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Nation's Restaurant News
The year in beverages: Notable thirst-quenchers in 2021
Bret Thorn Dec 22, 2021

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First Watch

Purple Haze: A beverage of lemon juice, sugar, butterfly pea flower tea and lavender, price varies by location

Introduced in January for the winter

Starbucks

Honey Almondmilk Cold Brew: Cold Brew coffee with honey topped with almond milk, $4.15-$4.75 for a Grande

Pistachio Latte: Espresso and steamed milk with pistachio and salted brown butter flavors, first introduced at Starbucks Reserve Roasteries in 2019, $5.25-$5.75 for a Grande

Introduced in January while supplies lasted

Chevys Fresh Mex

Rosé-A-Rita: Olmeca Altos Reposado Tequila, Cupcake Rosé wine, lemon juice and agave syrup, around $12.50

Availability: February-May

Jamba

Electric Berry Lemonade: A smoothie of blue spirulina, lemonade, strawberries, grape pear berry juice blend, fat free vanilla frozen yogurt, raspberry sherbet and peaches, $5.29 for a small, $5.89 for a medium and $6.29 for a large

Availability: An unspecified limited time starting in March

Starbucks

Oat milk: Oatley brand oat milk now available as a dairy alternative across the country at no extra charge

Iced Brown Sugar Oatmilk Shaken Espresso: Blonde (lighter roast) espresso shaken with brown sugar and cinnamon topped with oat milk and ice, $5.45-$5.95 for a Grande size

Iced Chocolate Almondmilk Shaken Espresso: Blonde espresso shaken with cocoa and malt flavor topped with almond milk and ice, $5.45-$5.95 for a Grande size

Availability: Permanent

Peet’s Coffee

Mint Matcha Blended Iced Beverage: Matcha green tea, peppermint and milk blended with crushed ice and topped with whipped cream, $5.70-$6.10 for a medium

Availability: Through March 24

Del Taco

Lemonade Poppers: Minute Maid ZeroSugar Lemonade with blueberry or peach flavored popping pearls over ice, around $1.49 for 16 ounces and $2.29 for 24 ounces

Mini Shake Poppers: 10-ounce milkshakes with blueberry or peach popping pearls, around $1.59

Availability: Launched as a limited-time offer in March

Shake Shack

Strawberry Rhubarb Shake: Strawberry and rhubarb spun with frozen vanilla custard, topped with whipped cream and shortbread streusel, $5.99

Chocolate Pudding Shake: Chocolate pudding spun with chocolate frozen custard and topped with whipped cream, fudge graham cookies and cocoa nibs, $5.99

Availability: April-May

Dunkin’

Coconut Milk: A new dairy substitute available at a recommended 50-cent premium for espresso beverages and free of charge for other beverages

Coconut Refreshers: Coconut milk flavored with choice of strawberry-dragon fruit, peach-passion fruit or blueberry pomegranate flavor concentrates, $3 for a medium through May 25, then around $2.99 for a small, $3.29 for a medium and $3.59 for a large

Coconutmilk Iced Latte: Espresso and steamed coconut milk over ice, around $4.09 for a small, $4.49 for a medium and $4.89 for a large

Availability: Permanent, starring in late April

Hard Rock Cafe

“Momosa” Bar: A bottle of Rionda Prosecco served with a flight of passion fruit, orange, berry-cranberry and pineapple-guava juices, $39.95

Availability: At participating locations in North America May 6-9

Which Wich

MTN DEW Vibe: MTN Dew with lemonade, available exclusively at Which Wich fountains, $1.75-$3 for 32 ounces

Availability: Permanent, introduced in June

Dunkin’

Popping Bubbles: Sweetened, strawberry flavored balls that burst in the mouth, similar to the “bubbles” in boba tea but more delicate, that can be added to any iced or frozen drink for around 70 cents

Availability: Launched June 23 at participating locations

Piada Italian Street Food

Honey Melon Acqua Fresca: A drink of honey from farms near markets where Piada operates mixed with cantaloupe, lime and water, $2.99 of which 10% is donated to LGBTQ support organization GLSEN 

Availability: Starting in June for unspecified limited time

Studio Movie Grill

Cucumber Smash: Aviation Gin, St. Germain Elderflower Liqueur, simple syrup, soda water and a cucumber garnish, offered in connection with Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard starring Ryan Reynolds, who owns Aviation Gin, $10

Availability: Through June 30

Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen

Lemonade: Regular and strawberry lemonade available iced or frozen, around $2.59

Availability: Permanent starting in June

More details available here

Shake Shack

Lime Agave Margarita Summerade: A non-alcoholic beverage of lime juice, agave syrup, orange, jalapeño pepper, smoked salt and cane sugar, starting at $3.29

Piña Punch Summerade: A non-alcoholic beverage of blackberry and caramelized pineapple with lemon juice, orange juice and agave syrup, starting at $3.29

Watermelon Mint Mojito Summerade: A non-alcoholic beverage of watermelon and lime juice with mint, orange, white tea and cane sugar, starting at $3.29

Cherry Pop Shake: Vanilla cola frozen custard spun with Amarena cherry and popping candy topped with whipped cream and cherry caramel candies, starting at $5.79

Triple Chocolate Chip Shake: Chocolate frozen custard spun with chocolate chip cookies made with milk, dark and semi-sweet Peruvian chocolate topped with whipped cream and chocolate chips, starting at $5.79

Availability: Late June through Oct. 4

Starbucks Reserve Roastery

Cucumber Mint Spritz: Muddled cucumber, mint and lime flavors topped with sparkling water and ice, $4.50-$5.50 for 12 ounces at Starbucks Reserve Roasteries and Reserve stores

Strawberry Spritz: Muddled strawberries topped with sparkling water and ice, $4.50-$5.50 for 12 ounces at Starbucks Reserve Roasteries and Reserve stores

Watermelon Spritz: Muddled watermelon and simple syrup topped with sparkling water and ice, $4.50 at select Starbucks Reserve stores

Strawberry Balsamic Spritz: Muddles strawberries and simple syrup topped with sparkling water and ice with a drizzle of balsamic vinegar, $6 at the Seattle, Chicago and New York City Starbucks Reserve Roasteries

Blood Orange Tea Spritz: Muddled blood oranges and simple syrup topped with sparkling water, ice and a float of Zen Clouds Oolong tea concentrate, $6 at the Seattle, Chicago and New York City Starbucks Reserve Roasteries

Availability: Starting in late June for an unspecified limited time at Reserve Roasteries and Reserve stores in Seattle, Chicago and New York City

Lemonade

Spicy Caramelized Pineapple Lemonade: Lemon juice, water, cane sugar, Fresno chiles, caramelized pineapple and lemon, $3.95

Raspberry Mint Lemonade: Lemon juice, water, cane sugar, muddled raspberries, mint and lemon, $3.95

Cucumber Mint Lemonade: Lemon juice, water, cane sugar, cucumber juice, fleur de sel and mint, $3.45

Blood Orange Hibiscus Lemonade: Lemon juice, water, cane sugar, hibiscus tea and blood orange puree, $3.45

Carrot Ginger Lemonade: Lemon juice, water, cane sugar, carrot juice and ginger juice, $3.45

Availability: Through summer

Starbucks

Apple Crisp Macchiato: Espresso with apple and brown sugar flavors, steamed milk and a caramelized spiced apple drizzle (made with apple juice, apple purée, cinnamon and nutmeg), $5.25-$5.45 for a hot Grande latte, also available over ice

Availability: An unspecified limited time

More information available here

Buffalo Wild Wings

Spiked Football: Captain Morgan Spiced Rum and coconut, lime and pineapple juices in a football-shaped glass, price varies by location

Availability: Through football season

Dutch Bros

Glacier Peak Rebel: A mix of blue raspberry and vanilla flavor in signature Blue Rebel energy drink topped with a Soft Top (sweetened aerated milk) and raw sugar sprinkles, available iced or blended, starting at around $4.50

Hazelnut Truffle Mocha: Espresso, hazelnut flavor and chocolate milk with a Soft Top and caramel drizzle, available iced or hot, starting at around $4.50.

Peppermint Bliss Cold Brew: Choice of regular or nitro-infused brew coffee with white chocolate and peppermint flavor, a Soft Top and candy cane sprinkles, also available hot, starting at around $5

Availability: Through November and December

Black Tap

Charged Lemonade: Vodka, Japanese melon, lemonade in a glass with a Blue Electricdust rim, $15

Tropical Smoke Mezcal: Mezcal, red wine, pineapple and lemon, $15

Cola Old Fashioned: Bourbon, cherry cola, bitters and a brandied cherry, $15

Espresso Martini: Chameleon Cold Brew coffee, choice of vodka or Cognac, coffee liqueur and Demerara sugar, $15

Autumn Freeze Slushy: Whisky, rosé cider, hard cider, cinnamon, lemon and nutmeg blended with ice and garnished with apple chips, $15

Availability: Permanent, except for the Autumn Freeze Slushy, which was available through autumn

Availability: Through November

Outback Steakhouse

Gingerbread Cookie Martini: A three-serving cocktail with a proprietary recipe but including Absolut vodka, Bailey’s Irish Cream and Kahlúa with flavors of vanilla and gingerbread garnished with three gingerbread cookies, $19

Availability: Through December

Cracker Barrel Old Country Store

Cookies n’ Creme Hot Chocolate: Hot chocolate topped with crushed chocolate cookies and cookies & cream sauce, $3.69

Sugar Plum Tea: Iced tea with sugar plum flavor, $2.99

Sugar Plum Mimosa: Sparkling wine with sugar plum flavor, $5.99

Availability: At select locations through the holidays

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