Pepsi Is Releasing a New Permanent Flavor: Wild Cherry and Cream

Among an endless stream of trends that pass in a flash and TikTok-viral recipes, dirty soda seems to have earned staying power for itself over the past year. Comprised of soda mixed with add-ins like syrup, juice, or cream, this customizable and surprisingly tasty concoction has become so popular that it even captured the attention of one of the world’s biggest soda brands. 

Fans looking for an accessible and delicious rendition of dirty soda will be elated to learn that Pepsi is launching an entirely new flavor, Wild Cherry & Cream, on January 20, a brand representative tells Food & Wine. This juicy new version of the drink, which combines notes of cherry and vanilla alongside the mainstay cola flavor, joins the brand’s permanent lineup with both full-sugar and sugar-free options. To reflect the “cream” in its name, Pepsi tells us the beverage has an almost “silky mouthfeel,” with a contrasting zing of its familiar Wild Cherry flavor. 

Even though we’ll have to wait a week for the official launch, social media reception has been enthusiastic thus far. Content creator Zach Ciampa (@snachwithzach) recently shared his review of the soda on TikTok, calling it a “more evolved version of Pepsi Wild Cherry,” with an almost root beer-like quality. (He also says it’s a “soda for floats,” which sounds like a delicious way to use the new product.)

Interested in trying it yourself? Luckily, the dirty soda-inspired drink shouldn’t be too difficult to track down. Pepsi Wild Cherry & Cream and Pepsi Wild Cherry & Cream Zero Sugar will be sold at retailers starting on Monday, January 20, per the brand’s press release. In addition to the classic 12-ounce cans — which will be available for the long run — fans can score 20-ounce bottles of the new flavor for a limited time.

The original Pepsi Wild Cherry has been around since 1988,  so it’s only natural that the brand would seek to put a distinctly modern twist on the nostalgic soda. In fact, Pepsi points to the recent resurgence of fruit-forward flavors as one driving inspiration behind the development of the Wild Cherry & Cream offering.

“Pepsi Wild Cherry has always been a flavor favorite in the cola world, especially among millennial and Gen Z cola fans — we’ve seen 8% growth year over year on the product — so we knew we had an opportunity to deliver something special this year that consumers will love,” Jenny Danzi, Pepsi’s head of marketing, shared.

This isn’t the first time that a major brand has released a cream-flavored soda in recent years. Dr Pepper introduced a permanent Strawberries & Cream soda and limited-edition Creamy Coconut flavor in 2024 and 2023 respectively. As for other innovations at Pepsi, this latest drop arrives hot on the heels of its holiday release of Pepsi Zero Sugar Gingerbread Mini Cans, a spicy flavor that was available exclusively on the brand’s website and TikTok Shop. It seems soda brands are answering the call from consumers for more flavor ideation.

If you’d prefer not to add dairy to your Pepsi at home (fair enough), this might be the next best way to test the dirty soda trend for yourself.