Swig’s first Baton Rouge location is holding its public grand opening Friday, with free 24-ounce drinks for every passenger in a vehicle that comes through the drive-thru from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. The event follows a soft opening that began two weeks earlier.
Free Drinks, Drive-Thru Only
According to The Reveille, Friday's event will be drive-thru only, though the chain is making sure nobody in the car goes without: “It will be drive-thru only, but there will be a drink available for every passenger.” The free-drink menu spans refreshers, energy drinks and dirty sodas, though blended drinks are being held back for the occasion, the outlet reports.
Swig lists the shop at 14631 Village Market St., Suite 101. It began a soft opening Oct. 23 with reduced hours, a closed lobby and online ordering turned off, according to Swig. The Reveille reported that the company did not publicize the soft opening.
Working Out the Kinks Before Opening Day
Franchise owner Chase Herbert said the soft-opening period gave the team time to address operational issues and train staff, according to The Reveille. The lobby is scheduled to open Nov. 8 from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., before the location moves to regular hours, The Advocate reports.
Swig mixes syrups, purees and creams into sodas such as Dr Pepper, Coke and Sprite. The Baton Rouge menu also includes pretzel bites and cookies, according to The Advocate. Customers at the grand opening can also order the winter menu, which launched Nov. 3 and includes Frost Mode, Sleigh Queen and Dr. De Leche.
Herbert Bets on Baton Rouge's Dirty Soda Gap
Herbert told The Advocate that he sees Baton Rouge as a mid-sized city with few dirty-soda options and believes Swig could find an audience there. He also described the chain’s service approach as part of its appeal.
Herbert said New Orleans is a possible site for further Louisiana growth, but that no plans are finalized. Swig has more than 150 locations nationwide, and the Baton Rouge shop adds another market to the chain’s footprint.
Expansion, local options and the menu
ABC4 reported that Swig announced 250 new franchise units across seven states in 2023. Those were franchise commitments, not confirmed store openings, so the announcement alone does not establish the chain’s current operating footprint. Locally, Dutch Bros lists a Baton Rouge location at 625 Frogmore Drive, with coffee, energy drinks, lemonades, teas and sparkling sodas among its offerings.
Swig’s official menu describes Sleigh Queen as Coke Zero with pomegranate, raspberry puree and vanilla cream. The verified menu information cited here lists those ingredients but does not provide a calorie or sugar figure.
