I tried Red Lobster's viral Mountain Dew 'Dewgarita' and it was a real-life monstrosity

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Linh TaOct 18, 2020, 19:35 IST
I tried Red Lobster's viral Mountain Dew 'Dewgarita' and it was a real-life monstrosity
  • Red Lobster is offering a limited-release of its "Dewgarita" at select restaurants this month. The seafood chain promises a wide-release by the end of the year.
  • The alcoholic Mountain Dew drink is taking the internet by storm as people gawk at the nuclear-colored concoction.
  • I tried the new margarita and was disappointed by its lack of Mountain Dew and overall flavor.
  • Many food chains are debuting bizarre creations that they hope will lure customers in, but I think they'll have to try a little bit harder to make something actually good if they want them to keep coming back.

  1. Linh Ta/Business Insider

In a collaboration that puts even the weirdest cafeteria dare to shame, Pepsi and Red Lobster are rolling out a new drink known as the "Dewgarita."

The green, alcoholic concoction is one part Mountain Dew, one part tequila, but mostly, it's a head-scratching viral talker that has piqued the curiosities of millennial social media.

As the seafood chain endures its "most challenging time," due to mandatory shutdowns and limited dine-in services, the company is exploring "strategic options" as it tries to keep its doors open despite sale losses, according to FSR Magazine.

It appears the absurd, $10 Mountain Dew and margarita mixture may be a move to boost foot traffic as restaurants nationwide rely on alcohol sales and the growing popularity of to-go cocktails to supplement their losses.

I ventured to my nearest Red Lobster to see if the Dewgarita is worth the shock-value hype.

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I sat down at the restaurant's bar, aptly called "Bar Harbor." It was very exclusive and had only three seats due to social distancing.

I sat down at the restaurant's bar, aptly called "Bar Harbor." It was very exclusive and had only three seats due to social distancing.
Linh Ta/Business Insider

Like any good American, when the bartender came over and asked me what I wanted to order, there were only two things on my mind: Dewgarita and warm, cheddar biscuits.

Like any good American, when the bartender came over and asked me what I wanted to order, there were only two things on my mind: Dewgarita and warm, cheddar biscuits.
Linh Ta/Business Insider
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She quickly shook up the drink for me in the back and set the nuclear-green margarita in front of me.

She quickly shook up the drink for me in the back and set the nuclear-green margarita in front of me.
Linh Ta/Business Insider

For a drink that's gained internet notoriety for its "Mountain Dew"-schtick, I was surprised by the underwhelming flavor from my first sip.

For a drink that's gained internet notoriety for its "Mountain Dew"-schtick, I was surprised by the underwhelming flavor from my first sip.
Linh Ta/Business Insider
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I asked the bartender what was in the Dewgarita, which she revealed was a sour-apple liquor, tequila, and a two-ounce pinch of Mountain Dew.

I asked the bartender what was in the Dewgarita, which she revealed was a sour-apple liquor, tequila, and a two-ounce pinch of Mountain Dew.
Linh Ta/Business Insider

No quenching fizziness that I crave from soda. No sugar explosion that makes Mountain Dew a guilty pleasure.

No quenching fizziness that I crave from soda. No sugar explosion that makes Mountain Dew a guilty pleasure.
Linh Ta/Business Insider
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The drink was more like a sad, watered-down margarita you get from a backyard party.

The drink was more like a sad, watered-down margarita you get from a backyard party.
Linh Ta/Business Insider

I took a sip of the drink from the rim, which the bartender described as a red sugar-mixture made just for the Dewgarita.

I took a sip of the drink from the rim, which the bartender described as a red sugar-mixture made just for the Dewgarita.
Linh Ta/Business Insider
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It didn't make anything better. My brain expected something spicy, which would have at least provided some flavor.

It didn't make anything better. My brain expected something spicy, which would have at least provided some flavor.
Linh Ta/Business Insider

While the taste of the drink was disappointing, on the bright side, I was very appreciative of the amount of tequila in it.

While the taste of the drink was disappointing, on the bright side, I was very appreciative of the amount of tequila in it.
Linh Ta/Business Insider
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And if you pretend that you paid $10 for the free cheddar biscuits, rather than falling for a marketing strategy, your pocketbook feels just a little bit better.

And if you pretend that you paid $10 for the free cheddar biscuits, rather than falling for a marketing strategy, your pocketbook feels just a little bit better.
Linh Ta/Business Insider

I asked a manager how many people had ordered the drink so far. He said, three.

I asked a manager how many people had ordered the drink so far. He said, three.
Linh Ta/Business Insider
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That sounds about right.

That sounds about right.
Linh Ta/Business Insider

The inherent humor of getting to say, "I tried a Mountain Dew Margarita at Red Lobster" could draw people to the chain, but the taste and price won't bring them back.

The inherent humor of getting to say, "I tried a Mountain Dew Margarita at Red Lobster" could draw people to the chain, but the taste and price won't bring them back.
Linh Ta/Business Insider
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If the seafood chain wants to keep curious customers coming back for more, its other promised drink collaborations with PepsiCo need to offer more than just a funny name.

If the seafood chain wants to keep curious customers coming back for more, its other promised drink collaborations with PepsiCo need to offer more than just a funny name.
Linh Ta/Business Insider

It needs to offer better flavors, and be more reminiscent of the soda its invoking, rather than just a half-hearted effort at producing a similar color.

It needs to offer better flavors, and be more reminiscent of the soda its invoking, rather than just a half-hearted effort at producing a similar color.
Linh Ta/ Business Insider
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Otherwise, I can just save my $10 and buy a two-liter Mountain Dew and cheap tequila instead.

Otherwise, I can just save my $10 and buy a two-liter Mountain Dew and cheap tequila instead.
Linh Ta/Business Insider
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