Skip to main content

Bud Light, White Claw, and Dunkin’ Donuts are about to go to war in the spiked drinks category (seriously)

Dunkin' Spiked brings coffee, tea to the spiked market

Dunkin' spiked drinks
Dunkin' Donuts

Joining in on a trend that just doesn’t appear to be going anywhere, Dunkin’ Donuts is the newest competitor to throw its hat into the boozy beverages ring. Jumping on the increasingly crowded bandwagon, Dunkin’ will be riding alongside Bud Light, White Claw, and Twisted Tea in its endeavor to give the people what they want — an easily drinkable, tasty beverage with a boozy adult upgrade.

Brian Gilbert, Vice President of Retail Business Development at Dunkin’ said in a recent press release, “We knew we had the opportunity to create something special when we saw the positive response to our previous seasonal collaborations for Dunkin’-inspired beers. The growing appetite for adult beverages inspired us to put a twist on our customers’ favorite Dunkin’ Iced Coffee, Iced Tea, and Refresher flavors. Dunkin’ Spiked is perfect for day or night enjoyment and comes in eight distinct flavors, available in grocery and package stores later this month. This new line of ready-to-drink adult beverages elevates Dunkin’s offerings, and we know our 21+ fans will love every sip.”

All about Dunkin’ Donuts’ spiked beverages

The new iced coffee flavors will include Spiked Original, Spiked Caramel, Spiked Mocha, and Spiked Vanilla. And if you’re more of a tea drinker, there are some refreshing options for you, too. Spiked Slightly Sweet Iced Tea, Spiked Half & Half Iced Tea, Dunkin’ Spiked Strawberry Dragonfruit Iced Tea Refresher, and Dunkin’ Spiked Mango Pineapple Iced Tea Refresher are also hitting the shelves soon.

While customers may be a bit startled at seeing an otherwise “wholesome” brand trying its hand in the alcohol game, the timing does seem to be suspiciously perfect. After all of the absurd drama in the world of canned booze this year, perhaps customers are looking to change gears. Poor Bud Light seems to be trying everything to keep its head above water after drowning in a sea of homophobic protestation and boycotts. Bud Light sales have plummeted, including those of its otherwise popular Bud Light seltzer, which was terribly hard hit this summer.

While less controversial than Bud Light, the shiny new excitement of White Claw’s revolution is quickly being run over by better-tasting alternatives. Brands like Spritz Society and Simply Spiked are doing the same thing, but better. Now seems to be the perfect time for Dunkin’ to enter the race. And hey — the combination of coffee and alcohol is always a win in our book, so we’re all for it.

While you may fear that Dunkin’ might be lonely there in the liquor aisle, the blackest of sheep in a place it has no business being, we suspect other uncomfortable oddities like Hard Mountain Dew and Spiked Sunny D will befriend it in no time, so worry not.

Those eager to buy these new Dunkin’ Donuts beverages can do at grocery stores in 12 states for the time being – Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Texas, and Vermont. Spiked Iced Tea flavors will be available at the end of this month, while Spiked Iced Coffees will be in stores in early September.

Editors' Recommendations

Lindsay Parrill
Lindsay is a graduate of California Culinary Academy, Le Cordon Bleu, San Francisco, from where she holds a degree in…
The surprising states that drink the most wine, beer, and liquor
Who drinks the most wine, liquor, and beer? Apparently the Northeastern states are doing something right
true crime podcast

It seems that where you live has a lot to do with what you drink and how much you drink. It also seems that, according to recent data, New Hampshire is a pretty fun place to be. Who knew?

The numbers listed below represent how much of the three categories of adult beverages — beer, wine, and spirits — people consume per capita in their state. And we have to say that the results were pretty surprising. Of course, there are factors to consider that one might not immediately think about. State liquor taxes, for example, vary from state to state, and people who live close to a border may very well cross state lines for a less expensive bottle of brew. New Hampshire's comparably tiny liquor tax probably has something to do with their eyebrow-raising presence so high on each of the three lists. But, of course, frugal, border-crossing shoppers can't possibly make that big of a difference. The only reasonable conclusion, therefore, is that the good people of New Hampshire are just doing life right.

Read more
The most beautiful bars in the U.S. (for those extra Instagram-worthy drink photos)
Some bars are so beautiful we can't help but talk them up. Here are the 10 prettiest bars in all the land
The Multnomah Whiskey Library in Portland has one of the largest selections of rare whiskeys in the nation.

With all respect to dives, haunts, and lounges, there's something to be said for a beautiful bar. The most attractive ones are feats of bar design and places we not only want to imbibe in, but ones where we stare in awe at the many comforting details. With so many great options, deciding on the most beautiful bars in America was not easy.

What separates the elites from the rest? Well, the best bars in America wow us with a combination of outstanding drinks and remarkable service. They tend to excel at those things and offer a certain ambience you just can't find anywhere else. From the architectural details of an old, perfectly maintained structure to brilliant design approaches, these places sing — visually, anyway.

Read more
This empanadas recipe is actually the perfect ‘second meal’ for leftover pot roast
Make a big pot roast, then make these awesome empanadas
Empanadas

We love a good pot roast. The thing about a pot roast, though, is that there always seem to be a ton of leftovers. No matter the amount you made or how many guests you had around the table, there's extra. Perhaps that's one of the comforting things about pot roast - there's always more to share. But if we're honest, on the second or third day of leftovers, most of us are ready for something different. That's where this handy recipe comes in, and it's for another delicious food: empanadas.

All you need to transform your pot roast leftovers into something new and enticing is a little pie dough. By filling that pie dough with your leftovers, you're creating flakey, steamy, golden-brown little meat pies that will make just about everyone happy. Not only are they delicious, but they're perfect for any occasion. Serve them with rice and a salad for a beautifully savory dinner. Pile them on a platter with a creamy dipping sauce for the next football game, or bring them on a fall picnic with a bottle of your favorite Burgundy. Whatever the occasion, though, be sure to make enough because these are oddly addicting.

Read more