I Tried Making Viral Dirty Sodas With 5-hour ENERGY’s New Flavors—and They’re Officially My New Summer Obsession

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If your algorithm has turned into a nonstop stream of colorful “dirty soda” videos lately…same. Between the layered syrups, creamy swirls and candy-covered cups, these playful drinks are everywhere right now. They’re incredibly satisfying to watch get made and I was sure they’d be incredibly satisfying to sip, too. Dirty sodas first exploded in popularity thanks to soda shops in the Western US, but TikTok (particularly #MomTok) and Instagram have fully turned them into a summer obsession.

Part of the appeal is that they feel endlessly customizable. You can make them fruity, creamy, tart or candy-inspired depending on your mood, and they somehow manage to feel nostalgic and trendy at the same time. After watching one too many videos of people mixing together bright syrups, sodas and cream to pour over pebble ice, I decided it was finally my turn to try making them.

Since I’m always looking for fun ways to shake up my afternoon routine during the chaos of summer break, I decided to use the new flavored 5-hour ENERGY® shots as the base for my drinks. It gave the dirty sodas a flavorful boost without losing any of the fun. Instead, they felt vibrant, refreshing and honestly perfect for sipping poolside or while chasing kids around outside all afternoon.

I tested two different combinations: one inspired by nostalgic firework popsicles and another with sweet watermelon and sour candy vibes. Both ended up tasting way better than I expected and—dare I say—have potential to go viral on my own feed?!

Related: I Tried 8 Popular Sprite Flavors and the Winner Won by a Landslide

Why Dirty Sodas Are Having a Moment

Dirty sodas are having a major moment because they hit the sweet spot between nostalgic comfort drink and customizable treat. They’re colorful, over-the-top, fun to make and even more fun to watch online. The layered drinks, pebble ice and dramatic cream swirls practically beg to be filmed for TikTok and Instagram.

They also appeal to people who want something a little more exciting than their usual iced coffee or canned soda. You can completely personalize them depending on your mood, whether you want something fruity, creamy, tart or candy-inspired. And these two I made have the added benefit of a little boost, thanks to the fun flavors of 5-hour ENERGY!

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The Firework Freeze Recipe I Tried

This one immediately gave me nostalgic red, white and blue popsicle vibes in the best way possible. Between the cherry syrup, blue sports drink and creamy vanilla swirl, it tasted sweet, creamy and slightly tangy all at once.

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup pebble ice
• 1 bottle Firework Freeze 5-hour ENERGY®
• 2 ounces cherry syrup or grenadine
• 1/4 cup vanilla coffee creamer or coconut creamer
• 1/2 can lemon-lime soda
• 4 to 6 ounces blue sports drink
• Whipped cream and a cherry, for garnish (optional)

I layered everything right over the pebble ice and finished it with whipped cream and a cherry on top. The vanilla creamer mellowed out the fruit flavors perfectly and made the whole thing taste almost like a melted rocket pop float with a boost. This one felt extra summery and perfect for the upcoming summer holidays.

The Watermelon Sour Dirty Soda I Made Next

The second drink ended up being my favorite of the two. It tasted bright, juicy and slightly sour with a creamy finish that somehow paired perfectly.

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup pebble ice
• 1 bottle 5-hour ENERGY® Fruity Rainbow
• 1/2 can lemon-lime soda
• 3 to 4 ounces watermelon juice
• Squeeze of fresh lime
• Splash coconut cream

This one tasted like a watermelon candy in drink form. The lime helped balance the sweetness, while the coconut cream softened everything into a creamy, fizzy summer drink. I topped mine with my son’s favorite sour watermelon candies, which made it feel extra playful.

The Ingredients That Made These Drinks Taste So Good

The biggest thing that made these dirty sodas work was balancing sweet, tart and creamy flavors together. The lemon-lime soda added brightness and fizz, while the 5-hour ENERGY® shots brought an extra flavorful layer that made the drinks taste playful and summery instead of overly sugary. The syrups and juices helped amplify the candy-like flavors, while the creamers and coconut cream gave both drinks that signature “dirty soda” finish that makes them feel richer and more dessert-like.

Easy Ways To Customize the Recipes

The fun part about dirty sodas is how easy they are to customize. You can swap the lemon-lime soda for flavored seltzer or club soda if you want something lighter and less sweet. Different fruit juices would also work depending on the flavor profile you want.

You can also switch up the 5-hour ENERGY® flavors to completely change the vibe of the drink. The Cotton Candy flavor would be especially delicious in the watermelon version for an extra nostalgic candy-shop feel. I could also see tropical fruit flavors working really well for a beachy summer variation.

Related: McDonald’s Rolls Out Six New Menu Items Guaranteed to be the Talk of Summer: ‘So Refreshing’

The Best Garnishes to Use

I tend to use garnishes that actually enhance the flavor of the drink instead of just making it look pretty. But with dirty sodas, I fully leaned into the playful theme. The watermelon soda absolutely needed sour watermelon candies on top, while the Firework Freeze version felt incomplete without a cherry and whipped cream.

Which Flavor Was My Favorite?

I’m a little biased toward watermelon this time of year, so the Watermelon Sour Dirty Soda easily won for me. The fruity 5-hour ENERGY® flavor made it taste bright, while the sour candies on top completely sealed the deal. It felt refreshing, playful and honestly perfect for a hot afternoon when you need a little pick-me-up without reaching for another coffee.

Would I Make These Again This Summer?

Absolutely. These drinks felt like the perfect “something special” to sip poolside or make during a backyard hangout with friends. They’re easy, colorful and surprisingly delicious—and bonus points for boosting my energy while chasing two kids around all day.

I was so excited to try dirty sodas off the ‘gram and they completely lived up to the hype. They were fun to make, surprisingly delicious and felt like the perfect summer treat when I wanted something more exciting than my usual afternoon drink. Between the playful flavors, colorful garnishes and the fruity boost from the 5-hour ENERGY® shots, both recipes felt easy enough and satisfying enough to have on my summer sipping playlist all season long.

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