By Rhea Choudhary | Arts & Life Writer
Waco’s dirty soda options have officially become a little more competitive, and Baylor students have two contenders to consider when deciding which shop earns their next taste test.
Whether Baylor students want a sweet drink between their classes and their inevitable lock-in session at Moody Memorial Library, they now have two places to choose between.
Last semester, The Baylor Lariat previewed Swig, the Utah-based soda chain that was in the process of opening its first Waco location near Baylor. The anticipation was buzzing among students, including those who found their love for dirty sodas through Sip City, another soda shop in the Waco area.
Now that Swig has arrived, the problem is not whether or not Baylor students will have access to dirty sodas. Instead, we should look into which shop deserves a spot in students’ regular soda rotation.
For college students, the main factors to be considered in their busy schedules include how far they have to drive from campus, when they can go and how many combinations they can choose from.
Location
If convenience matters, Swig wins. Swig’s biggest advantage is the location itself, opening up right in the “grease pit” area.
The Swig soda shop at 1011 S. 10th St., Suite 170, is about a three-minute drive from Baylor University. Sip City, located at 9111 Jordan Lane in Woodway, is about 17 minutes from campus by car.
While that 14-minute difference might not sound much longer on a weekend, for a college student squeezing a drink run between classes, it makes all the difference.
For a student looking for a quick drink before class or an easy stop on the way home, Swig’s proximity makes it the more practical option.
Time
Swig is open from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday, 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday. Sip City follows the same schedule Monday through Saturday but is open from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Sunday.
Soda menu
However, Sip City has plenty to choose from as well. For customization being a key part of crafting the perfect dirty soda to match your taste buds, distance is not everything. Both Swig and Sip City offer much more than a regular canned soda served in a styrofoam cup.
Swig’s menu features a large selection of pre-designed dirty soda combinations, including drinks such as the Raspberry Dream, made with Dr Pepper, raspberry puree and coconut cream, being just one of the numerous Dr Pepper soda combinations that may stand out to the Baylor Dr Pepper fans. Customers can also choose from energy drinks, refreshers, blended drinks and treats. Swig describes its dirty sodas as combinations of soda, flavors, fresh fruit, purees and creams.
The menu also allows customers to create their own drink, meaning customers do not have to stick with one of Swig’s signature combinations.
Sip City also provides a similar customization experience. Its menu includes soda combinations built around many different soda bases. Customers can add syrups ranging from blackberry and blue raspberry to peach, mango, passion fruit, strawberry and vanilla, along with additions such as coconut cream, whipped cream and fruit purees.
Sip City also goes beyond soda with energy combinations, refreshers and blended drinks. For those who already have a very specific dirty-soda order in mind, Sip City’s extensive combination of bases, syrups and add-ins makes the longer drive a little easier to justify.
Conclusion
The answer of where Baylor students should go ultimately depends on what kind of soda run they are making.
For the quickest and easiest option, Swig has the advantage. A three-minute drive from campus makes it far more accessible for students who want to grab a drink without turning it into a full outing. Its hours also make it an easy stop before or after a day of classes.
For those willing to drive farther for more customization, Sip City is a great option. Its menu gives customers plenty of ways to create a drink that feels personal, and its Sunday hours give students an extra few hours of availability compared with Swig.
Swig’s recent opening does not necessarily mean Sip City is out of the picture. Instead, Baylor students now have a choice between an established local option and a new chain that has been placed just minutes from campus.
For the student running late to class, Swig is probably the obvious choice. For the student planning a weekend drink run and looking to experiment with a new combination, Sip City would be worth the drive.
