The Golden Arches takes on southern flavors with a golden sauce.
I Tried the New McDonald’s Gold Sauce and It Tastes Like Sweet, Smoky Heaven
It’s easy to adore McDonald’s. It’s such a classic fast food restaurant, and the food is delicious and consistent. McDonald’s fries are obsession-worthy, and the McNuggets taste like pure childhood nostalgia. But one reason to love McDonald’s is for its ability to switch things up with new sauces, sammies and sides that’ll have you sprinting back for more. This year alone, the chain has given the world McCrispy Strips, the Spicy McMuffin and, most recently, the vibrant Mt. McDonaldland-inspired shake. There’s absolutely no stopping Ronald this year.
So then, what’s next? Here it is: As summer comes to a close, the Golden Arches has given us Special Edition Gold Sauce.
What is the new McDonald’s Gold sauce?
This new limited edition sauce is a vinegary North Carolina barbecue sauce infused with notes of honey, mustard and smoke. McDonald’s deems it the “perfect pair” to their delicious chicken, and once I read that, I absolutely knew I had to try it for myself.
What does McDonald’s Gold sauce taste like?
If you’re a fan of the classic McDonald’s barbecue sauce, you’ll no doubt be a fan of this one too. The Gold sauce tasted pretty close to what I was expecting: a hybrid mix of barbecue and honey mustard. You can absolutely taste the smokiness, but it doesn’t hinder the flavor profile too much, like smoke often can. I’m not a huge fan of artificial smoke flavor, so I was pleasantly surprised. It tasted like a barbecue sauce that would be incredible on a pulled pork sandwich. But how does it pair with McDonald’s chicken?
I’m a lifelong advocate of the Snack Wrap, so you can bet that I’d order the Special Edition Gold Snack Wrap. It looked like any other Snack Wrap, but with an extra ooze of muted orange-gold sauce peeking out. I braced myself as I took my first bite. Part of me was scared that the sauce would ruin my favorite McDonald’s menu item, but I was thankfully proven otherwise. It definitely tastes more like a honey mustard sauce when mixed with the chicken, but I’m still a big fan. It was a welcome addition to the Snack Wrap, and I found myself finishing it quickly and immediately wanting another. The Gold sauce is savory with a sweet undercurrent—the best of both worlds!
How long will the new McDonald’s Gold sauce be available?
If you’re looking for more ways to enjoy Special Edition Gold sauce, McDonald’s is also offering a few different menu items that feature it, like the Bacon Special Edition Gold McCrispy Sandwich with bacon, pickles and chicken on a potato roll; the Bacon Special Edition Gold Deluxe McCrispy Sandwich with bacon, shredded lettuce, tomatoes on a potato roll; and McCrispy Strips with the Special Edition Gold Sauce on the side.
McDonald’s Special Edition Gold Sauce is available now for a limited time while supplies last. Since we’re not sure how long that will be, there’s no time to waste. Grab yours before it’s golden, golden … gone!