We Tried It: McDonald’s New Dirty Sodas

A twist on the viral “dirty soda” fad—a sugary, caffeinated concoction of pop, syrup and other sweet toppings—has officially launched at McDonald’s Canada. The new lineup of “crafted sodas,” which landed on the fast-food giant’s menu this week, fuse classic pop favourites with fruit-flavoured syrups and a cold foam topping. 

Would the ladies of The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives—a.k.a. the OG dirty soda lovers—approve of these drinks? Team Chatelaine got sipping to find out. Here’s what we thought. 

Creamy Strawberry Coke

This one sounds like a guaranteed hit: Coca-Cola topped with strawberry cream syrup. But, while undeniably sweet, the flavour leans too artificial: intense strawberry notes overpower the entire drink, muting that classic Coke flavour. It was the drink our team was most excited about—and unfortunately the one that didn’t quite live up to our expectations. 

Orange Dream

A mix of Sprite and orange cream syrup pairs together for a nostalgic creamsicle vibe. The flavour is there but the execution falls a little flat—literally. It tastes more watered-down than the electrifying fizz we’ve come to expect from a McDonald’s Sprite.

Sprite Berry Bliss

It’s the most eye-catching of the bunch, thanks to, as one tester put it, “its windshield-washer blue” colour. But the blue-raspberry flavour is surprisingly familiar, reminiscent of a melted convenience store slushie in the best way. Overall, this was our favourite of the three. 

Its Cold Foam Companion

Across all three drinks, the cold foam was our biggest sticking point. While it tastes identical to Cool Whip, the biggest turn off was its consistency. The foam fails to mix well into the soda and instead separates over time, giving the drinks a clumpy, less-than-appetizing texture and look.