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Dirty Sodas Are Coming to Chicagoland: Swig Opens Its First Location in Crest Hill

By Tom Barnas
8/31/2026 · 3 min read
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Dirty Sodas Are Coming to Chicagoland: Swig Opens Its First Location in Crest Hill

Move over, iced coffee. Make room for the dirty soda.

Swig, the Utah-born drink brand known as the home of the Original Dirty Soda™, is bringing its colorful, customizable drinks to Chicagoland—and it’s starting in Crest Hill.

The new location marks the first of what is expected to be 12 Swig locations across the Chicagoland area, giving local fans a new place to experiment with one of the country’s buzziest beverage trends.

And if you’ve never heard of a dirty soda, prepare to rethink what a soda can be.

At Swig, the concept is simple: take a favorite soda, add flavored syrups, creams, fruit or other mix-ins, and turn it into something completely customized. Think of it as a soda that wandered into a cocktail lab—minus the alcohol.

The result can be sweet, creamy, fruity, tart, tropical or downright decadent.

During the Chicagoland debut, viewers will meet local franchise partners Derek and Michelle Hincks, who are bringing Swig to the region and helping introduce Chicago-area drink fans to the dirty-soda phenomenon.

So, What Exactly Is a Dirty Soda?

The name might sound a little suspicious, but the drink itself is anything but.

A dirty soda is essentially a customized soft drink enhanced with additional flavors and ingredients. Swig’s menu turns that basic idea into a playground of combinations, allowing customers to choose flavors and create a drink that feels uniquely theirs.

And that customization is part of the fun.

One person might want something fruity and refreshing. Another might go for something creamy and dessert-like. Someone else may decide that their soda needs just about every flavor on the menu.

There are no rules.

Well, there probably are a few rules. But ordering one should feel less like following a recipe and more like building your own beverage personality.

Chicagoland, Meet Your New Drink Obsession

Food trends come and go, but the dirty-soda craze has developed a serious following, particularly among younger consumers and social-media-savvy foodies who love drinks that are as photogenic as they are customizable.

That’s where Swig comes in.

The brand has built its identity around inventive drinks, playful combinations and an experience that practically begs to be photographed, filmed and shared.

For Chicagoland, the Crest Hill opening could be the beginning of a much bigger dirty-soda era.

And judging by Swig’s plans for 12 locations, the company clearly thinks Chicago-area customers are ready to get a little… dirty.

The Grand Opening Comes With a Pretty Sweet Deal

If you’ve been waiting for an excuse to try Swig, September 4–5 might be the perfect time.

The Crest Hill location will celebrate its grand opening with festivities where guests can receive a free drink.

Yes. Free.

That means you can skip the commitment of wondering whether you really need another specialty beverage in your life and simply show up, grab a drink and see what all the dirty-soda excitement is about.

Because sometimes the best way to understand a food trend is to taste it.

Swig’s Chicagoland debut is happening in Crest Hill, and the dirty soda era has officially arrived.

Bring your curiosity. Bring your sweet tooth. And maybe bring your camera.

You’re going to want to document this one.

For more Stories From The 78, follow @tombarnas78 on Instagram and @storiesfromthe78 on TikTok.

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