14 Summer Drinks That Came and Went in One Season

Every summer brings a wave of drinks that promise to be the next big thing. Some arrive with hype, fueled by social media buzz or clever branding, and suddenly you see them everywhere, from cookouts to beach coolers. But just as quickly as they appear, many fade away by the time cooler weather rolls in. From sugary soda experiments to spiked waters and coffee twists, these drinks had one shining season before vanishing from your fridge.

1. Crystal Pepsi’s Return in 2016

Pepsi brought back its ’90s oddity, Crystal Pepsi, for a limited summer run in 2016. The clear cola tapped into nostalgia and grabbed plenty of attention, especially among people who remembered its original release. But the flavor didn’t quite stand out once the novelty wore off. It sold well for a short while, boosted by curiosity, but by the end of the season, people realized it was just regular Pepsi without the caramel color. It fizzled out again just as fast as it came back.

2. Starbucks Unicorn Frappuccino (2017)

You probably remember the rainbow-hued Unicorn Frappuccino, which stormed Starbucks menus in April 2017. Its bright colors and swirling layers were designed to light up Instagram, and for a brief week, it was everywhere. The drink was overly sweet, described as tasting like sour candy mixed with mango syrup, and most people ordered it just for the photo. Once the hype died, no one asked for it again. Starbucks retired it almost immediately, never bringing it back for another season.

3. Bud Light Lime-A-Rita Craze

In 2012, Bud Light launched Lime-A-Ritas, a malt beverage meant to mimic a margarita in a can. For one summer, coolers across the country were stacked with them. They seemed like the perfect shortcut for beach trips and parties, but the heavy sweetness turned most people off after a few sips. The product line stuck around with flavors like Straw-Ber-Rita, but the initial frenzy never lasted beyond that first summer. It became a footnote in the canned cocktail trend.

4. LaCroix Key Lime Summer Surge

LaCroix had its golden age when every office fridge and yoga bag had a can of sparkling water inside. In 2017, the brand tried to capitalize on a limited summer run of Key Lime flavor. Fans snapped it up quickly, hoping for a bold citrus twist. Instead, the flavor felt too subtle, almost perfumed, and many people didn’t return to it. LaCroix still sells it, but the hype was a one-season wonder. It never carried the same buzz as the core classics.

5. Smirnoff Ice “Electric Flavors”

Smirnoff tried to capture a younger crowd with its neon “Electric” line in the mid-2010s. With names like Electric Berry and Electric Mandarin, the bottles glowed under blacklight, making them perfect for summer festivals. They were flashy, fun, and easy to find for one season. But the taste was cloyingly sweet, and buyers quickly lost interest. Smirnoff pulled back after the novelty passed, and the line quietly disappeared, remembered only by those who lived through that one bright summer.

6. Heineken Light Summer Bottles

Heineken Light launched limited-edition summer packaging in 2015, paired with a big push at outdoor events. It was lighter than regular Heineken, marketed toward people looking for an easy-drinking beer in the heat. The campaign worked for a single season, but the beer didn’t stand out against competitors like Michelob Ultra or Coors Light. The product hung around a bit longer, but the summer surge it was meant to create never stuck, and sales faded with the warm weather.

7. Dunkin’ Cosmic Coolattas

In 2018, Dunkin’ rolled out its brightly colored Cosmic Coolattas. With neon pink, blue, and purple swirls, they looked like drinks from outer space. They were icy, sweet, and tailor-made for social media photos. The problem was that they didn’t taste particularly good, more like melted candy than a refreshing drink. People ordered them once for fun, but they weren’t repeat buys. Dunkin’ cut them after that summer, never to return, though they still get nostalgic shoutouts online.

8. Mike’s Harder Watermelon

Mike’s Hard Lemonade tried to expand into bigger, bolder flavors, and in 2014, they pushed Watermelon Harder as the drink of the season. It packed a stronger punch with higher alcohol content, wrapped in bold packaging. For a while, it felt like the ultimate poolside drink. But the artificial watermelon taste was too overpowering, and many drinkers tapped out after one can. It burned bright for a summer, then faded, overshadowed by the rise of lighter hard seltzers.

9. Jones Soda Turkey & Gravy (Holiday tie-in)

Jones Soda is known for oddball flavors, but their Turkey & Gravy soda made an unexpected summer appearance in specialty packs. It drew attention for shock value more than taste. People bought it for the laugh, not because they actually liked drinking carbonated gravy. The gimmick carried sales for a brief window, but no one wanted to sip it more than once. It vanished almost immediately, surviving more as a story than a sustainable summer drink.

10. Mountain Dew Baja Blast in Bottles

Baja Blast was a Taco Bell exclusive for years, building cult status. In 2014, Pepsi finally released it in bottles and cans for one summer only. Fans rushed to stores to grab it, and shelves emptied quickly. Still, the charm wore off once it was no longer tied to fast food runs. People realized they liked it better as a treat with tacos than as a fridge staple. By fall, Pepsi had pulled it, leaving fans to wait for its next limited return.

11. Vitaminwater XXX Zero Summer Push

Vitaminwater tried to reinvigorate sales with bold promotions of its XXX Zero flavor during the early 2010s. It was marketed as a super-antioxidant-packed option, perfect for hot weather hydration. For one summer, it was everywhere, pushed hard through concerts and outdoor festivals. But it never broke through as a lasting favorite. Shoppers drifted back to regular Vitaminwater or competitors like Gatorade. The product is still sold, but the marketing blitz that made it a summer star only lasted a season.

12. Coca-Cola Blak

Coca-Cola Blak, a coffee-flavored soda, made its debut in 2006. Marketed as an upscale summer refreshment, it grabbed attention as something new and slightly sophisticated. People were curious, but once they tried it, the mix of coffee and cola didn’t land. Many thought it tasted strange and overly sweet. It got a brief sales boost from novelty, but by the end of summer, shelves were full of unsold bottles. Coca-Cola discontinued it within two years, never recapturing that initial burst of curiosity.

13. White Claw Surge Launch

Hard seltzers took over summer drinking in the late 2010s, and White Claw was at the front. When Surge, its higher-ABV version, dropped in 2021, it became the go-to choice for a short, fiery moment. People grabbed it for parties and beach trips, but the stronger alcohol content didn’t mix well with the crisp, light image that made White Claw popular. It still exists, but the surge of attention that defined that summer never returned. It was a fast fad.

14. Pepsi Blue Revival

Pepsi Blue first hit shelves in 2002 but was discontinued just two years later. In 2021, Pepsi decided to bring it back for a limited summer run, hoping to capture both nostalgia and curiosity. The bright blue soda caught plenty of attention at gas stations and grocery stores, but the novelty wore off quickly. Many people found it too sweet, almost like liquid cotton candy. After its short summer return, it disappeared again, leaving behind only the memory of its flashy color and one-season buzz.