Some things just signal the start of the holidays. For some, it’s the first chill in the air. For others, it’s Mariah Carey defrosting. For Sprite drinkers, it’s that red-and-green label showing up on store shelves.
Sprite Winter Spiced Cranberry is officially back on October 13, Coca-Cola confirmed this week, with the Zero Sugar version tagging along for another run. The drink has become one of those rare limited-edition releases that doesn’t require any hype — it sells out on its own.
If you’ve somehow missed it, the formula’s simple: Sprite’s sharp lemon-lime base mixed with cranberry and just enough warm spice to make it feel festive without being syrupy. It first landed in 2019, replacing the earlier Sprite Cranberry that had run every holiday season since 2013. The newer version stuck, fast.
Every fall, it shows up early and vanishes before most people have finished their Thanksgiving shopping. Shelves clear fast, and Coca-Cola hasn’t needed to tweak much. The bottles and cans look the same, the flavor hasn’t changed, and apparently that’s exactly how fans want it.
This year’s rollout covers 20-ounce bottles, 12-packs, and a few fountain spots, depending on where you are. Nothing flashy — just the return of what’s become a modern seasonal classic.
Sprite isn’t the only brand leaning on cranberry to start the holidays early. 7Up has brought back its Shirley Temple flavor, and Poppi is reviving its Cranberry Fizz.
Coca-Cola hasn’t shared sales figures, but store managers don’t need them. They’ve watched the same pattern unfold for six straight years: stock arrives, disappears, and customers start asking when the next shipment’s coming in.
At this point, Winter Spiced Cranberry feels less like a limited release and more like a tradition. It doesn’t scream for attention. It just shows up, does its job, and leaves you wishing you’d bought an extra case. And like every good holiday ritual — once it’s gone, you miss it immediately.