A DIY dirty soda bar might not sound appealing until you understand what it actually is. You’ll love having a dirty soda bar at home once you figure it out.
Everyone’s obsessed with dirty sodas right now, and the Taco Bell Live Mas Café has inspired many people to use their ideas from this drink-focused café, which are basically beverage playgrounds. Whether you use their ideas or create your own home drink bar for your next party or family gathering, you can have a fantastic setup with your own party beverage setup.
What is dirty soda?
Before we go too far, it seems only right to explain what dirty soda is. It’s basically any kind of soda that has some extra flavors and ingredients added to it. That root beer float you enjoyed as a kid; it’s a dirty soda. Think of these drinks as soda and dessert combined, or consider the adult versions, such as a Jack and Coke, which is one of the most popular dirty sodas in the world, despite not being labeled as such. Simply put, when you turn your soda into something more, you dirty it up with other ingredients, which makes for a delicious concoction that will be a huge hit at your next party or event.
Think of some great custom drink station ideas to offer DIY dirty soda
One of the best things about dirty soda is that you can build your own soda bar and let your guests enjoy mixing and matching their desired drink choices. You can let the kids get involved and have some fun, especially if you remember how to make a “suicide,” which is simply mixing every type of soda you have on hand into one drink. Of course, once it’s made, the challenging part is to actually drink it.
What do you need to create a DIY dirty soda bar?
Even if you don’t have a designated bar, you can create a fantastic space for your guests to create their own dirty sodas during a party. In order to pull off a fantastic bar, you’ll need some items that give your guests the desired drink experience.
Hint: If you want to have an adult option, make sure you have two separate bars.
What should you buy to supply the bar?
When you want to create a great DIY dirty soda bar, you’ll need the ingredients to get the job done. These include:
- Base sodas – Coca-Cola, Coke Zero, Dr Pepper, Sprite, Pepsi, Root Beer, Cream Soda, Fanta, Mountain Dew, Fruit Sodas
- Flavored Syrups – Coconut, vanilla, cherry, raspberry, mango, peach
- Creams – Half and half, coconut cream, flavored coffee creamers
- Citrus & Fruit – Fresh limes, lemons, maraschino cherries, pineapple chunks
- Toppings – Whipped cream, cold foam, pebble ice, wide straws, clear cups with lids
- Alcoholic Items (Adult Bar Only) – Vodka, rum, whiskey, Malibu, tequila, Bailey’s, prosecco
In addition to these items, you need to make sure you have plenty of ice and might want to include some fun items for the kids, such as gummy worms or lollipops that they can add to their drinks.
What should your DIY dirty soda station look like?
It should look like a drink bar, but one that allows your guests to make their own soda. This could be a table off to the side or at the end of the food tables. You can make it even more fun by adding some signs that tell your guests what’s in each container, a sign that says, “Dirty Soda Bar,” and some printouts of some of the most enjoyable and fun recipes. If you have two bars, a non-alcoholic and an adult-only bar, make sure you include popular recipes at each station. Dress up your bars and make them fun.
In addition to your presentation, you need to keep all of your ingredients fresh. This means chilling the sodas or buying a station that allows them to be dispensed like a commercial drink station. Keep your syrups and creams chilled to keep them fresh. It’s also a good idea to create a “signature soda” and give it a fun and personalized name. Creating a batch of this pre-mixed dirty soda can be a great way for indecisive guests to have a wonderful drink without the pressure of making several choices.
Will you create a DIY dirty soda bar and offer this fun and custom-made service to your guests? You’ve probably made a coffee bar in the past; this is basically the same thing, but with soda. Have fun with it.
