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Beverage News

McDonald's unveils lineup of Refreshers, Crafted Sodas

New drink lineup available nationwide starting May 6

By Staff Beverage Industry
McDonalds Refreshers, Crafted Sodas
(Image courtesy of McDonald's USA)
April 28, 2026

McDonald's USA, Chicago, announced it is building on consumers’ special connection to iconic drinks like Sprite, Diet Coke and Hi-C Orange with the launch of six new specialty drinks — three new Refreshers and three crafted sodas coming to restaurants nationwide, beginning May 6.

The new drink lineup gives consumers what they've been craving:  think freeze-dried fruit inclusions, smooth, velvety cold foam and popping boba, the company says. These drinks will be part of McDonald's permanent offerings, it notes.

Strawberry Watermelon Refresher: Blends sweet strawberry and watermelon flavors with a lemonade base, plus freeze‑dried strawberries for an extra burst of flavor.

Mango Pineapple Refresher: Mixes tropical mango and pineapple flavors with a lemonade base and strawberry popping boba.

Blackberry Passion Fruit Refresher: Pairs blackberry and passion fruit flavors with lemonade alongside freeze‑dried dragon fruit for a touch of sweetness and a pop of color.

Sprite Berry Blast: Infuses Sprite with a sweet blue raspberry syrup, topped off with cold foam as the final touch.

Orange Dream: A twist on the fan-favorite Hi‑C Orange Lavaburst at McDonald's mixed with a hint of vanilla flavor and finished with cold foam.

Dirty Dr Pepper: Layers classic Dr Pepper flavor with a vanilla flavor and a cloud of cold foam.

“Our fans have an obsession with beverages— to them, drinks are more than just drinks. And soon, our beverages won't just be a reason you come to McDonald's, they'll be the reason,” said Alyssa Buetikofer, chief marketing and customer experience officer at  McDonald's USA, in a statement. “We've taken the time to get this right, introducing new drinks that are hand-crafted with bold flavors and quality ingredients our fans can taste in every sip. Only McDonald's can bring that kind of experience to life consistently across nearly 14,000 restaurants, every single day.”

Additionally, McDonald’s teamed up with designer Susan Alexandra to drop six limited-edition beaded drink carriers. To top it off, each carrier comes with a $10 McDonald's Arch Card so consumers can grab the drink that brings the whole moment together, the company says. Carriers will be available for purchase on SusanAlexandra.com starting May 6, while supplies last.


KEYWORDS: craft soda fruit flavors McDonald's new product development

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