McDonald’s Dirty Sodas

McDonald’s is adding refreshers and “crafted sodas” to U.S. menus in May, expanding a drinks push it has been testing since 2025. (cbsnews.com) McDonald’s told CBS News the new beverages will start appearing next month, and the company said energy drinks are planned for later in 2026. Restaurant Business reported the rollout begins in May and said a Red Bull-based drink is expected later this year. (cbsnews.com, nrn.com) One reported drink in the lineup is a Dirty Dr Pepper, and another is a Mango Pineapple Refresher. Those items were first described in reports citing people familiar with the launch, while McDonald’s has so far confirmed the categories rather than a full national menu. (restaurantdive.com, cbsnews.com) A dirty soda is usually a fountain soda mixed with flavored syrup, cream, or foam. McDonald’s has not published full ingredient lists for the national launch, but Newser, citing earlier reporting, described one version as a soda with added syrup and foam. (newser.com, cbsnews.com) The company has been building toward this move since July 24, 2025, when it said more than 500 restaurants in Wisconsin, Colorado, and nearby areas would test cold coffees, refreshers, crafted sodas, and energy-style drinks. McDonald’s said at the time it was using lessons from CosMc’s, its beverage-focused spinoff. (corporate.mcdonalds.com) McDonald’s closed its standalone CosMc’s locations in 2025, but said the test had produced ideas it could bring into regular restaurants. CBS News and other outlets tied the May rollout directly to that shift from a separate chain to the core McDonald’s menu. (cbsnews.com, cbsnews.com) McDonald’s executives have framed beverages as a major growth category. In its July 2025 test announcement, U.S. marketing chief Alyssa Buetikofer said the company was seeing momentum in cold, flavorful drinks, “especially” with Gen Z customers. (corporate.mcdonalds.com) The company has also told investors the drinks are bringing in extra visits and bigger tickets. Restaurant Business reported Jill McDonald, McDonald’s global chief restaurant experience officer, said in February that the beverage test drove “incremental occasions” across snack, dinner, and evening dayparts and lifted average checks. (restaurantbusinessonline.com, inc.com) McDonald’s is entering a crowded market. Restaurant Dive said Taco Bell, Whataburger, Panera, Starbucks, and Sonic have all expanded refreshers or similar drinks, while Restaurant Business pointed to fast-growing beverage chains including 7 Brew, Dutch Bros, and Swig. (restaurantdive.com, restaurantbusinessonline.com) For now, McDonald’s has confirmed the nationwide May rollout but not the full final menu, prices, or exact launch date by market. The company’s next step is turning a 500-store test into a chainwide drinks business inside its existing restaurants. (cbsnews.com, corporate.mcdonalds.com)