Even before the first snowfall or the notes of that infamous song take over the airwaves, restaurants drop their seasonal food menus. McDonald’s holiday beverages focus on sweet, tart flavors. These drinks are delightful morning, noon, and night.
When McDonald’s drops a new beverage, it is more than just another seasonal offering. Given its classic menu items, the offering needs to pair well with all the food offerings. People will always order that Big Mac or World Famous Fries. The specialty drinks need to be as good as or better than their favorite sipper.
Seasonal beverages need to capture a sentiment, not just take up space. Traditional flavors like eggnog, gingerbread, and even peppermint are always solid choices.
More recently, people want innovative, fun, and exciting. The old school favorites seem muted. Newer offerings like juicy, sweet, and tart cranberry feels fresh. Cookie butter satisfies with a twist. McDonald’s found a way to balance a hint of nostalgia with a twist.
What are McDonald’s Holiday Beverages?
Available in restaurants starting on November 3, the McDonald’s holiday beverage menu includes three special offerings. They are Frosted Cranberry Splash with Sprite, Red Bull Frosted Cranberry Energizer, and Cookie Butter Frappé, Latte and Iced Coffee.
While the sweet Cookie Butter coffees are both tasty as the first sip of the day or as a mid-afternoon treat, it is the Frosted Cranberry drinks that steal the spotlight. Cranberry sauce might be the polarizing dish on the Thanksgiving table, but it makes for a refreshing beverage flavor.
Both cranberry drinks continue the “dirty” or cold foam topped beverage trend. That layer allows people to customize their beverage. Whether they swirl, sip, or a combination of both, that layer ensures everyone has their drink as they choose.
The Frosted Cranberry with Sprite has a little orange note with the cranberry which highlights the citrus component. The lemon, lime, orange, and cranberry is not as sweet as fruit punch, but it has versatility. It is tart enough to cut through the richness of a Double Quarter Pounder or sweet enough to contrast a plate of fries.
While the drink has cranberry sprinkles, they are not necessary. It makes for a nice visual, but they can get in the way. No one needs to get sprinkle stuck in their straw.
The Red Bull drink is a great choice for long winter days that seem to drag on. Whether that caffeine boost helps people soar or just gives them just enough boost to smile through another round of shopping, it is the pick me up to make the day a little brighter.
Overall, McDonald’s was smart with its holiday beverage menu. Choosing a different path than other restaurants ensures that it stands out in a crowd. It is a serving of happy that everyone can appreciate.
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