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July 30, 2024 — The viral sensation that had coffee lovers lining up for a liter-sized iced drink is officially back. Dunkin’ announced today that its 48-ounce Iced Beverage Buckets will return to participating U.S. locations starting August 7, and this time they come with a crucial fix for drivers: a bucket-specific car cup holder.
The massive reusable vessel, which first sparked a TikTok frenzy in spring 2024, costs $12.99 — a price that includes your choice of iced coffee or Refresher beverage. Dunkin’ is pushing three new flavor options to fill the bucket: the Cherry Lime Rickey Refresher (a citrusy, caffeine-boosted slush), the Pink Pineapple Sparkling Refresher (a tropical bubbly drink), and Iced Coffee swirled with peanut butter sauce. But customers are free to pick any iced coffee or Refresher on the menu.
When the buckets dropped in May, stores sold out within days in many markets. Social media posts showed customers struggling to balance the 1.4-liter containers in standard car cup holders — a problem that sparked a flood of DIY hacks. Dunkin’ listened. The new Dunkin’ Iced Beverage Bucket Holder is a custom-designed plastic adapter that grips the bucket’s wide base and fits snugly into any standard car cup holder. The company says the accessory underwent real-world spill tests before launch.
“Our guests told us they wanted to take the bucket on road trips, but the size made it tough to keep steady,” a Dunkin’ spokesperson said in a press briefing. “The holder is our way of saying we’re serious about convenience.”
Who gets the holder first?
Dunkin’ Rewards members with Boosted Status — the brand’s elite loyalty tier earned by frequent visits — can order the holder online starting July 29, while supplies last. That’s a full nine days before the buckets hit stores. General availability of the holder has not been announced, but industry watchers expect it to be sold separately or bundled with future bucket drops.
Why this matters for Dunkin’s strategy
The bucket return is more than a novelty. In an era where fast-food chains battle for social media buzz and loyalty program engagement, Dunkin’ is leaning into oversized, shareable items that drive organic promotion. The initial May launch generated over 50 million TikTok views within two weeks, according to social analytics firm Brandwatch. Competitors like Starbucks have experimented with large-format drinks (the 31-ounce Trenta), but Dunkin’s 48-ounce offering is unmatched in mass-market fast food — a calculated move to differentiate from both Starbucks and McDonald’s.
The loyal fanbase has already reacted: forums on Reddit’s r/DunkinDonuts lit up with anticipation when a leaked internal memo previewed the August date. “Finally, my cup holder is useless for anything else,” one user joked, referring to the new adapter’s bulky design.
What to know before you buy
The bigger picture: beverage buckets as a loyalty play
Dunkin’ Rewards currently counts 15 million active members, and the brand has been aggressively rewarding top-tier “Boosted Status” users with exclusive early access to limited items. The bucket holder is the latest example of this strategy: making VIP members feel special while creating a scarcity loop that drives sign-ups. Analysts at Morningstar noted in a July report that “Dunkin’s limited-time beverage innovations have contributed to a 4.2% same-store sales lift in Q2.”
What’s next?
While Dunkin’ hasn’t confirmed whether the bucket will become a permanent menu item, the fast-growing refill trend suggests it could stick around. For now, the Aug. 7–Aug. 31 window (or while supplies last) is your only chance to grab one — and the cup holder is shaping up to be the real star of the show.
This story was updated on July 30, 2024 to reflect the latest availability details.
