What Puts The Filth In Dirty Soda?

If you've never had a dirty soda, you might expect that it's either a cocktail like a dirty Shirley, an odd, dirt-flavored soda, or some other drink with a naughty component. Really, the truth tamer, and the drink is modest enough to be enjoyed by children and Mormons alike. Dirty soda is less about righteousness and more about what's added to it. Just as a dirty martini gets filthier the more olive brine is added to it, a dirty soda gets its filth from add-ins like cream and syrup.

Swig — a chain popular for its dirty soda creations — explained the drink on TikTok, and commenters had thoughts. One noted "You add all that to soda which already has syrups and bad stuff in it for you," to which Swig quipped, "That's right! If you want something healthy, we have this drink called 'Ice Water.'"

The idea of enhancing soda is far from new. Take ice cream sodas, for example, which date back to the 1920s, where they were enjoyed at drug store soda fountains and beyond. Favorites like root beer floats and Boston coolers are still enjoyed today. Similarly, Italian sodas feature club soda with flavored syrup, and can be transformed into an Italian cream soda with the addition of cream. More recently, Pilk (Pepsi and milk) got its moment in the spotlight, with the internet meme-ifying the drink, and Pepsi jumping onboard with an ad showing Lindsay Lohan drinking Pilk left over from a Santa visit.

To understand dirty soda, you need to understand some things about the state of Utah. Aside from being home to Great Salt Lake and stunning national parks, Utah is also where the headquarters of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (LDS) is located. According to research published in the Journal of Religion and Demography, 42% of Utahans self-identify as members of the LDS Church, or Mormons. Until recently, LDS dictated that members abstain from alcohol, caffeine, and hot drinks, but in 2012, official guidance permitted cold caffeinated drinks like soda. As a result, soda shops sprang up around the state, serving dirty sodas that offered the feeling of ordering a doctored-up coffee or cocktail, without any off-limits substances.

In late 2021, word of the drink began to spread on the internet, thanks in part to an Instagram post showing Olivia Rodrigo holding a cup from Swig. This shop is still one of the best-known today, and is in the process of applying for a trademark on the phrase "dirty soda." Other shops like Sodalicious, Fiiz, Quench It, and Sip-N are popular in Utah, but dirty sodas can also be found more broadly. Sonic launched a line of "Dirty Drinks" in 2024, which are sodas made with sweet cream, coconut flavor, and lime. You can sometimes order a dirty soda off-menu at chains like Chick-fil-A that have both soda and coffee mix-ins like cream and syrup on hand.

A classic dirty soda is made with a diet coke base, coconut syrup, lime juice, and a splash of half-and-half. It might sound as strange as a lemonade topped with espresso (which is also a thing), but fans say a dirty soda is life-changing. A properly made one will have fizziness balanced out by a bit of cream, and be sweet enough to feel like a treat.

To make your own, start with a soda base, which can include cola, lemon-lime soda, orange soda, Dr. Pepper, or Mountain Dew (including diet variations). Then, add flavored syrup to tweak the taste of your soda. Finally, top your drink with a splash of something creamy, which could be half-and-half, flavored coffee creamer, sweet cream, whipped cream, cold foam, or coconut cream.

The drink can be taken in either a fruity or confectionary direction, depending on what your taste buds prefer. For an orange creamsicle drink, blend orange soda with vanilla syrup and cream, or for a peachy twist, start with a sprite base, add peach syrup, and top with sweet cream. For a non-dairy option, try a tropical spin with a Sprite base, pineapple and mango syrup, and coconut cream. If you prefer something less fruity, opt for a root beer base with marshmallow syrup and sweet cream; a doctored-up Dr. Pepper with caramel syrup and vanilla cream; or a Coke with added cherry, vanilla, and cream.