The Worst Mountain Dew Flavor Has An Inescapable Aftertaste

Mountain Dew has never been one to shy away from flavor chaos. Over the years, the brand has pumped out everything from Baja Blast to Flaming Hot — with wildly mixed results. In Daily Meal's ranking of 14 Mountain Dew flavors, one stood out in the worst possible way: Freedom Fusion. Billed as a summer-exclusive lemonade and white peach blend, it landed dead last. And the reason wasn't just bad luck — it was bad taste.

The drink opens with a sharp citrus scent that hints at grapefruit, which might've worked if grapefruit had anything to do with it. But as soon as you catch sight of the peach-lemonade label, your brain starts rewriting what you thought you smelled. Suddenly, it's all artificial peach, and not the good kind.

Its appearance didn't help, either. Icy and opaque, it looked like something from a convenience store freezer, but the taste was anything but refreshing. Instead, it delivered a flavor that was hard to place, mismatched with its presentation, and nearly impossible to find in stores. Needless to say, this one won't be on most people's list as a flavor they wish would return. 

When Mountain Dew unveiled Freedom Fusion as part of its summer lineup, it pitched the drink as a refreshing blend of lemonade and white peach, an easygoing companion to beach days, boat rides, and bonfires. The branding leaned into patriotism and outdoor fun, promising a flavor that fit right in with its red, white, and blue siblings. But among the Mountain Dew faithful, the reception was... less than celebratory.

Across Reddit, early taste-testers described something far more jarring than "refreshing." Several likened it to household cleaners or artificially scented products gone wrong. One user said it tasted like something between peach syrup and the inside of a poorly maintained litter box, while another compared it to the kind of floor cleaner you'd smell in a discount store. Even die-hard fans who usually roll with Mountain Dew's zanier creations admitted this one missed the mark, citing its overpowering artificial peach flavor and near-total absence of the lemonade it promised.

It didn't help that the drink was tough to track down in stores for many. For those who did find a 12-pack, finishing it became a challenge — some reportedly dumped the rest after one or two sips. In the world of rare Mountain Dew flavors, Freedom Fusion stands out not for being collectible, but for being nearly undrinkable. And yes, Mountain Dew does have a flavor — but in this case, most people would've preferred it didn't.