Starbucks is getting “beastified.”
That’s right: Following in Dunkin‘s footsteps years later, Starbucks is launching its first-ever official digital creator collab drink with none other than MrBeast.
But this partnership is for more than just a drink. That drink stems from a larger deal between Starbucks and MrBeast’s holding company Beast Industries–a deal that put a Starbucks kiosk smack in the middle of season 2 of MrBeast’s $100 million Amazon competition series, Beast Games.
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During filming for the season, Beast Games‘ 200 competitors–divided between team “strong” and team “smart”–were able to walk up to the kiosk any time, day or night, and order whatever drinks and food they wanted, for free. While we’re sure plenty of people ordered on-menu items (and will probably flash those items to the camera during Beast Games episodes), it seems someone in the crowd wanted something different, and the barista on duty obliged.
Thus, the Cannon Ball Drink was born.
“The beverage was inspired by and created on the set of season two and will be featured in the ‘Cannon Ball Challenge’ in the Beast Games x Survivor crossover episode 204, which debuts on Jan. 14,” Starbucks said in a press release.
People who have been to Starbucks will recognize the drink’s components, because it’s not actually anything new. It’s a remix of what was already in stock: a combination of Starbucks’ longtime Refresher flavors, Strawberry Açaí and Mango Dragonfruit, with some extra fruit additions.
“Starbucks baristas had the opportunity to craft the new Refreshers beverage where they sprinkle (or cannon ball!) the dried fruit pieces on top and then give the cup a swirl to create a fun ombré purple hue,” per Starbucks.
Aka, this drink is made for Instagram.
And people will have the chance to put it there, because on the same day its spotlight Beast Games episode debuts, the Cannon Ball Drink will go on the menu at all U.S. Starbucks locations.
“The Beast Games competitors pushed themselves to the limit on a daily basis, so we were excited that Starbucks was up for the challenge of powering the competition and helping our contestants recharge in Beast City,” Beau Avril, Senior Vice President of Global Media and Partnerships at Beast Industries, said in a statement. “We can’t wait for fans everywhere to taste a little bit of the action with the new Cannon Ball Drink.”
This announcement aside, Starbucks isn’t waiting for Beast Games‘ premiere to show off its MrBeast BFF moment. It also sponsored a Dec. 20 video on his main channel where, in typical fashion, he suspended two strangers 100 feet in the air for 30 days.
Starbucks says the Cannon Ball Drink will only be available for a limited time, but like we said above, it’s made with ingredients that are always available as components for other drinks, so anyone who really digs it can DIY it when it’s off menu.
This isn’t Starbucks’ first celebrity collab (it’s offered drinks from Taylor Swift and Ariana Grande, to name a couple), but it is the first digital creator-specific collab, bringing Starbucks into a realm brands like Dunkin’ have occupied for years.
But, considering the Beast Games partnership and the fact that Starbucks started hiring “Global Coffee Creators” last June, we don’t think this will be the last time it dips its toes (or coffee stirrers) in our industry.
