7-Eleven Made Hot Dog-Flavored Water as a Joke, but People Actually Want It

Ever walk by a hot dog stand and think to yourself, “Gosh, hot dogs are good and all, but what I really want is a big ol’ swig of that cloudy meat water from the metal bin”? Well, you’re not alone. On March 27, in suspiciously close proximity to April Fools’ Day, 7-Eleven announced that it was teaming up with Miracle Seltzer to release a canned sparkling water flavored to taste like a 7-Select Big Bite hot dog complete with ketchup and mustard. “Gone are the days of alternating bites of a hot dog with sips of a beverage,” a press release read. “Now those on the go can swap the bun for bubbles.” The same press release promised that more details would be revealed on April 1. And what was revealed on April 1? As you may have suspected, 7-Eleven Big Bite Hot Dog Sparkling Water was, in fact, an April Fools’ Day joke. But you could say the joke’s on 7-Eleven, because people really seem to want this fizzy hot dog water.

Wait. This whole 7-Eleven hot dog-flavored water thing really was a ruse?

Well, yes and no. In the updated press release posted yesterday, the brand admitted that it “created a limited supply of 7-Select Big Bite Hot Dog Sparkling Water as a joke.” So, if you saw an image of it on social media or caught a video of someone actually tasting it on TikTok or Instagram, that was real-deal hot dog-flavored water. But it was never widely available and it probably won’t be, although 7-Eleven’s social media manager commented on Instagram: “ngl, this flavor blew up even more than I thought. should we make more 👀 vote on our stories and lmk.” (The story was taken down early this morning, so if you didn’t vote, SORRY, you missed your chance.)

It’s become modern April Fools’ Day tradition that pretty much every company posts faux products on social media that people can laugh about and then move on with their lives (although I haven’t quite moved on from the Pringles sour cream and onion body wash from a couple years ago…I still want it). But actually creating a joke product? That’s a power move…and also a great way to make sure your April Fools’ shenanigans rise above the noise of all the other April Fools’ shenanigans.

As for whether this fizzy glizzy was good, one online reviewer said it has the “smokiness of a sausage and the toastiness of the bun,” which sounds great and all, except that this is bubbly water in a can and not a potato chip flavor or other savory snack. Remember the episode of Nathan for You where he attempts to invigorate business at a frozen yogurt shop by developing a poop-flavored yogurt? Similar situation here. Sometimes something sounds so gross and weird people just need to try it. Maybe that’s gross—or maybe that’s the beauty of human nature. Depends on your worldview!

Miracle Seltzer has been known to do strange flavor collabs in the past, like a pickle seltzer in honor of Rick and Morty. But for the time being you can enjoy their very regular flavors—Lemon Lime, Green Apple, Sweet Orange—at your local 7-Eleven, and even grab a non-liquid hot dog while you’re at it.