Snowflakes are in the air, turkeys are on sale at the grocery store, and festive decorations are starting to spring up all around my neighborhood. That can mean only one thing: holiday seasonal menu items are BACK!
With that declaration having been made, it was time for me to venture out to the wilds of my own (literal) backyard and head over to Dunkin’ to see what Santa brought me.
Along with the usual cookie and candy-themed items on offer was something new and distinctly different from the other holiday items: the Berry Sangria Refresher.
If you aren’t familiar with Dunkin’ Refreshers, they are non-coffee ways to get a nice caffeine boost, in fruit flavors, and they can be mixed with either tea, sparkling water, or lemonade, depending on your particular store’s selections. I tried both sparkling water and lemonade in the new Berry Sangria flavor so I could compare and contrast for you.
Sparkling Water Version
Light, carbonated, and berry-forward, this was an absolute delight to drink. As the name implies, it was very refreshing, with blueberry as the most prominent note, then a gentle mixed berry flavor, and a nice, slightly bitter finishing note that really did remind me of wine.
The sparkling water was an excellent accompaniment to the bold flavors. I thoroughly enjoyed this beverage, and it surprisingly fits in with a holiday-themed menu. It’s almost enough to make me forgive DD for discontinuing my beloved Halloween Blood Orange Refresher a few years back… almost.
Lemonade Version
While I did like this version, I have to admit I liked the sparkling water one a bit more. Something about the lemonade’s sweetness detracts from the sangria’s flavor. That bitter end note was diminished, and the whole drink felt a bit heavier, a bit less refreshing.
That said, it wasn’t bad at all, and if you like lemonade, this is an interesting new twist on an old classic with a burst of caffeine added—basically, a win in my book.
Purchased Price: $3.39 (Sparkling Water), $3.89 (Lemonade)
Size: Medium
Rating: 8 out of 10 (Sparkling Water), 7 out of 10 (Lemonade)
Nutrition Facts: Sparkling Water – 130 calories, 0 grams of total fat, 0 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 0 milligrams of cholesterol, 15 milligrams of sodium, 32 grams of total carbs, 0 grams of dietary fiber, 20 grams of total sugar, and 0 grams of protein. Lemonade – 250 calories, 0 grams of total fat, 0 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 0 milligrams of cholesterol, 20 milligrams of sodium, 60 grams of total carbs, 0 grams of dietary fiber, 56 grams of total sugar, and 0 grams of protein.
How much caffeine?
“Dunkin’ Refreshers contain caffeine, with a small size having about 66 mg, a medium about 99 mg, and a large around 132 mg. They are made with a green tea base, which provides the caffeine boost.”