Mountain Dew Once Released A 'Moonshine Soda' — And It Didn't End Well

History has seen some interesting things in terms of soft drinks that have come and gone. In attempts to stay relevant, companies like Coca-Cola and PepsiCo have tried everything from introducing new flavors to tailoring its marketing to capture the attention of hopeless Gen Xers. Some new drinks find success, while others become spectacular fails like New Coke. One lesser-remembered attempt was Mountain Dew's Dewshine — a clear, non-alcoholic citrusy soda inspired by the soda's bootlegging origins. Unfortunately, Dewshine was discontinued for reasons that remain unclear, though factors may have included a lack of consumer interest and its somewhat controversial packaging. It only lasted around two years, but its distinctive labeling, flavor, and clear color made it a memorable addition to PepsiCo's Mountain Dew family.

In early 2015, Mountain Dew released Dewshine to the general public. The drink aimed to jump on the popularity of craft beverages, offering a unique flavor packaged in high-neck bottles. The new non-alcoholic flavor paid tribute to Mountain Dew's Tennessee bootlegging origins.  Its packaging featured  Mountain Dew's original mascot, Willie the Hillbilly, and its original slogan, "It'll tickle yore innards." The launch was heavily promoted, including a website that told Dewshine's backstory, a collaboration contest with Circle K to win limited edition Mason jars, and a Rebel Spirits social media contest awarding a Backwoods Legend book to the first 20 participants. Even Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s No. 88 race car received a special retro look to celebrate the beverage line.

Although the public didn't have the same disdain for Dewshine as it did for New Coke, the new drink did face some criticism. While Mountain Dew was clear that Dewshine paid tribute to its alcoholic origins without containing alcohol, some still took issue with it. Before its release, the advocacy group Alcohol Justice claimed that the long-necked bottles "work subliminally" to attract younger consumers (via USA Today). A Mountain Dew spokeswoman, however, noted that the bottles were simply inspired by the brand's backwoods origins and that many non-alcoholic soft drink companies use long-necked bottles.

Following the initial buzz in 2015, Dewshine's promotion fell quiet the following year before landing on the list of discontinued sodas that deserve a comeback. In fact, there is still a demand to bring Dewshine back,  with fans creating petitions for its return. That said, it's worth remembering a dangerous street version of "Dewshine" appeared in 2016. Possibly inspired by the soft drink's bootlegging roots, the concoction was a highly toxic mix of Mountain Dew and methanol-based racing fuel. It goes without saying that no one should be drinking this, so anyone looking to experiment might be better off enjoying Mountain Dew as it was intended — as a bourbon companion.