What Are Dirty Sodas? Mormon Wives’ Whitney Leavitt’s Recipe Puts Her Own Spin on the Drink Craze
The drink trend that Secret Lives of Mormon Wives turned into a national obsession just landed a celebrity-backed brand deal in New York City. Whitney Leavitt, one of the show’s stars, announced her new role as chief creative and brand officer of Cool Sips — and debuted a signature drink fans can order at one of the brand’s four Manhattan locations.
It’s the latest sign that dirty sodas have moved well beyond their Utah roots. Here’s what they are, what goes in them and why they’ve taken over.
What Is a Dirty Soda and What Goes in One?
A dirty soda is a customized soft drink that’s been “dirtied up” with extra flavors and mix-ins. Instead of plain cola or Sprite, the base gets layered with flavored syrups like vanilla, coconut or raspberry. Some versions add cream or half-and-half, fruit juices or lime wedges. The result is sweeter, richer and almost dessert-like — somewhere between a soda and a mocktail.
The trend has strong roots in Utah, where specialty soda shops became a social alternative for communities that avoid alcohol. Chains like Swig helped build the culture long before it went national.
What Is The Whitney Drink at Cool Sips?
Leavitt’s signature order — called The Whitney — is built on club soda with sugar-free pineapple, peach and vanilla syrups, lime syrup and raspberry purée.
“I’ve been ordering versions of this recipe for a long time, so being able to bring one of my personal, viral combinations to life as a signature sip as my first order of business at Cool Sips feels like a full-circle moment,” she told Food & Wine.
She also offered a tip for anyone experimenting at home or at a soda shop. “If you love piña coladas, you could add pineapple and coconut syrup into your base of choice. It’s designed to be really approachable but also super personalized,” she said.
Why Mormon Wives Made Dirty Sodas Go Viral
The cast of Secret Lives of Mormon Wives didn’t invent dirty sodas, but they made them impossible to ignore. The show featured cast members regularly grabbing customized drinks — particularly from Swig — while socializing, running errands or hanging out. The drinks weren’t a side detail. They were a lifestyle staple.
That visibility drove curiosity among a national audience. Viewers outside Utah saw how customizable the drinks are, how central they are to social life and how visually shareable they look.
“Six out of the seven days of the week, I’m having at least one 44-ounce soda,” cast member Layla Taylor said on the show. “I’m probably only going to live to like 50, but it makes me happy.”
Cast member Demi Engemann put it simply: “We don’t drink alcohol or do drugs, so it’s kind of our vice.”
The result was a wave of viewers trying dirty sodas at home, seeking out soda shops and documenting their creations on social media — turning a regional Utah tradition into a pop culture phenomenon.
This article was created by content specialists using various tools, including AI.
