I said, “You gotta be kidding me!’ But they weren’t… It’s common knowledge that ‘swicy’ is hot, the soda sector is in flux these days, and a pickle-cult craze is sweeping the Fast Food sector and the social media universe. Put ’em together and what do you get?
TikTok influencer @mississippimemaw says: “It’s really good. Y’all should try it.”
One answer – which JEOPARDY host Ken Jennings would probably say was, “technically correct, but not the one we’re looking for”- is SONIC’s whacky, new Jalapeño and Pickles dirty soda drink.
Just do it!
SONIC has long been known to embrace worthy new fast food hacks that come along – usually in the social media channels. And the ones they choose to champion often earn some degree of ‘legend’ status.
When in doubt, they often ‘just do it’, then stand back, wait for the explosion, and watch where the shrapnel lands.
How do you update a classic?
The ‘newstalgia’ craze is all over the food news and social media. This newsblog has been performing due diligence, giving it at least the amount of attention it deserves. And today’s post is no exception.
As we’ve explained, ‘newstalgia’ is the art of updating a true, ancient classic for the younger gens while giving the older folks – who invented the featured phenomenon back when – something to grab onto that reminds of them of older, simpler times…
What the influencer(s) ordered
The inspiration for today’s brave new combo is a previous blend involving Diet Coke and pickle juices – Dill Pickles and pickled Jalapeños, to be precise.
AllRecipes.com influencer/contributor Annie Campbell tried the pickle juices hack, and produced one of the oddest back-handed-completmentary reviews I’ve ever read: “This was a wild departure from my usual First Impressions: The heat from the jalapeño juice is instant and lingers at the back of the throat for longer than expected,” she explained. “It’s spicy in a way that sneaks up on you. And even minutes later, I could still feel my tongue on fire.”
“That said” she concludes, “the jalapeño juice cuts through the soda’s sweetness in a way that’s oddly pleasant…”
Enter, SONIC…
SONIC has decided to one-up the other folks who have been playing with pickles – on and in every-thing from pizza to pastries – and give pickle-packed soda yet another new life. This time it’s Diet Coke.
And you can now, apparently, order an officially unofficial, but officially unofficial beverage hack at America’s Drive-In that adds not just the juices, but actual pepper and pickle slices.
Social media feedback…
SONIC actually posted a video on TikTok. And the inevitable social media feedback ranged from ‘gosh!’ to ‘gasp!’
“How dare you do that to a Diet Coke? OMG?” someone commented.
Another said the creation made them, “audibly gasp.”
And yet another fan joked, “Mom! Pick me up! I’m scared!”
Still other commenters, from the Diet Coke community, offered a contrast:
“I see the vision,” one Redditor shared.
And TikTok star @coralakey admitted, “I loved it. I was shocked.”
My take
“We saw an opportunity to lean into spicy flavors by offering jalapeños, and fans have loved the added kick ever since,” a spokesperson for SONIC told Campbell. “We continue to engage with this trend through fun social media posts and encourage customers to keep experimenting.”
I’m not sure if the spokesperson was referring to the “everything pickle and a pickle with everything” trend, or the “pickles with peppers” ‘swicy’ hack. I’m not sure it makes much difference.
But I’m pretty sure – now that SONIC has endorsed this hack – this is NOT the last we’ll hear about it!
Maggie J.