Sonic’s New Drink Will Sound Familiar to Taco Bell Fans

Hey, Taco Bell, we’ve got to tell you something: We think you have a spy somewhere in your team, and they’re working for Sonic. Just a few days ago, Taco Bell held its annual Live Más Live event, during which it duly unveiled a cornucopia of new food and drinks releases (like its Mountain Dew Baja Midnight Zero Sugar). During the event, it also revealed that it was debuting a new Strawberry Horchata Refresca, due to be rolled out in its restaurants nationwide imminently. 

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And now? Sonic is…basically doing the same damn thing. The chain (which is admittedly very well-known for its iced drinks and milkshakes) has just dropped the news that it’s releasing a new Strawberry Horchata Cream Slush, which sounds pretty much identical to Taco Bell’s latest creation. Here’s what we know about the chain’s latest drink. 

Strawberry Horchatas Are In

Sonic’s new drink is a creamy, spicy affair that combines soft serve, Sonic’s trademark slush, real strawberries, and a horchata syrup infused with cinnamon. You can grab it in a 20-ounce size for $3.99, and from March 23, it’ll be available in its stores across the country (although those with the Sonic app will be able to try it the week before, providing that their local restaurant is ready to go with it). It’ll only be around for a limited time, so get your horchata fix before it’s gone for good. 

It all sounds very tasty to us – and pretty much identical to Taco Bell’s own Strawberry Horchata Refresca, which also features real strawberries and a creamy base, although it gets an extra boost from a swirl of strawberry syrup. Sonic’s drink seems to be distinguished by the use of its soft serve, which puts it slightly more on the dessert side of things, but we can’t imagine there’s too much between the two.

Who’s Copying Who?

Honestly, we were being facetious with the spy bit: We really don’t think that anyone’s copying anyone. Drinks like this take months, if not years, to develop, and unless there’s genuinely a mole at Taco Bell who’s been watching and waiting for this very moment, then it’s likely that this is just pure happenstance that jumps on people’s desire for horchata in any form. Plus, who knows? Maybe it was Taco Bell copying Sonic, and they just got in there with a splashier, buzzier release a touch early. 

Regardless, you now have two strawberry horchata drinks to choose from, coming to you in the very near future. We will, of course, need your take on which one’s the best, and as soon as we can try them ourselves, we’ll let you know what we think.