McDonald’s Rolls Out Six New Specialty Drinks Nationwide, Including Dirty Dr Pepper

McDonald’s added six new specialty drinks to its menu at nearly 14,000 restaurants nationwide starting in May, including a Dirty Dr Pepper that combines Dr Pepper with vanilla flavor and cold foam. com reported. The Food Institute reports menu penetration for dirty sodas is 2% but growing at 42%.

Dirty soda has been around for years in Utah, where independent soda shops built a loyal local following around the build-your-own drink format. Chains like Swig turned the build-your-own drink concept into a drive-thru business and expanded beyond the western United States. The concept is simple.

You take a carbonated soda, add a flavored syrup or creamer and maybe toss in a mix-in like candied fruit or boba. The result is something sweeter and creamier than a standard soda, closer to a dessert drink than anything that comes out of a fountain. Dirty soda works particularly well as a summer drink.

The drinks are cold and built to order, which makes them feel more like an experience than a purchase. Their layered colors and toppings also make them highly shareable on social media. The drinks are nonalcoholic, which makes them a natural fit for summer daytime gatherings and outdoor events.

For anyone hosting a backyard cookout or pool day, a dirty soda bar is an easy, crowd-pleasing addition that appeals to teenagers and adults alike. The growth has also attracted major beverage brands.