Sierra Mist

Sierra Mist
Product typeLemon-lime soft drink
OwnerPepsiCo
CountryU.S.
IntroducedMay 7, 1999; 25 years ago (1999-05-07)
DiscontinuedJanuary 9, 2023; 23 months ago (2023-01-09)
Related brandsTeem
Storm
Lemon-lime Slice (predecessor)
Starry (successor)
WebsiteArchived official website at the Wayback Machine (archive index)

Sierra Mist was a lemon-lime flavored soft drink line introduced by PepsiCo in 1999. By 2003 it was available in all US markets.

The name is a play on Mountain Dew: "sierra" is the Spanish word for "mountain range" and both mist and dew are composed of water droplets. The drink was rebranded as "Mist Twst" in 2016,[1] but reverted to Sierra Mist in 2018.[2] In early 2023, Sierra Mist was replaced by Starry. The brand was aimed at competing with Sprite and 7 Up.[3]

Composition

Original formula

From 2000 until 2006, Sierra Mist was sweetened with high-fructose corn syrup and/or sugar. From 2006 until 2010, it was sweetened with only high-fructose corn syrup. Its other ingredients were listed as carbonated water, citric acid, natural flavors, potassium benzoate, potassium citrate, ascorbic acid and calcium disodium EDTA.[4] Diet Sierra Mist is sweetened with aspartame and acesulfame potassium.[4]

Sierra Mist Natural

In August 2010 PepsiCo replaced the original Sierra Mist formula with Sierra Mist Natural,[5] which was sweetened with sucrose (table sugar) instead of high fructose corn syrup. The new formulation contained five other ingredients: carbonated water, citric acid, natural flavor, potassium citrate, and ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid.[6]

Addition of stevia

By 2013, Sierra Mist Natural reverted its name to simply Sierra Mist, and in 2014 the formulation was changed to use a combination of sucrose and stevia as sweeteners, in an effort to cut calories in drinks.[7] The change proved unpopular, with complaints of the stevia introducing an unpleasant aftertaste.

Mist Twst

In December 2015, PepsiCo announced that they were changing the name of Sierra Mist to "Mist Twst" in spring 2016.[8] The change occurred in some areas in March 2016.[9] The new Mist Twst added high-fructose corn syrup back to the formula.[10]

Re-rebranding of Sierra Mist and discontinuation

In July 2018, Mist Twst's name reverted to Sierra Mist. In January 2023, Pepsi announced the discontinuation of the brand; Sierra Mist has been replaced with Starry.

Promotion and sponsorship

In 2005, a series of improv-based Sierra Mist commercials titled "Mist Takes" began airing. The commercials featured comedians Nicole Sullivan, Debra Wilson, Aries Spears, Jim Gaffigan and Michael Ian Black. In 2006, Kathy Griffin, Tracy Morgan and Guillermo Diaz joined the cast. Diaz and other members of the cast of Otro Rollo starred in the Spanish-language versions of the commercials.[11] In 2007, Nicole Randall Johnson and Eliza Coupe joined the cast, replacing Debra Wilson and Kathy Griffin.[12]

In the summer of 2007, PepsiCo released "Sierra Mist: Undercover Orange" and "Sierra Mist Free: Undercover Orange" as a limited-time marketing tie-in with the release of the Warner Bros. film Get Smart. Sierra Mist: Undercover Orange and Sierra Mist Free: Undercover Orange were both clear sodas, like regular and Diet Sierra Mist, but had a mandarin orange flavor.[13]

Sierra Mist was an official partner and sponsor of Major League Soccer and two franchises within the league, the New England Revolution and D.C. United.[14] The league deal ended in 2015 when Coca-Cola announced a partnership with MLS and the US Soccer Federation.[15]

Product variants

Discontinued products
Name Dates of production Description
Sierra Mist (HFCS version) 1999–2010

2016–2018

Lemon-lime soda with lemon and lime flavors. Sierra Mist was replaced by "Sierra Mist Natural" in August 2010, although this variety of Sierra Mist remained stocked at many retailers until late 2010. In 2013, the name would be used again for Sierra Mist (with real sugar).[16]
Sierra Mist Zero Sugar 2000–2016, 2018–2023 Lemon-lime soda containing 100-percent natural flavors and zero calories. Diet Sierra Mist contained sucralose and acesulfame potassium as its artificial sweeteners.[17][16] Formerly known as "Diet Sierra Mist"
Sierra Mist Free 2004–2008 Temporary name of Diet Sierra Mist.[17][16]
Sierra Mist Cranberry Splash 2006–2016 Cranberry flavored Sierra Mist made with natural flavor and real sugar. Cranberry Splash is only available during the winter holiday season. In some places such as North Carolina, this variant is available year-round. A new logo was unveiled September 2014 for year-round distribution, and later unveiled during the 2014 holiday season everywhere else.[18]
Diet Sierra Mist Cranberry Splash 2006–2016 A zero-calorie version of Sierra Mist Cranberry Splash made with natural flavors. Diet Sierra Mist Cranberry Splash contains artificial sweeteners.[18]
Sierra Mist Free Cranberry Splash 2007 Temporary name of Diet Sierra Mist Cranberry Splash.[19][20]
Sierra Mist Lemon Squeeze 2007 Sierra Mist Lemon Squeeze was introduced in May 2007. This limited edition featured an extra bit of lemon taste and was only available through September 2007.[21]
Sierra Mist Undercover Orange 2008 Limited-edition orange flavored Sierra Mist released in conjunction with the film Get Smart. Sierra Mist Undercover Orange was only available during the summer of 2008.[22]
Sierra Mist Free Undercover Orange 2008 A zero-calorie version of limited-edition Sierra Mist Undercover Orange.[22]
Diet Sierra Mist Ruby Splash 2009–2011 A zero-calorie Sierra Mist with ruby grapefruit flavors. Diet Sierra Mist Ruby Splash was made with all natural flavors and contained artificial sweeteners.
Sierra Mist Ruby Splash 2009–2010 Ruby grapefruit flavored Sierra Mist variety, the regular version was discontinued in 2010, but the Diet version remained until 2011.[23]
Sierra Mist (with real sugar) 2010–2016, 2018–2023 Lemon-lime flavored soft drink made with natural lemon and lime flavors, real sugar and other natural ingredients. Formerly known as Sierra Mist Natural. A new logo was unveiled September 2014 to consumers. As of 2016, Sierra Mist (with real sugar) remains stocked at some locations alongside Mist Twst.[24] In 2018, following the rebranding back to Sierra Mist, the flavor has begun returning to stores.
Sierra Mist Strawberry Kiwi Splash 2012 A limited-edition Strawberry-Kiwi flavored soft drink made with natural flavors, real sugar and other natural ingredients.
Mist Twst 2016–2018 Lemon-lime soda with lemon and lime flavors, with a splash of real juice.
Mist Twst Cherry 2016–2018 Cherry flavored variant of Mist Twst.
Mist Twst Cranberry 2016–2018
Diet Mist Twst 2016–2018
Diet Mist Twst Cranberry 2016–2018
Starry 2022–present Modified version of Sierra Mist that was set to replace Sierra Mist

References

  1. ^ Addady, Michal. "People Are Freaking Out About Sierra Mist's New Ingredient".
  2. ^ "r/ToFizzOrNotToFizz - Sierra Mist is back!". reddit. July 6, 2018. Retrieved July 12, 2018.
  3. ^ Ehrbar, Al (October 31, 2005). "Breakaway Brands". CNN Money / Fortune. Retrieved January 14, 2011.
  4. ^ a b "Product Fact Chart: Ingredient Lists". PepsiCo, Inc. January 4, 2011. Archived from the original on January 21, 2011. Retrieved January 14, 2011.
  5. ^ Fredrix, Emily (October 7, 2010). "PepsiCo giving away Sierra Mist Natural to show changes". USA Today. Retrieved January 14, 2011.
  6. ^ "Pepsi Product Information". PepsiCo. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |url= (help)
  7. ^ "Sierra Mist Changes Design Again, Adds Stevia". September 25, 2014.
  8. ^ "Sierra Mist Is Changing Its Name and Look -- Again". December 18, 2015. Retrieved June 9, 2016.
  9. ^ "SPOTTED ON SHELVES: Mist Twst Lemon Lime and Mist Twst Cherry". March 29, 2016. Retrieved June 9, 2016.
  10. ^ "MIST TWST". Official Site for PepsiCo Information. PepsiCo Inc. May 10, 2017. Archived from the original on October 28, 2016. Retrieved May 28, 2017.
  11. ^ Elliott, Stuart (February 22, 2006). "Spanish TV Joins the Big-Event Big Leagues". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved January 27, 2023.
  12. ^ "Sierra Mist Takes Karate Combover and Hospital". Archived from the original on December 22, 2022. Retrieved August 9, 2012.
  13. ^ Brodesser-akner, Claude (May 6, 2008). "Sierra Mist Looks to 'Get Smart'". Advertising Age. Retrieved December 2, 2010.
  14. ^ "Soft Drinks Take Their Sporting Chance". Just Drinks. April 20, 2004. Archived from the original on July 22, 2011. Retrieved December 2, 2010.
  15. ^ "Hat Trick: Coca-Cola, U.S. Soccer Federation and Major League Soccer Announce Partnership". Archived from the original on August 26, 2017. Retrieved August 25, 2017.
  16. ^ a b c Tanner, Steve (August 24, 2010). "Review: Sierra Mist Natural". BevReview. Archived from the original on January 6, 2011. Retrieved January 14, 2011.
  17. ^ a b "Diet Sierra Mist declares freedom". Beverage World. December 15, 2004. Retrieved January 14, 2011.
  18. ^ a b Tanner, Steve (September 16, 2010). "Sierra Mist Cranberry Splash (with Real Sugar)". BevReview. Archived from the original on January 7, 2011. Retrieved January 14, 2011.
  19. ^ Tanner, Steve (November 9, 2006). "Sierra Mist Cranberry Splash". BevReview. Archived from the original on October 13, 2010. Retrieved January 14, 2011.
  20. ^ Tanner, Steve (August 28, 2007). "Coming Soon: Sierra Mist Free Cranberry Splash". BevReview. Archived from the original on July 20, 2011. Retrieved January 14, 2011.
  21. ^ Tanner, Steve (May 24, 2007). "Sierra Mist Lemon Squeeze". BevReview. Archived from the original on March 11, 2011. Retrieved January 14, 2011.
  22. ^ a b Tanner, Steve (April 18, 2008). "Review: Sierra Mist Undercover Orange". BevReview. Archived from the original on October 13, 2010. Retrieved January 14, 2011.
  23. ^ Tanner, Steve (April 30, 2009). "Sierra Mist Ruby Splash / Diet Sierra Mist Ruby Splash". BevReview. Archived from the original on August 15, 2011. Retrieved January 14, 2011.
  24. ^ Tanner, Steve (August 24, 2010). "Review: Sierra Mist Natural". BevReview. Archived from the original on January 6, 2011. Retrieved January 14, 2011.