Just because summer is coming to an end doesn't mean iced coffee season is over. In fact, this is just the beginning. Dunkin' is launching a new line of ready-to-drink iced coffees on August 14, but before you pop open the can and get that much-needed caffeine fix, you should know they're not just regular old coffee. Canned beverages have 6% added alcohol, which means your tailgates, pregames, and backyard barbecues will never be the same. I previewed Dunkin' new iced coffee flavors and I can honestly say your taste buds are in for a wild ride.
Pumpkin spice season may be here at Dunkin', but it's still summer in the liquor aisles. The new spiked coffees are available in four common coffee flavors: original, caramel, mocha and vanilla. In addition to canned coffee, Dunkin' is launching a line of spiked iced teas, including four super-sweet flavors such as Lightly Sweet, Half & Half, Strawberry Dragonfruit and Mango Pineapple. Unfortunately, it seems you can't buy spirits together. Instead, if you want to buy a can, you must purchase a 12-pack of iced coffee or iced tea, a four-pack of plain spiked iced coffee or lightly sweetened spiked iced tea, or a 19.2-ounce can of plain spiked iced coffee or lightly sweetened Labeled ice tea.
These spiked beverages are now available at participating grocery and package stores in 12 states, including:
- New York
- Massachusetts
- New Jersey
- Vermont
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Florida
- maine
- New Hampshire
- Pennsylvania
- rhode island
- Texas
Each 12-ounce can contains a rich blend of iced coffee, specialty flavors and alcohol. If you're on the fence about trying new ready-to-drink products, this review will detail what you can expect from spiked coffee before your next trip to the grocery store.
Dunkin' Spiked Iced Coffee Original Review
The first thing that struck me was that the drink only tasted like coffee, not a combination of coffee and alcohol. This is a bit misleading because when I took my first sip I was immediately attracted to the many flavors. First up is the coffee. Next, a wave of alcohol. Then I was left with a (very strong) aftertaste of coffee on my tongue. By the second sip, the alcohol had become the dominant flavor, but by the third sip, both coffee and alcohol were competing for my attention. To be honest, it was quite a load on my taste buds.
Dunkin' Spiked Iced Coffee Caramel Review
I could taste the coffee on the first sip, followed by a strong alcoholic aftertaste. From then on, alcohol really took over. It quickly became the first flavor to hit my tongue and the last to linger in my throat. The coffee flowed somewhere in the middle, but not for long. While I love caramel, I'm glad it's not the dominant flavor because the bitterness of the alcohol and the sweetness of the caramel don't mix well together. Overall, I think the drinks taste better once the coffee takes a back seat.
Dunkin' Spiked Iced Coffee Vanilla Review
The first flavor that hits your tongue is vanilla and then when it reaches the back of your throat you get the alcohol and then the drink leaves a bit of a coffee aftertaste in your mouth but you still feel that tingling sensation after finishing the cup feel. It sounds like a lot, but I appreciate that each flavor gets a chance to shine rather than being influenced by them all at once. The drink is very sweet and almost tastes like vanilla liqueur. I didn't really taste much of the coffee when I drank it - the vanilla was more intense. The coffee really only appears in the aftertaste, which is probably why I like this flavor the most.
Dunkin' Spiked Iced Coffee Mocha Review
This rich iced coffee has a decadent chocolate aroma that lets you know you're in for a sweet ride. I tasted the alcohol first, but then the mocha quickly took over, drowning out the other flavors, and I didn't mind. Both alcohol and mocha taste quite bitter, so in theory they could work together, but if that's not what you're looking for, you may want to steer clear. Like the vanilla, I feel like the mocha does a good job of blending the alcohol with the coffee so that each sip isn't as harsh.
Visit the Dunkin' Spiked website to find a store near you that carries the items.
