McDonald’s Is Debuting Trendy New Drinks—But Are You Going to Love Them?

We’ve all pulled up to McDonald’s for a quick soda or ridiculously cheap (and honestly necessary) coffee at some point. On special occasions (like when we’re feeling the luck o’ the Irish), we’ve even indulged in a Shamrock Shake. Factor in those limited-time sips that disappear just when you start to like them, and there’s really no way to go thirsty at Mickey D’s. But what’s next for one of America’s most popular fast-food chains? Well, it’s pretty different than the restaurant’s usual drops.

McDonald’s is teasing a beverage lineup that’s refreshing and built around unexpected flavor combinations. And Gen Z and Gen Alpha fans, you’ll be happy to know the drinks were made with you in mind—think fun, out-of-the-box flavors and drinks made for sharing on TikTok and Instagram.

Want more details on what’s coming? Here’s the scoop on the new drinks hitting McDonald’s menus this spring and beyond.

Get Reader’s Digest’s Read Up newsletter for more McDonald’s news, cleaning, travel, tech and fun facts all week long.

What new drinks are coming to a McDonald’s near you?

McDonald’s is launching a handful of new drinks, including a range of “dirty sodas.” If you’re not familiar, a dirty soda is a popular Utah-based drink—basically a regular soda dressed up with extras, like cream, flavored syrups and citrus.

The expected dirty sodas include:

Dirty Dr Pepper: a mix of Dr Pepper and vanilla flavoring, topped with cold foam
Sprite Berry Blast: a blend of “Spicy Sprite” (aka Sprite with extra carbonation) and blue raspberry, finished with cold foam
Orange Dream: a twist on Hi-C Orange Lavaburst, with a hint of vanilla and cold foam

On the lighter side, there are also icy refreshers built around tropical and citrus flavors. The refreshers coming to the menu are:

Strawberry Watermelon Refresher: a fruity mix of strawberry and watermelon flavoring, with lemonade over ice
Mango Pineapple Refresher: a mix of mango and pineapple flavoring, with lemonade over ice
Blackberry Passion Fruit Refresher: a tart-sweet combo of blackberry and passion fruit, with lemonade over ice

Is this all that’s on the lineup?

Not even close. The refreshers and crafted sodas are just the first wave. McDonald’s is also planning to roll out energy drinks, including a Red Bull Dragonberry Energizer.

So why the big push into drinks right now? It comes down to how people are ordering. Customers aren’t just grabbing a soda and moving on—they want something that feels more in line with what they’d get at a specialty drink spot.

McDonald’s even tested the drinks in smaller pilots and through its CosMc’s concept … before shutting down CosMc’s and folding the best ideas into the main menu.

When can you get your hands on them?

The refreshers and crafted sodas will begin rolling out in May across the U.S., with more locations coming online through the summer. The Red Bull–based energizers, including the Dragonberry drink, are expected later in the year.

Prices have yet to be announced, but McDonald’s plans to compete with places like Starbucks, Sonic and Dutch Bros, just at a lower price point. As of now, Starbucks dominates with refreshers, cold foam drinks and layered iced drinks that typically land in the $5 to $7 and up range. Sonic has also built a following on dirty sodas, usually around $3 to $6, with Dutch Bros in a similar price bracket.

But wait—are they actually good?

Even though these drinks haven’t officially landed at McDonald’s yet, some people have already had a taste, thanks to CosMc’s. Based on past reviews, the reactions are … mixed.

TikTokker Alyssa Ryckman tried four of the CosMc’s drinks and had some mixed-but-into-it takes. She described the Popping Mango Refresher as “pretty good,” saying the mango flavor wasn’t overpowering and giving it a 7 out of 10. The Strawberry Watermelon refresher was her favorite, while the Sprite Berry Blast got a nod for its “blue raspberry” flavor.

One person compared the Strawberry Watermelon Refresher to Kool-Aid, saying it had a “heavier” feel than the ones at Starbucks. And another said the Sprite Berry Blast was “so sweet it made my eye twitch.” The TikTokker’s comparison? It’s like sipping melted blue raspberry Jolly Ranchers mixed with Sprite.

Despite those takes on CosMc’s concoctions, it’s worth giving the new drinks a try when they hit McDonald’s menu. Decide for yourself if they’re worth the hype.

Why trust us

At Reader’s Digest, we’re committed to producing high-quality content by writers with expertise and experience in their field in consultation with relevant, qualified experts. We rely on reputable primary sources, including government and professional organizations and academic institutions as well as our writers’ personal experiences where appropriate. We verify all facts and data, back them with credible sourcing and revisit them over time to ensure they remain accurate and up to date. Read more about our team, our contributors and our editorial policies.