When I first saw that McDonald’s was taking a jab at Starbucks with its new dirty sodas and refreshers, I immediately knew that I had to be a nosy gal and see if they were worth it. You know what that means: a full-on taste test.
I am someone who loves a yummy beverage while I’m cooking dinner or running errands, but I’m also someone who thinks Starbucks, 7 Brew, Swig, Sonic, and everyone in between are overrated and a waste of money. Say it with me, folks: You can make it better and cheaper at home. Still, morbid curiosity led me to try McDonald’s new dirty sodas and refreshers to see if they cracked the code. Here’s how the Golden Arches fared.
1. Dirty Dr Pepper
This one was a loud and clear winner for me (and for what it’s worth, my husband and teenage son liked it best, too). Because I am better at writing than I am at photography, I didn’t beautifully capture the luscious cold foam that crowned this Dr Pepper and was part of what made it “dirty.” The other part was vanilla syrup, a just-right amount so the snap of the Dr Pepper was still present, but the complementary richness was there, too. This is the only one that I would buy again, but full disclosure: I bought ingredients to make these at home with zero-sugar Dr Pepper because I’m admittedly conscious of that.
2. Orange Dream
Listen, this one gave me a mini identity crisis. Before I took a sip, I admitted, “I know I’ll hate this one because I can’t stand orange float flavor.” Once upon a time, I even ranked Alani Nu energy drinks and carried on about my detest for orange creamsicle things.
So imagine my surprise when I thought this was actually good. I wouldn’t drink a whole one for fear my taste buds would revolt at some point, but if you’re someone who likes orange cream floats, this one is spot-on.
3. Mango Pineapple Refresher
The “moderately caffeinated” Mango Pineapple Refresher was decent. It was very mango-forward, and I couldn’t really discern any pineapple flavors. The boba was a fun touch, but it didn’t taste a thing like strawberry, which was unfortunate. The bones are good here, but the mango flavor overpowered everything, so it fell flat for me.
4. Sprite Berry Blast
The Sprite Berry Blast had a similar execution problem to the Mango Pineapple Refresher — the flavoring was overpowering. Artificial blue raspberry flavors overtook the Sprite, but the soda’s snappiness was still present — so points for that, at least. The cold foam was a nice touch and helped keep the drink from becoming overly tart.
5. Strawberry Watermelon Refresher
She’s drinkable, but boy, is she sour. The watermelon flavor comes off as artificial, almost like Sour Patch watermelons (which I love, but would rather chew than sip). Despite its vibrant hue, this one is apparently colored from the purees it’s made with, along with fruit and vegetable juice, which surprised me when looking at the ingredients. The strawberries floating around in the cup are a nice touch, but this one was just too tart to drink a lot of.
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6. Blackberry Passion Fruit Refresher
This one was a massive disappointment. I am a huge fan of all things passion fruit, but blackberry seems to be the most unlikely flavor companion for it. I was skeptical going in, and proven right coming out. This one turned out bitter, and it’s all blackberries’ fault (I do like blackberries, but not in this concoction, so don’t come for me). Apparently, if you want a more subdued flavor, you can order this with water instead of its lemonade base, but I’m not even convinced that trying the swap is worth it.
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