You know that holiday season is right around the corner when Sierra Mist Cranberry Splash reappears on the store shelves. This limited time offering first appeared in 2006 and has returned every fall/winter since, adding a diet version in 2007, returned again in 2008, gained a newly designed label in 2009, and for 2010, the addition of real sugar. Let's take a look at this new version of Sierra Mist Cranberry Splash!
Sierra Mist Cranberry Splash (with Real Sugar)
The new Cranberry Splash is part of the reboot of Sierra Mist into Sierra Mist Natural. While not taking on the "Natural" name, Cranberry Splash is now being positioned as "Naturally Sweetened" and "Made with Real Sugar", while assuming the branding and redesign of Sierra Mist Natural. The drink has seemingly been a success for Pepsi, noted by its return year after year. Even the folks at Dr Pepper Snapple Group have tried to get in on the "cherryish carbonated beverage that also works well as a mixer" game with Pomegranate 7Up, which has also returned seasonally.
Personally, I've never been a fan of the flavor of flagship Sierra Mist… but I absolutely love Sierra Mist Cranberry Splash. I wondered how the flavor would change with the shift in sweeteners from high fructose corn syrup to most likely a cane/beet sugar combination ("Real Sugar" is never really defined on the bottle, but this is what Pepsi confirms that they use in their Throwback products under the same branding).
Made with "Real Sugar"
Well, I'm not disappointed. If nothing else, I think the drink has actually improved. There is still that sweet, bitter flavor that you associate with cranberries. But to be honest, in the previous iterations of this drink, it was more like a "red, cherry-ish" flavor. The addition of sugar really helps that cranberry taste punch out! The flavor profile is far more distinctive now. Sierra Mist Cranberry Splash still has the uniquely "light" flavor that reminds me of one of my other holiday favorites, Schweppes Raspberry Ginger Ale.
It's clean, it's flavorful, it's good.
Ingredients:
Sierra Mist Cranberry Splash
Carbonated water, sugar, natural flavor, citric acid, tartaric acid, malic acid, potassium benzoate (preserves freshness), potassium citrate, Red 40, calcium disodium EDTA (to protect flavor), Blue 1
A 20 oz. bottle contains 260 calories, 60 mg of sodium, and 67 g of carbs (67 g sugars). This drink is caffeine free and contains no juice.
Bottle Designs
(Source: GillettePepsiCola.com)
As far as Diet Sierra Mist Cranberry Splash is concerned, it's still available. Additionally, Walton Beverage Co's distributor website notes that "Diet Sierra Mist and Diet Sierra Mist Cranberry Splash will be restaged with great new graphics but will not be converting to Natural until 2011."
I'll tell you one thing – I've drank more Sierra Mist (natural) now than I ever have previously and I've had much more than Sprite in the past month.
Just the "Made with Real Sugar" tag gives me a reason to try out a drink that I previously never would have over the holidays.
Keep it up Pepsi!
I agree with your review! I picked some up because (I believe) it's the only, or one of the only, mainstream (read: economical) sodas with real sugar and no caffeine. I hope Pepsi will continue this trend to Orange Crush!
I need to try this. The regular Sierra Mist Natural isn't something I would drink long term (unless I used it as a mixer).
I wasn't sure if I was going to like it since I've never had cranberry juice, but I tried a bottle the other day and it's really good. It's not something I'd want every day, but I'll probably pick up some more before it's gone.
I've never been much of a Sierra Mist drinker, but thanks to the elimination of HFCS that's all changed. It's now the only lemon/lime soda I'll drink. So of course I had to run out and pick up a 12 pack of Cranberry Splash today. Good stuff. I agree with Ed's post above, let's get Crush with real sugar. Until then I can get my fix of HFCS free orange soda at my local asian market, they have Fanta Orange with sugar imported from Mexico.
I know the holiday season is here when I see the first 12 pack of Cranberry Splash. can't wait to try this.
I tasted diet sierra mist cranberry for the the first time a couple of weeks ago in a gas station in Iowa. Cannot find it in Wisconsin. Best no-caffeine soft drink taste in my book–just a smidge ahead of diet cf pepsi and diet 7.
I've tasted this and I thought it was pretty good.
finally bought a 12-pack of this yesterday, can't wait to try it!
I bought four2 liter bottles of it, and I'm pretty pissed off. I used to LOVE this soda — now it's much less sweet and more bitter. I'll keep drinking it though. I'm hoping that I'll eventually love it like I loved the original. Doubt it.
I agree with Smokie on the taste of the new Sierra Mist Cranberry Splash with nautural sweetener. I too used to look forward to the holiday season for this drink. I always told my friends that it was party punch in a can. No longer, the new version is intolerable and I will never purchase this product again.
Please don't make Cranberry Splash just a seasonal drink – it's the only soft drink I buy and to only have it available a few months of the year is just so unfair. Why not give it a chance and sell it all year – you might be surprised at how good it sells.
Hi Love diet cranberry splash they need to sell this all year long I have called company up couple time to see if they will but nothing yet,I live in western mass/ berkshires if anyone knows a store that has anymore let me know
Cranberry Splash is my favorite soda, especially the new formula made with sugar. Since they don't sell it all year long I buy dozens during the holidays.
I've been drinking Diet Sierra Mist Cranberry Splash since its inception. I love it. My main problem with it is that they only sell it during the holidays. I drink two 2-liter bottles of the stuff per day while the holidays are going, so I can't keep the stuff long, even buying them in bulk like I do. I was really ticked this holiday season to discover that I had to preorder Diet, because it was never on the shelves in the grocery stores. Natural was all I could find, no Diet. Personally, I find the regular too sweet, even in Natural, which does taste better than the regular prior to Natural.
I love this drink and I love it even more with the REAL sugar. I do not drink Sierra Mist. I do love the sweet/sour mix I get. Everyone who loves it like I do, keep putting pressure on PEPSI to make it year round. Eventually with enough pressure from the public they will listen to the consumer and do what we demand. Its all about supply and demand. I buy nothing else the rest of the year and stock up on it during the holiday to last me part of the time Pepsi does not make the drink.
I wish they would make the cranberry splasg available all year, not just for the hollidays. It is my favorite soft drink. I guess I'll have to stock up on it whenever I see it.
I AGREE, they need to make the diet sierra mist cranberry splash available all year long, it is very popular – and im sure they're sales would boost.. just sayin..
I love Sierra Mist Cranberry Splash. I would love it to be available year around. I think it would be so refreshing in July or August when it is hot and humid In Minnesota. Please consider year around!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Please bring back Sierra Cranberry Mist year round..
It is so refreshing and not too sweet.
I just love the Sierra Mist Cranberry Spash Diet, Please bring it back all year long!!!!
It's back! I don't remember it ever being out this early, but I love it, especially with the real sugar, so I'm not complaining.
Pepsi: PLEASE…bring Sierra Mist Cranberry Splash back all year
round. It would be so refreshing in our hot, humid summers and I
have loved the taste since I first tasted it! It is so hard to find here
in Maryland.
I too love the Sierra Mist Cranberry Splash. I've always mixed my sprite and cranberry juice to get that flavor I love. I was so thrilled when they came out with this……I also wish it would stay out year round!! Please don't take it away
I found Sierra Mist Cranberry Splash this year and it has replaced my passion for Coke. Please consider bringing it out year around; I don't think I can wait for next fall.
Cranberry Splash is so great and should be year round!!!! Please!!!!!
1
I agree totally with other commenters, Please bring Cranberry Splash (DIET) back and keep it out year round. I know I would buy it and I know a lot of other people would too!!!!!!!!!
Why can't Sierra Mist Cranberry be sold year round. It is the best especially the diet taste great. For something this good it doesn't make sense not to sell it year round. I was lucky I good get it this past holiday (2012) it was sold out fast. That should tell you something that people like this drink.