4 hours ago - Business

Dirty soda goes boozy as Mike's jumps on viral drink craze

Kelly Tyko

Four colorful cans of Mike's Dirty Lemonade arranged in a row on a wooden table outdoors; yellow lemon, red cherry, orange pineapple, and purple grape flavors, with a park setting in the background. — Mike’s Hard Lemonade announced the launch of its new Dirty Lemonade. Photo: Courtesy of Mike’s Hard Lemonade

Mike's Hard Lemonade is jumping on the viral dirty soda craze with a boozy "Dirty Lemonade."

Why it matters: "Dirty soda" — a mashup of soda, syrups and add-ins — is moving from DIY novelty to a new flavor playbook for brands chasing Gen Z.

Zoom in: Mike's Hard Lemonade unveiled "Dirty Lemonade" Tuesday, a non-carbonated twist on its core drink inspired by the trend.

The line leans into unexpected flavor combos — like hot honey, cherry spice and coconut — instead of classic citrus-forward profiles.
It's one of the brand's biggest innovation bets in years, rolling out nationwide across convenience stores and major retailers, Stanten Jones, senior manager at Mike's owner Mark Anthony Brands International, told Axios.

What they're saying: The idea came from "keeping our ear to the TikTok streets" as dirty soda gained traction, Jones said.

The goal was to "take the inspiration… and give it its own alcoholic spin," he told Axios.

The big picture: Dirty soda — once a Utah niche — has gone mainstream on TikTok and beyond, as demand surges and recipes spread across social media.

Big brands are already experimenting: Pepsi has rolled out a creamy "Dirty" Mountain Dew, while Twizzlers recently launched edible "straws" designed to pair with dirty soda drinks.

Fast-food chains are leaning in, too: Taco Bell rolled out "Dirty Sips" nationwide, adding customizable, creamy twists — while chains like Swig are building entire menus around drink mixes.

What we're watching: Whether "dirty" drinks stick as a lasting category or fade like past social media fads.

And how quickly competitors roll out their own non-carbonated, mix-inspired spins.

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Dirty soda goes boozy as Mike's jumps on viral drink craze

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