Diet Mountain Dew, a beverage enjoyed by many, has a history as rich and varied as its flavor profile. From its humble beginnings to its current status as a pop culture icon, the Diet Mountain Dew shirt, adorned with the brand's ever-evolving logos, tells a story of marketing strategies, flavor innovations, and even unexpected political endorsements. This article explores the history of Diet Mountain Dew, from its origins to its place in contemporary culture, with a particular focus on how its logos and flavors have shaped its image and appeal.
The Early Years and Logo Evolution
The original Mountain Dew logo, used from its inception on glass bottles until 1969, evokes a sense of nostalgia. This logo recently made a comeback on Real Sugar's previous packaging, demonstrating the brand's awareness of its heritage. In 1969, a retro-style logo (and various iterations) was introduced, remaining in use until the mid-90s. This logo was revived for Mountain Dew Real Sugar (formerly known as Mountain Dew Throwback) in three releases: its initial release in 2009, special glass bottles starting in 2013, and again in 2020 when it was renamed Real Sugar. The Malt Flavor Johnson City Gold also featured this logo, as did select Green Label Art aluminum bottles. Early versions of this logo featured a pointed "D," known as the "Wave," which was later removed.
The logo underwent further refinement during its 16-year run, with the pointed "D" being removed in later versions. A transitional logo appeared on packaging from 1996 to 1999, bridging the gap between the previous and subsequent designs. This logo had the shortest lifespan of any Mountain Dew logo, excluding test logos or limited runs.
International Variations and the 1999 Redesign
In the 1990s, Mountain Dew products in the UK and other international markets adopted a distinct logo. In 1991, some Mountain Dew cans featured a different typeface and a banner reading "THE ORIGINAL." This logo was also used on Diet packaging but was discontinued a year later.
A significant redesign occurred on New Year's Day, 1999, with a new logo that lasted until 2005. A West Jefferson Dr. Pepper version of this logo existed, featuring sharper edges and a slightly different font, and was only found on metal bottle caps of glass bottles.
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"Same Dew, New View" and the 2009 Prototype
In 2005, a new logo appeared on packaging with the tagline "Same Dew, New View." All pre-existing flavor variants used their own version of this logo, and all new flavors adopted it until 2009. A prototype logo was introduced in 2009, with images of bottle designs for Regular Mountain Dew, Diet Mountain Dew, and Mountain Dew Voltage circulating. However, this design was not well-received, as it was perceived as resembling a generic brand.
The 2009 Logo and Subsequent Modifications
The previous logo, which premiered in 2009 on regular and Diet packaging, underwent slight modifications starting in early 2017 on various sizes of bottles, cans, and the background of various Mountain Dew flavors. The slightly modified logo was first seen on the Cold Fusion Freeze back in 2013 as a prototype version of the early 2017 logo for the United States.
The 2025 Redesign and International Adaptations
Mountain Dew's logo for its 2025 redesign, without the "EST." was revealed after PepsiCo announced a redesign of its logo on October 9th, 2024, set to launch in May 2025. In March 2025, the new can designs, sizes, and pack designs for the Original, Diet, and Zero Sugar flavors began to roll out in preparation for the launch. This rollout coincides with Subway's transition from Coca-Cola products to Pepsi products. Promotional materials have already been spotted, including a Mountain Dew logo on a golfer's bag and delivery trucks featuring the new logo.
With the re-branding of the Mountain Dew line up in Canada beginning in February 2012, a logo was specially designed to be used on its packaging. It was based directly on the current logo used in the United States, but the word "Mountain" was not abbreviated. As with the 2017 logo, these countries use a non abbreviated "Mountain" logo as the majority of countries switched to it 2017 and 2018.
International Logos
Mountain Dew has a range of logos in different countries including: Korean, Arabic, Thai, Chinese, Canadian, Japanese and European.
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Flavors and Variants: Expanding the Dew Universe
Mountain Dew's success lies not only in its branding but also in its diverse range of flavors and variants. Mountain Dew Code Red, a cherry-flavored extension of the original, was introduced in 2001. This marked the first major flavor innovation for the brand. While a "Mountain Dew Red" was sold in some areas of Alabama in 1988, it was discontinued the same year and did not share the same formula or taste as Code Red. PepsiCo initially considered naming the variant Wild Cherry Mountain Dew but ultimately chose Code Red based on feedback from urban and ethnic focus groups.
Mountain Dew Code Red was promoted in December 2010 with a television advertisement featuring rapper Jay Electronica performing his song "The Announcement." German rapper Sierra Kidd even released a song in 2015 titled "Mountain Dew Code Red" in reference to the drink, further solidifying its cultural presence.
Other notable variants include Code Red Zero Sugar, DEW-S-A (a patriotic-themed flavor), and the energy drink version of Code Red.
Diet Mountain Dew in the Political Spotlight
Diet Mountain Dew gained unexpected attention in the political arena when both vice presidential candidates in the 2024 election publicly professed their love for the beverage. Republican JD Vance even joked about Democrats calling his Diet Mountain Dew consumption "racist" at a rally in Virginia. He had previously expressed his desire for a 52-ounce Diet Mountain Dew on the official X account of the QuikTrip convenience store.
Duane Stanford, editor and publisher of Beverage Digest, noted that Mountain Dew is particularly popular in the South and Midwest, regions represented by both candidates. He expressed surprise at the brand's entry into politics, stating he had "never seen anything quite like that" in his 20 years of covering the industry. While acknowledging the bipartisan affection for the drink, Stanford remained skeptical that it could bridge the political divide in the country.
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Current Diet Mountain Dew Logos
The current logos for Diet Mountain Dew include:
- (2017 - Present) Diet Mountain Dew logo. *Still used in the SodaStream variation.
- (2017 - 2025) Caffeine-Free Diet Mountain Dew logo.
- (2017 - 2022) Diet Code Red logo.