Sonic’s Unicorn Dreams Slush Is Leaning Into Major Whimsy

As the temperatures rise and summer approaches, we’re on the lookout for drinks that match the lightheartedness of the occasion. Embracing the first warm days of the season with a few fun treats? Don’t mind if we do. 

Sonic is tapping into its whimsical side with its latest menu addition — the Unicorn Dreams Slush. This punchy pink slush tastes like cotton candy and “fantastical fun,” according to the brand’s announcement. Sonic adds blue raspberry flavor bubbles (the chain’s spin on boba pearls), then tops it with whipped cream and a layer of sparkling sugar crystals. 

“We could all use a little more fun in our day, right? At Sonic, we’re always dreaming up new ways to deliver that dose of fun to our guests,” Marion Campbell, vice president of integrated marketing and communications, tells Food & Wine. “We’ve been known as the go-to spot for innovative and craveable drinks, but now, we’re trying to take these LTO moments one step further by leaning into a unique drink experience.”

It’ll set you back $4 for a 20-ounce slush, but you’ll also receive a complimentary Legendary Wish-Awakening Unicorn Horn Straw. Yes, you read that correctly. This straw, shaped like a twisted unicorn horn, is offered in four colors.

Excited to taste it for yourself? We’ll let you in on a little secret: You can order it as early as today via the Sonic App, as the brand tells us. Otherwise, it’s dropping nationwide on May 5.

“Together, this brings something special to the drink beyond just flavor and makes a more shareable moment – not only on social, but also for the guests at the drive-in,” Campbell says. “It’s a multi-sensory experience that’s more than just a drink, hopefully driving more demand for the drink and bringing excitement, imagination — and a little sparkle — to the everyday.” 

If this rainbow beverage sounds familiar, you’ve got a good eye for food trends. In 2017, Starbucks introduced the wildly popular Unicorn Frappuccino — a rainbow delight with swirls of mango syrup and blue raspberry flavors — smack dab in the height of the chain’s “secret menu” era. The color-changing beverage, with layers of purple and blue, practically overtook our social feeds eight years ago. 

That callback to simpler days is right in line with the culture at large. Over in the fashion and beauty realm, we’re witnessing a resurgence of mid-2010s aesthetics. (Think: the boho-chic babydoll dresses and grungy “indie sleaze” outfits on Tumblr.) Around the time Starbucks released its notorious Frapp, people were embracing palettes of pastel rainbows and chasing highly saturated dessert trends, too. 

We might be long past the days of rainbow bagels and unicorn cupcakes, but this latest slush is swirling in a little taste of that nostalgia.