Dunkin’ is tossing its hat into the boozy beverage game with an array of spiked Iced Teas and Iced Coffees, a move that could either be brilliant or a disaster—but might already be a memeified hit.
Chatter about Dunkin’ Spiked, which combines Dunkin’ beverages with alcohol, first emerged earlier this week. According to Vine Pair, Dunkin’ obtained Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau label approval in May (after a trademark was filed in January), and a website provides information about the drinks being offered in two mixed boxes. We also know the four flavors available for Iced Teas and Iced Coffees and the amount of alcohol in teach: The Iced Teas contain 5% ABV, while the Iced Coffees are sitting at 6% ABV.
But it took some time for images of the alcoholic beverages to start hitting Twitter.
Online, Dunkin’ is already the stuff of legend. It’s partly thanks to its synonymous association with Ben Affleck, who’s been photographed with Dunkin’ by paparazzi so often it’s a meme, but it’s just as much a testament to its Boston roots.
When you mix caffeine and alcohol, as the older version of Four Loko once did and Dunkin’ is attempting to do, it might be akin to opening Pandora’s Box. It might have been years since Four Loko stopped making caffeinated drinks, but people still remember.
Some are already predicting some kind of disaster (or even supernatural) heading Boston’s way.
“This much concentrated essence of Boston in a single can is cultural warfare,” Matt Ufford wrote. “It’s New England’s Trojan Horse to get us to sing Sweet Caroline with grown men named Mikey and I simply will not stand for it.”
Others offered other predictions as to what might happen and the kind of pandemonium might occur and bouts of public drunkenness might follow when people start drinking Dunkin’ Spiked.
But some questioned why Dunkin didn’t go for the pun.
Most other details aren’t yet available, such as where to purchase the drinks, how much they might cost, and when they’ll be released, although a Dunkin’ spokesperson indicates we’ll learn more in the near future.
“Dunkin’ is brewing up something special (and spiked) for adult iced coffee and iced tea lovers,” the spokesperson told Food & Wine. “While we can’t confirm any new additions to Dunkin’s lineup of ready-to-drink products at this time, stay tuned for more news soon!”
