam and vanilla combo adds a nice creaminess, like a Dr Pepper Cream Soda, with just a touch of sweetness. The mix-ins tamp down the iconic Dr Pepper spiciness without detracting from the overall flavor.
Orange Dream
This immediately became my favorite of the bunch. The orange, vanilla and cold foam melting together basically became a melted creamsicle. Orange-focused with a creamy finish, it honestly tasted like an ice cream truck dessert from childhood. It was the one I kept coming back to, even though I had other drinks to try.
Sprite Berry Blast
This one reminded me of the Sprite Moonsplash from CosMc’s. All you blue raspberry and McDonald’s Sprite lovers (guilty!) are going to go crazy for this one. It was like a Jolly Rancher with an ice cream finish, and it was definitely the prettiest of the lot with a bright blue hue that ran into a sky blue ombre. The blue raspberry was the star of the show, but the Sprite was a solid foundation for the berry flavor to stand out. This is ideal for a hot summer day.
How do the McDonald’s refreshers taste?
Blackberry Passion Fruit Refresher
The Blackberry Passion Fruit Refresher is the most subtle of all the drink flavors, although I personally love blackberry flavors quite a bit. The passion fruit added a slight punch at the end, but what delighted me the most was the sweetness of the dragon fruit inclusions. The overall color of the drink was a pleasing dark purple, and honestly, this would probably be incredible with a bit of cold foam.
Mango Pineapple Refresher
I had to mix this one up a little since all the popping boba fell to the bottom, but once I did, my goodness. It got tart! The pineapple took front and center for my drink with the mango following up in the aftertaste. I personally don’t love pineapple so this one wasn’t my favorite, but if you love a tropical cocktail by night, then you’ll love this refresher by day. The popping boba was a nice textural touch.
Strawberry Watermelon Refresher
This is the drink I’ll be pulling up to the drive-thru for on a scorching hot summer day. The strawberry flavor took the lead overall with a whisper of watermelon coming up behind. It mellowed the sweetness of the strawberry. The freeze-dried strawberries were a stellar edition. They’re just the right size and tasted incredible alongside the drink. Of the refreshers, this one had the most lemonade taste.
When are the McDonald’s dirty sodas available?
All three dirty sodas and three refreshers are on the menu now at participating McDonald’s locations. And in the best news ever: They’re here to stay! I know they’ll be a hit for summer, and I’m glad I won’t have to bid them farewell like so many other seasonal bevvies.
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