Plastics News

Drive-thru drink chain from Utah swigs Dallas-area for Texas debut

They came from Utah with drink in hand.

Photo courtesy of Swig

A drive-through chain from Utah whose entire focus is drinks is coming to Texas: Called Swig, it describes itself as a one-of-a-kind customizable drink shop, and will make its debut at Fairview Town Center in Fairview on Friday, May 6.

The shop will open at 371 Southwind Ln., and will serve fountain drinks with a twist, including its trademark-branded Dirty Soda, a combination of popular soft drinks with syrup-spiked mix-ins.

They have all the basic sodas: Coke, Diet Coke, Pepsi, Dr Pepper, Sprite, Root Beer, Mountain Dew, Ginger Ale, etc. A 16-ounce base price is $1.45, all the way up to a ridiculous 44-ounce for $2.20. You choose your favorite soda, then for an extra cost, add flavors, creams, and purees.

Syrups average 35 cents and include Blackberry, Blue Curacao, Butterscotch, Cherry, Coconut, Cranberry, English Toffee, Fresh Lemon, Lime, or Orange, Grape, Grapefruit, Green Apple, Guava, Hazelnut, Mango, Peach, Peppermint, Pineapple, Pomegranate, Raspberry, Strawberry, Tiger's Blood.

Purees and Creams average 60 cents include Mango Puree, Peach Puree, Pina Colada Puree, Raspberry Puree, Strawberry Puree, Coconut Cream, Half & Half, Vanilla Cream, Whipped Cream, Passion Fruit Pearls, Strawberry Pearls, Tapioca Pearls, Frozen Mango, Frozen Strawberry, and Gummy Shark.

So, for example, you order a Coke, then add blue raspberry syrup, gummy sharks, and a splash of lemonade.

If you don't want to create your own, they have a selection of pre-fab creations such as the Big Daddy with Dr Pepper, raspberry, and coconut cream, for $2.40; and the Hula Girl, with Sprite, light lemonade, mango, pineapple, strawberry, and coconut cream, for $3.30.

Swig was founded in 2010 in St. George, Utah by Nicole Tanner who was brainstorming with her husband one night about possible business ideas and thus came the idea of a drive-thru drink shop that adds flavors to brand name sodas. Imagine if they had brainstormed a business idea that did not involve spewing single-serving disposable plastic cups with lids and straws onto the planet.

In addition to personalized sodas and energy drinks, they also have a proprietary energy drink, hot chocolate, boba tea, cookies, and pretzel bites.

"At Swig, we strive to be the best part of someone's day by offering a warm, friendly smile while serving the best-tasting drinks and treats in a fast-moving drive-thru line," Nicole Tanner says in a statement. Gotta get your drink quick.

Fairview will be the first Swig in Texas and the 39th in the entire chain, which also has locations in Utah, Arizona, Idaho, and Oklahoma. They're allied with Savory Fund, a consulting management group whose other brands include Mo' Bettahs and Via 313 Pizzeria

Where to Drink

Where to Drink in Dallas right now: 5 best happy hours for October

B&B

Bar snacks from Barrel & Bones.

October has arrived, which brings us to another installment of Where to Drink, CultureMap Dallas’ monthly column on best bars and happy hours to check out. This edition has four of the best new happy hours in town, plus a crazy wine special with a spooky theme — because that's what October is about.

Here’s where to drink in Dallas right now:

Barrel & Bones
This BBQ smokehouse has a new happy hour menu featuring $3.50 domestics, $5 craft beers and house wines, and select $6 cocktails, including a house old-fashioned, Cazadores Tequila ranch water, or a Manhattan. Bites are $6 each, including pretzel bites, fried pickles, cheese curds, fried green beans, and fried mac & cheese. It runs on weekdays from 3-7 pm at all four locations: Dallas, Carrollton, The Colony, and Farmers Branch.

Fuzzy’s Taco Shop
Taco chain with 52 locations across Dallas-Fort Worth has a new weekday happy hour from 2- 6 pm. Start early! Everything's $5: from chips & queso to an order of two tacos in varieties such as shrimp, cod, shredded chicken, brisket, carnitas, and grilled veggies. The $5 rollout includes four new cocktails: Fuzzy’s Red Sangria, Sangria 'Rita Swirl, Baja-Ma Mama, and Margarita Swirls.

Goldie’s
Sophisticated Lake Highlands restaurant-bar has introduced a Tuesday-Friday happy hour from 4-6 pm. Drinks include $10 house martinis, house cocktails, select wines by the glass, and select neat bourbons by the glass, including Eagle Rare and Jack Daniels Single Barrel. There are also a few food specials, including $10 À La Carte Burger, $5 Goldie’s “20 Feet” Fries, and $10 rotating crudité.

S&D Oyster Company
Uptown oyster bar is celebrating its 48 years in existence with an upgraded bar. The front room had its nice long wooden bar, but it served as a "lean-to" with no seating and more importantly, no liquor. They've added stools for seating and a cocktail menu that pairs well with happy hour, which is weekdays from 3-6 pm. Guests can enjoy $2 off cocktails, wine, and beer. Mondays are extra happy, since wine is half-price all day.

Sixty Vines
Wine bar with Plano and Uptown locations has a haunting program during October that's so out there, it's scary: They're pairing wine with Halloween-style candy. The first week is sauvignon blanc paired with Sour Patch Kids or Lemonheads. Week two features pinot noir with Twizzlers or Twix. Week three is rosé matched with Starburst or gummy bears. Lastly, the stars for the final week are cabernet sauvignon with Reese’s or Almond Joy. It's $17 for a 2-1/2-ounce pour.

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