Dunkin' Launches New Barbie-Themed Drinks with Mixed Reviews

Dunkin' has unveiled a new summer menu featuring Barbie-themed beverages, characterized by their pink hues and strawberry cold foam topping. This collaboration aligns with Barbie's signature color palette and aims to attract fans of the iconic doll. The lineup includes eight drinks: Ultimate Pink Daydream Refresher, Double Strawberry Daydream Refresher, Pink Mango Daydream Refresher, Pink Cherry Daydream Refresher, Strawberry Cloud Matcha, Strawberries & Creme Cloud Dunkalatte, Almond Strawberry Shortcake Iced Coffee, and Pink Pineapple Refresher.

Each beverage is customizable with options for different milk types, syrup pumps, and sweetness levels. Despite this flexibility, initial taste tests have yielded mixed reactions. The Ultimate Pink Daydream Refresher, while intended to have a hint of pineapple, was criticized for its overly sweet flavor and separated appearance due to oat milk. Similarly, the Double Strawberry Daydream Refresher failed to deliver a strong strawberry taste, with reviewers noting a muddled blend of flavors and an unappealing appearance.

The Strawberry Cloud Matcha, though expected to stand out, was also met with disappointment. While the drink offered creaminess and a slight vanilla note, the combination of matcha and strawberry cold foam did not harmonize well, resulting in a murky green sip that did not visually fit the Barbie theme.

Further reviews of the Strawberries & Creme Cloud Dunkalatte highlighted a lack of distinct strawberry or vanilla flavors, with the beverage described as bland. The Almond Strawberry Shortcake Iced Coffee did not fare much better, as its coffee base, despite featuring French vanilla and toasted almond notes, was deemed uninspiring.

The Pink Pineapple Refresher, while avoiding the oat milk issue, introduced flavors like pineapple, raspberry, and hibiscus alongside the strawberry cold foam. However, the combination was not well-received, with the hibiscus flavor overpowering the drink.

Despite the mixed reviews, the Barbie-themed beverages are available at Dunkin' locations for the summer, with prices ranging from $3.69 to over $5, depending on the size and location. Dunkin' is also planning to launch Barbie x Dunkin' merchandise on June 10, with special promotions and photo opportunities at select locations, including the Midtown Manhattan store, which will feature a pink makeover.