Forget Starbucks: McDonald’s Just Announced Their Own Fall Drinks

Change is in the air. The weather is changing. Some of the leaves (like, seven) are already changing color. Even fast food restaurants (like Burger King) are changing. 

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Except this year, for the first time ever, at the vortex of this fast food megachange? No, not Starbucks. McD’s. That’s right―McDonald’s may have just stolen the fall spotlight from Starbucks, which has had the seasonal transition on public attention lockdown for the past billion years, all by announcing the return of the PSL (not to mention some rage-inducing merch). But based on McDonald’s own recent announcement―a revamp to the way it does business, including a new fall drinks menu―the mermaid is about to get taken to clown town. Which is a phrase I just made up. And yes, you can use it. 

Caramel, Dragon Fruit, Cold Foam… Sound Familiar?

It isn’t just fall, of course―McD’s is leaning into the whole beverage category, clearly (like, embarrassingly clearly) taking a page from a certain mermaid-themed competitor with IG-friendly-AF “refresher beverages” that can, per one restaurant analyst, include stuff like “lemonade, […] carbonated water, and then some customizable level of caffeine.” We’re assuming they’re gonna flesh this recipe out, right? All you need to know: Red Bull is coming to McDonald’s.

Beyond the Red Bull x McDonald’s “Dragonberry Energizer” of it all (hmmmm which other mega fast casual chain exploits the magic of dragon fruit?….), Mcrumor has it that by mid-to-late August, you might find ultra-autumnal “Caramel Apple Pie” style drinks, complete with caramel apple syrup, obligatory salted caramel topping (whipped cream, they say), and crumbled apple pie pieces on top. Any location that carries creamy dreamy Dirty Dr. Pepper should soon have the Diet dirty soda step-sister. Every location should feature the new “Vanilla Swirl Coca-Cola and Diet Coke” drinks, which include vanilla flavoring and cold foam―shoot, who else does that again?

We’ll Soon Find Out

Nothing has been confirmed by the Golden Arches Gang (nobody calls it that) beyond the Red Bull partnership, but based on the Q2 call and major moves up top, it really sounds like your local McDonald’s is going to try to out-autumn your local Starbucks. Starbucks can probably take the competition and it’s not like they’re the only chain with Refresher-style drinks on the menu. The real questions is whether or not the new McD’s drinks will actually hold up to our standards.

Either way, we’re sure to find out soon. The hints at a fall beverage lineup suggested a release in mid-to-late August.