Pilk is a dirty soda which is made by combining Pepsi and milk.
Background
The concept of combining soda with dairy has existed for a long time.[1] The ice cream float was invented by Robert M. Green in 1874.[2] Doodh soda, a drink made by mixing lemon or lime-flavored soda with milk, is popular in Pakistan and India. The Korean Milkis, Japanese Calpis Soda, and American egg cream are all carbonated milk-based drinks.[1]
Pilk originated in an episode of Laverne & Shirley, during which Laverne drinks Pilk from a large bucket and remarks that it "needs more Pepsi". The drink resurfaced in the 2010s with the dirty soda trend, in which people mixed soda with syrup and dairy, and in 2020 using social media.[1]
In 2021, American singer-songwriter Olivia Rodrigo posted a picture of her holding a cup from Swig, an American soda fountain chain specializing in dirty sodas, causing dirty sodas to gain popularity on TikTok.[3]
Lindsay Lohan advertisement
Pepsi
@pepsi
Milk and cookies are so last year. Rumor has it Santa prefers Pilk...a dirty soda twist that you didn’t see coming @lindsaylohan 🙌 Join the naughty list when you follow @Pepsi & share a 📸 or 🎥 of your 🥤+🥛+🍪 with #PilkandCookies #Sweepstakes and you could win holiday cash
Dec 1, 2022[4]
On December 1, 2022, Pepsi launched an advertising campaign featuring American actress and singer Lindsay Lohan encouraging people to try Pilk and share their creations using the hashtag #PilkandCookies with the opportunity to win money. Todd Kaplan, the chief marketing officer at Pepsi, cited the dirty soda trend on TikTok as inspiring the marketing campaign.[3]
^ abcStone, Sam (December 8, 2022). "Sorry but Pilk Is Really Good". Bon Appétit. Retrieved January 28, 2024.
^"Soda beverages in Philadelphia". American Druggist and Pharmaceutical Record. 48: 163. 1906.
^ abWiener-Bronner, Danielle (December 2, 2022). "Pepsi wants you to drink soda mixed with milk this holiday season". CNN Business. Retrieved January 28, 2024.
^Pepsi [@pepsi] (December 1, 2022). "Milk and cookies are so last year. Rumor has it Santa prefers Pilk...a dirty soda twist that you didn't see coming @lindsaylohan 🙌 Join the naughty list when you follow @Pepsi & share a 📸 or 🎥 of your 🥤+🥛+🍪 with #PilkandCookies #Sweepstakes and you could win holiday cash" (Tweet) – via Twitter.