Dua Lipa’s Pickle-Brine Drink Sparks Trend in Salty Cocktails

If Donald Trump’s Diet Coke obsession has you seeking alternatives, Dua Lipa might have the answer. In a viral video, the pop icon mixes Diet Coke with pickle and jalapeño brine, sipping the concoction like hot chocolate. While it might seem like another celebrity-driven drink experiment (à la Tom Hanks’ Diet Coke and champagne combo), it aligns with a growing cocktail trend: salty and briny flavors.

The Rise of Salty Cocktails
Bartenders like Aidan Rivett from Noto in Edinburgh have long considered briny drinks, such as picklebacks, an industry favorite. However, these “dirty” beverages are now catching on with mainstream drinkers. “People are asking for dirtier and dirtier drinks,” Rivett notes. At Noto, chefs’ pickled onion brine inspired the “momotaro” cocktail, blending elements of a Gibson and a Bloody Mary.

Across the UK, brines from pickled onions, beetroot, jalapeños, and even oysters are making their way into cocktails. The dirty martini, a classic that uses olive brine, is enjoying a revival. For instance, Rasputin’s in East London offers a £7 “five-olive martini,” served with a green pearl necklace on a cocktail stick, leaning into the trend of indulgent simplicity.

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Why the Dirty Trend?
According to Ben Reilly of Stray in Manchester, dirty martinis are appealing for their simplicity. “Ordering one eliminates the complexities of wet, dry, or twist variations,” he says, making them more accessible to less experienced cocktail enthusiasts.

Drinks writer Alice Lascelles attributes the trend to a cultural shift favoring a “messy, grubby vibe” in nightlife, inspired by the unpolished partying ethos of Charli XCX’s Brat. However, she cautions against overdoing the brine. “Use fresh brine, not something that’s been sitting in the fridge for months,” she advises. A light touch, such as a 10ml addition and a final spritz, achieves the right balance of saltiness.

Signature Dirty Cocktails

1. Aidan Rivett’s Momotaro Cocktail (from Noto, Edinburgh)
   • 25ml kombu-infused vodka
   • 15ml mezcal
   • 30ml tomato liqueur
   • 3ml pickled onion brine
   • 1.5ml saline solution
     Stir with ice and strain into a chilled glass, garnishing with dehydrated tomato skin or a pickled onion.
2. Alice Lascelles’ Dirty Martini
   • 50ml vodka or gin
   • 10ml dry vermouth
   • 10ml olive brine
     Stir with ice and strain for a classic yet refined take on the salty cocktail.

With this surge in “dirty” drinks, the salty trend isn’t just a fad; it’s a flavorful evolution in the world of cocktails. Whether you’re inspired by Dua Lipa’s brine-laden experiment or the resurgence of the dirty martini, there’s a briny beverage waiting to be savored.