Swig is definitely an experience. Went a few weeks after the opening and have been back a few more…read moretimes. Admittedly, it has been with random freebie coupons, so I've not paid for a drink yet. This was all during the opening month and a half.
The store is located at the absolute end of the University Publix parking lot and you've got to drive the back of it to get in to the drive through line. There is no lobby services (as of the times I have been there), but window (walk up) service had started about 3 months into their being open. Therefore the line to get a drink can be very long, to the point that some employees come out with iPads to take your order, while you wait for the car in front of you to move.
This also means that there is no actual speakerbox to make your order; there is a 3 poster sized menu as you pull up to the one and only window, but you do have to know what you want prior to ordering because you're doing everything all at once; ordering, paying, picking up your drink.
The staff is pretty friendly and willing to work with you, to help with your order. They can certainly make suggestions and try their best to substitute ingredients, providing it's available (they have made no mention of price substitution, so I cannot speak on that).
The base price of the dirty sodas start off with what size you want - kids cup (12 oz) all the way to super size (44 oz). Whatever cola product you choose, as well as ice, is included in that cup size. The cola line includes Pepsi (regular and diet, plus all some of the family brands - MTN Dew, for example), Coke (regular and diet, plus some of their family brands, like Sprite) there is also some branded root beer that is not stated on the website.
From this point, you're adding the items to make it "dirty": flavor & fresh fruit (the combination is endless), purées and creams (also endless), or gummy pieces to make it fun.
This is where it gets pricey - every thing you add in is an extra $0.45 to $0.70 PER item. However, adding another splash of a cola is free (except energy drink).
If you choose their pre-made soda, the total cost is whatever the cup size is, plus the cost of the add-ins. For example, the "Big Al" is Diet Coke, Coconut and Fresh Lime. The coconut and lime are $0.90 (total), the Coke is free, but the size of the cup is another cost. If you want a 24 oz version, add $2.29 to that, and you'll pay $3.19 before any taxes. All the pre-made drinks are different because they all have their own add-ins (whatever the mixes are).
As much as this is such a great novelty, I don't know if I would make it a big habit to stop by and purchase something; I've figured out how to make some of the drinks at home, so if I go to Swig, it may be for their snacks - mini pretzels or cookies. However, the cookies I got the last time, were just your basic cookie dough type cookie bites, and I don't think they were fully cooked. The staff pulled out a pre-measured cup of cookies from a cooler and handed it to me. The pretzel bites were at least warm when I ordered them.
Thanks for the experience!
