Dirty Plum Soda

Prep Time: 5 min
Wait Time: 0 min
Yield: 2 glasses

Some of the most memorable drinks are unexpected flavor combinations thrown together from the stuff in your fridge. This Dirty Plum Soda is our savory homage to those late-night cravings for something sharp, cold, and electric. By marrying the light savory notes of 12.8 Dry Plum Soda with the bracing bite of cold pickle brine, it transforms an everyday staple into a sharp, unexpected palate cleanser.

It’s briny, fizzy, fiercely refreshing, and delightfully unpretentious. Pour it after a rich dinner, share a glass over late-night takeout, or mix one up whenever you need a wake-up call.

WHY IT WORKS

When salted plums and a spiced brine meet, contrast creates balance. The bright, acetic snap of pickle brine immediately cuts through the natural sweetness of the salted plum, unlocking its savory notes. Meanwhile, 12.8’s fine carbonation works to soften those vinegary notes, leaving behind a clean, lightly savory crescendo on the tongue that instantly refreshes the mouth.

INGREDIENTS

Pickle Brine, 120 mL
Ice, fill 2 glasses
12.8 Dry Plum Soda, 250 mL
Gherkin, 2 to garnish

STEPS

1. Pack two highball glasses to the brim with rough or crushed ice.
2. Measure 60 mL of chilled pickle brine into the base of each glass.
3. Slowly pour 125 mL of 12.8 Dry Plum Soda over the ice, watching the fizz bloom.
4. Give the glass a single, gentle turn with a cocktail spoon to marry the flavors.
5. Place each gherkin over ice, and drink while ice-cold.
6. Enjoy!

PRO-TIPS

The Brine: Don't throw away the juice at the bottom of a pickle jar. A clean, vinegary pickle brine delivers the most complex savory notes.

The Twist: For a post-work evening drink, add 45 mL of clean vodka or a blanco tequila before pouring the plum soda. The savory notes from both brine and salted plum hold their own against either of these clean spirits.