McDonald’s Gold Sauce Debuts Nationwide and Early Reviews Say It’s a Tangy Triumph

McDonald’s has officially launched its new limited-edition condiment: the Special Edition Gold Sauce, a tangy, mustard-forward barbecue sauce inspired by North Carolina-style BBQ. Released on September 3, the sauce is now available nationwide for a limited time and is being served with four chicken-based menu items, including the newly returned Snack Wraps and McCrispy Strips.

The Gold Sauce blends vinegar, honey, mustard, and smoke, creating a flavor profile that’s sweet, tart, and slightly spicy—but not hot. It’s thinner than traditional barbecue sauces and leans more toward a sophisticated honey mustard, with some reviewers calling it “Honey Mustard’s sexy older brother”.

What It’s Paired With

McDonald’s is offering the Gold Sauce with these featured items:

• Special Edition Gold Snack Wrap: McCrispy Strip, shredded cheese, lettuce, and Gold Sauce in a tortilla
• Bacon Special Edition Gold McCrispy Sandwich: Chicken, bacon, pickles, and Gold Sauce on a potato roll
• Bacon Special Edition Gold Deluxe McCrispy Sandwich: Adds lettuce and tomato to the above
• McCrispy Strips: Served with Gold Sauce on the side

Customers can also request the sauce as a standalone dip for other menu items.

What People Are Saying

Early reviews are largely positive, with food writers and fans praising the sauce’s complexity and versatility:

1. Taste of Home called it “sweet, smoky heaven,” noting that it pairs especially well with chicken and tastes like a hybrid of barbecue and honey mustard.
2. The Takeout’s reviewer said it “beats the honey mustard by a mile,” especially when paired with McCrispy Strips, where the sauce clings to the breading and enhances the flavor.
3. TODAY’s Joseph Lamour described it as “tangy, tart, honeyed, and spiced,” and compared it favorably to Chick-fil-A’s signature sauce, though he found McDonald’s version more vinegary and layered.

However, not all pairings were hits. The Takeout found the Snack Wrap overwhelmed by too much sauce, and the basic Bacon McCrispy Sandwich lacked enough Gold Sauce to make an impact. The Deluxe version, with lettuce and tomato, was deemed the best showcase for the sauce’s flavor.

Limited-Time Only

McDonald’s has not announced how long the Gold Sauce will remain on menus, but like past limited-edition condiments (think Mambo Sauce or Szechuan), it’s expected to disappear once supplies run out. So if you’re curious, now’s the time to dip in.