Sierra Mist[1] 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 brand was aimed at competing with Sprite and 7 Up.[2]
The drink was rebranded as "Mist Twst" in 2016,[3] but reverted to "Sierra Mist" in 2018.[4] In early 2023, Sierra Mist was replaced by
From 2000 until 2006, Sierra Mist was sweetened with high-fructose corn syrup and 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.[5] Diet Sierra Mist was sweetened with aspartame and acesulfame potassium.[5]
In August 2010, PepsiCo replaced the original Sierra Mist formula with Sierra Mist Natural,[6] 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.[7]
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.[8] The change proved unpopular, with complaints of the stevia introducing an unpleasant aftertaste.
In December 2015, PepsiCo announced that they were changing the name of Sierra Mist to "Mist Twst" in spring 2016.[9] The change occurred in some areas in March 2016.[10] The new Mist Twst added high-fructose corn syrup back to the formula.[11]
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.
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.[12] In 2007, Nicole Randall Johnson and Eliza Coupe joined the cast, replacing Debra Wilson and Kathy Griffin.[13]
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.[14]
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.[15] The league deal ended in 2015 when Coca-Cola announced a partnership with MLS and the US Soccer Federation.[16]
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