As October creeps up on us, the temperature falls and Halloween-themed decor populates the storefronts. The real indicator of fall, however, is not the changing hue of leaves or Spirit Halloween: it’s Pumpkin Spice. While the pumpkin spice drink genre has been largely associated with Starbucks since any of us can remember, a multitude of fast food places have attempted to replicate this popular drink, with varying levels of success.
While the rest of the reviews in this will be variations of the PSL, I had to try Wendy’s slightly more innovative approach to the autumnal addition: The Pumpkin Spice Frosty. I was slightly apprehensive coming into this, as the sickly orange color doesn’t exactly inspire confidence, but I was blown away. There are undeniable notes of nutmeg, cinnamon, and ginger, and the combination of these spices is incredibly reminiscent of apple pie. It’s safe to say that this take on a fall treat was executed incredibly well, and I was more than willing to finish the entire thing. Is it the same format as the Pumpkin Spice Lattes we all love? Not hardly, but is it worth a try? Absolutely!
Onto a more traditional example of a fall drink: McDonald’s Pumpkin Spice Latte. The franchise as a whole gets a bad rap in my opinion, and some of their food can be quite good. That being said, I can’t extend that compliment to their Pumpkin Latte. The cloyingly sweet pumpkin mixture left an imprint on my taste buds that I wasn’t soon to forget. Dense syrup gathered on the bottom of the cup, and it took vigorous stirring to reincorporate the ingredients back into one mediocre concoction. If I was too subtle, let me say that I do not like this drink. I could tell you any flavor in the world, and the jumbled flavor profile of this drink would match it. No aspect of it even resembles fall, let alone pumpkin, and it’s a huge step in the wrong direction for this fast-food conglomerate.
The final, and sweetest, entry into this fall drinks foray is Dutch Bros’ Caramel Pumpkin Brulee Freeze. I got the chance to interview one of the baristas, and she commented, “The Caramel Pumpkin Brulee Freeze is probably our most popular fall drink right now,” and I can see why. The crunch of the raw sugar pieces combined with the nuttiness of the pumpkin drizzle creates my absolute favorite drink on my list. There is one major drawback with this treat, however: the sugar content is staggering. Over 135 grams of sugar are packed into a large version of the freeze, far exceeding the daily recommended amount of sugar. It’s clear why the drink is so delicious with numbers like these, but just keep it in mind before you go digging into a 32 oz.
Did any of these treats match the well-deserved hype surrounding Starbucks’ Pumpkin Spice Latte? I would gladly try the Frosty and the Freeze again and again, and I honestly think they put up an incredible fight against the powerhouse PSL. McDonald’s rendition, on the other hand, is a nauseating excuse for a drink that has far too much flavor and far too little direction. At the end of the day, all of these drinks are fall-themed, but I can only recommend Wendy’s and Dutch Bros as suitable competitors to Starbucks.
