14 Drinks That Only Existed for One Summer
Some drinks arrive with flashy marketing, wild flavors, and high hopes, only to disappear before the next season rolls around.
- Daisy Montero
- 3 min read
These summer-only drinks often became short-lived fads, remembered more for their quick rise and fall than their taste. This list takes you through colorful sodas, energy drinks, and fruit blends that burned bright for one summer and were gone just as fast. You might not find them in stores today, but the memories are still refreshing.
1. Crystal Pepsi’s Wild Return
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Crystal Pepsi briefly reappeared in the summer of 2016 as a nostalgic throwback, only to vanish again. Its clear cola look caught attention but still puzzled taste buds. The drink’s fleeting return showed how some fads are better remembered than revived.
2. Mountain Dew Baja Blast in Stores
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Baja Blast was a Taco Bell exclusive until Mountain Dew gave it a limited summer release in cans. Fans rushed to stockpile it before it disappeared. The tropical lime flavor quickly became a summer legend.
3. 7UP Tropical Splash
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This limited run put a fruity spin on the classic lemon-lime soda. It was promoted as a beachy, summer-only refreshment. Once the season ended, so did its shelf life.
4. Coca-Cola BlāK
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Coca-Cola tried mixing coffee and cola, but it only lasted through one summer. The flavor was bold but polarizing, leaving many confused. Its short shelf run turned it into a collector’s item rather than a favorite drink.
5. Sprite Tropical Remix
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Sprite once added tropical fruit flavors for a summer twist. The drink stood out but faded quickly after one season. Today, it’s mostly remembered by fans who wish it lasted longer.
6. Pepsi Blue
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Pepsi launched this bright blue berry-flavored soda for a limited summer run. Its unusual color drew crowds but didn’t stay on shelves long. It’s now remembered as one of Pepsi’s boldest experiments.
7. Gatorade Tiger
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Endorsed by Tiger Woods, this Gatorade variant launched one summer but didn’t last. The flavors had sports fans curious, but sales fizzled. It quickly joined the ranks of forgotten seasonal drinks.
8. Jolt White Lightning
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Known for extreme caffeine, Jolt tried a clear summer soda called White Lightning. It promised energy but delivered a strange aftertaste. It disappeared as quickly as it launched.
9. Mountain Dew Pitch Black II
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After the success of the first Pitch Black, Mountain Dew brought out a summer sequel. The dark grape flavor was bold but temporary. Fans still talk about its one-time-only comeback.
10. Snapple Tru Root Beer
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Snapple tried root beer for a brief summer experiment. It didn’t match the fruity identity people expected from the brand. The drink vanished as quickly as it came.
11. Orbitz Drink
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Orbitz looked like a lava lamp in a bottle with floating edible balls. It was hyped one summer but confused shoppers more than it impressed them. The odd design made it a short-lived novelty.
12. Coca-Cola Citra
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This citrus-heavy soda had a brief summer run in select markets. It was refreshing but overshadowed by more popular options. By the next season, it had disappeared.
13. Dr Pepper Berries & Cream
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This creamy berry version of Dr Pepper came and went in a single summer. Its flavor was fun but too heavy for long-term fans. It remains a rare but memorable twist on the classic.
14. Fanta Melon Frosty
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Fanta tested out a melon-flavored soda for one summer in select spots. Its bright green color made it eye-catching, but the taste was a bit too unusual for wide appeal. After that single season, it disappeared from shelves.