Swensons Drive-In Collab with Black Cap Hot Sauce Nets a Month of Zesty New Menu Items

Two great tastes that taste great together Credit: Courtesy Swensons/Black Cap

Two prominent home-grown food brands will be pairing up to deliver a May that packs a delicious punch.

Black Cap Hot Sauce, the small-batch hot sauce company based in Columbus (but developed in Cleveland while founder Jack Moore worked at restaurants like Greenhouse Tavern and Black Pig) is teaming up with Swensons Drive-In Restaurants on a few limited-time-only menu items.

Starting May 1st, the tangy fermented Fresno-pepper hot sauce will serve a starring role in a handful of new menu items that will be available at nearly two dozen Swensons locations throughout Ohio.

Diners can look forward to additions like the Black Cap Hot Chicken Sandwich (topped with blue cheese and slaw), Black Cap Chicken Nuggets (tossed in Black Cap and served with a side of ranch), and Black Cap Loaded Fries (topped with Crispy Chicken Bites, Black Cap, blue cheese and ranch). Throughout the month, diners can also request that Black Cap be added to any burger or sandwich or served on the side.

“Swensons is an Ohio institution, and to be featured on their menu is such a wild, full-circle moment for us,” explains co-owner Moore. “This is a chance for folks who’ve never tried our sauce – or weren’t sure how to use it – to taste it on food they already know and love.”

For Swensons, an iconic 90-year-old institution launched in Akron, the killer collab is a win-win for both brands.

“We’re proud to put the best possible food in front of our guests, and a big piece of what we do is also very tied to our community, working with local groups and businesses,” says Charles Craig, SVP of Culinary at Swensons. “Black Cap’s hot sauce isn’t just spicy – it’s nuanced. It definitely brings the heat, but with balance and depth. It elevates our menu in a fresh, bold and exciting way.”