Is Sierra Mist Cranberry Splash Discontinued? What Happened?
Fate: Sierra Mist Cranberry Splash stopped appearing in stores around 2016. PepsiCo made no announcement about it. In 2023 PepsiCo discontinued the entire Sierra Mist brand and replaced it with a new soda called Starry.
Sierra Mist Cranberry Splash was a holiday version of Sierra Mist that PepsiCo put out each fall. It was bright red and tasted like cranberry mixed with lemon-lime soda, which gave it a tart, fruity flavor that stood out from other drinks on the shelf.
Sierra Mist launched in 1999 as PepsiCo's lemon-lime soda to compete with Sprite and 7-Up. Cranberry Splash came out as a limited holiday flavor around 2006. It showed up in stores in October and sold through December. When the holidays ended, it was gone until the next year.
People who liked it looked forward to it every fall. Some bought extra bottles to have after the season ended because they knew it would be off shelves soon. The bright red color made it easy to find in a store, and it worked well as a mixer in holiday drinks and punch.
In 2013 Coca-Cola launched Sprite Cranberry, a similar drink that is still sold today. The two drinks competed in the same holiday window.
Around 2016, Cranberry Splash stopped appearing in stores. PepsiCo never said anything about it publicly. A lot of fans did not realize it was gone until the 2017 holiday season arrived without it. People asked about it online and contacted PepsiCo, but no official explanation came.
In 2023, PepsiCo discontinued Sierra Mist entirely and replaced it with a new lemon-lime soda called Starry. That closed the door on any chance of Cranberry Splash coming back under the Sierra Mist name.
Timeline
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1999
- Sierra Mist launches as PepsiCo's lemon-lime soda, competing with Sprite and 7-Up.
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2006
- Sierra Mist Cranberry Splash debuts as a limited holiday flavor, sold in stores from fall through December.
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2013
- Coca-Cola launches Sprite Cranberry as a competing holiday soda in the same seasonal window.
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2016
- Cranberry Splash appears for the last time. PepsiCo makes no announcement about it.
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2017
- The holiday season arrives without Cranberry Splash. Fans notice and start asking online what happened to it.
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2023
- PepsiCo discontinues Sierra Mist entirely and replaces it with a new lemon-lime soda called Starry.
Frequently Asked Questions
What was Sierra Mist Cranberry Splash?
It was a holiday version of Sierra Mist. It mixed cranberry flavor with lemon‑lime soda, giving it a bright red color and a tart, fruity taste.
When did Cranberry Splash come out?
It showed up each fall starting around 2006. Stores carried it from October through December. After the holidays, it disappeared until the next year.
Why did people like it so much?
It tasted festive, stood out on shelves, and worked well in holiday drinks and punch. Fans looked forward to it every fall and often bought extra to save for later.
How did it fit into the Sierra Mist lineup?
Sierra Mist launched in 1999 as PepsiCo's lemon‑lime soda. Cranberry Splash became its main seasonal flavor.
Did it have competition?
Yes. In 2013, Coca‑Cola launched Sprite Cranberry, which became a popular holiday drink and is still sold today.
When did Cranberry Splash disappear?
Around 2016. PepsiCo never made an announcement. Many fans didn't realize it was gone until the 2017 holiday season arrived without it.
Did PepsiCo ever explain why it was discontinued?
No. There was no public statement. It simply stopped returning to shelves.
Could Cranberry Splash ever come back?
Not under the Sierra Mist name. In 2023, PepsiCo discontinued Sierra Mist entirely and replaced it with a new lemon‑lime soda called Starry.
Why do people still talk about Cranberry Splash?
It was a favorite seasonal drink with a unique flavor. For many, it's one of the holiday sodas they miss the most.
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