‘Tis the season — for eating.
From Thanksgiving’s turkeys, Chanukah’s doughnuts, Kwanzaa’s yams and Christmas’s pies and puddings, to the many holiday parties, buffets and potlucks in between, food is what the end of year is made for. Food and drink, that is.
And “drink” is Mountain Valley Spring Water’s specialty.
With the holidays drawing closer, we put together this guide of perfect pairings, teaming our award-winning lineup of sparkling waters with some of the festive foods that will soon be gracing nearby tables.
Mountain Valley’s bubbly, purely sourced spring waters come in classic sparkling as well as a trio of delicious, naturally flavored sparkling essences. There is the twang of Key Lime Twist, the subtle sweetness of White Peach, and the sweet-tart balance of Blackberry Pomegranate — something for everyone.
The great thing about Mountain Valley’s sparkling waters is that, like our award-winning spring water, we source these sparklers from the same protected spring deep in the verdant heart of the Ouachita Mountains of the southern U.S. The only thing we add: a few million bubbles of carbonation. That’s it. Even our sparkling essence spring waters have zero calories, zero sugars or sweeteners, and just a hint of all-natural flavor to give them a little extra pop. The kind of pop that makes them all the more mouthwatering and all the better to pair with an array of holiday delights.
Whether you prefer a stiff cocktail, a smooth mocktail or a simple glass of Mountain Valley’s crisp, refreshing sparkling water, our iconic green-glass bottles are sure to add a special touch to any holiday spread.
The Perfect Pairs: Mountain Valley Sparkling Blackberry Pomegranate AND …
Lightly tart with just a hint of sweet, Mountain Valley’s Sparkling Blackberry Pomegranate is what holiday dreams taste like. When pairing this bubbly bottle of deliciousness, we lean towards dishes that will not just complement these notes, but also lean into them and build from them.
- Citrusy salads: Winter is citrus season, make the most of it! For an absolutely perfect Sparkling Blackberry Pomegranate pairing, try a blend of bitter, tart and sweet citrus fruits in your salad — say, grapefruit and blood-orange segments in a lemon-honey vinaigrette. Balance that juiciness with the salt of Parmesan or Grana Padano and the crunch of slivered almonds or pistachios. Or check out this citrus salad from Weelicious.
- Pork tenderloin and turkey: The richness of these meats is the perfect balance for our Sparkling Blackberry Pomegranate’s sweet tang. To up the ante, skip the cranberry sauce and try this warm blackberry sauce from Catz In The Kitchen.
- Chocolate: From decadent souffles to gooey cakes, fudgy brownies and spoonable mousses, there’s no going wrong with chocolate. Just as our Sparkling Blackberry Pomegranate helps cut the richness of pork and fatty meats, it can do the same for rich, chocolatey desserts.
Cocktail recipe: Sparkling Blackberry Julep
Our friends at The Local Palate helped craft this bourbon-laced Sparkling Blackberry concoction that’s perfect for any occasion.
Ingredients (1 cocktail)
For drink:
- 1½ ounces bourbon
- ½ ounce blackberry mint syrup
- 2 ounces Mountain Valley Spring Water Blackberry Pomegranate
- Garnish: a blackberry and 1 sprig of mint
For blackberry mint syrup:
- 1 cup sugar
- 10 blackberries, fresh or frozen
- 1 sprig of mint
Directions
- Make blackberry mint syrup by combining 1 cup sugar, 1 cup water, 10 blackberries and 1 sprig of fresh mint in a sauce pot. Bring to boil and stir till sugar has dissolved. Strain out blackberries and mint, then allow the syrup to cool before using.
- In a cocktail shaker filled with ice, combine bourbon, blackberry mint syrup, and Mountain Valley Sparkling Water Blackberry Pomegranate. Shake vigorously. Strain into a glass and garnish with blackberries and a sprig of fresh mint.
The Perfect Pairs: Mountain Valley Sparkling White Peach AND …
While our Sparkling White Peach tastes like fizzy summer in a bottle, the subtle and fruity sweetness of this award winner transcends seasons. And dishes. And time itself. What we’re saying is: You’re going to want to drink this. Always.
- Ginger-laced soups and salads: This healthful, warming root vegetable pairs delectably with the faint sweetness of our Sparkling White Peach. Add a touch of freshly grated ginger to a vinaigrette or into the base of a squash, yam or carrot soup, such as this one from A Couple Cooks.
- Charcuterie boards: Can a salty, wispy, hunky, meaty charcuterie board get even better? It can. With the sweetly fizzy balance of Mountain Valley Sparkling White Peach. Think prosciutto, salami, chorizo, linguica — the saltier and richer the better.
- Shortbreads and scones: Buttery and delicious, these sweet treats get a peachy boost when paired with Mountain Valley Sparkling White Peach. Check out this shortbread recipe from Christina’s Cucina. Or for super flaky scones, this recipe from Sally’s Baking has rave reviews.
Mocktail recipe: Sparkling Peach Iced Tea
Ingredients (1 batch)
- 4 cups of your favorite unsweetened iced tea
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 cup water
- 2 cups chopped fresh or frozen peaches (set some aside for a garnish)
- 1 bottle of Mountain Valley White Peach Sparkling Water (any size)
- Ice
- Fresh mint
Directions
- Make your favorite iced tea per the instructions.
- Make a peach simple syrup by bringing one cup of sugar, one cup of water and 2 cups of chopped fresh peaches to a boil, reduce and simmer for 20 minutes (or until peaches are softened). Strain out liquid and let cool.
- To assemble, add ice to a glass and fill about 3/4 of the way up with tea. Add a few tablespoons of the peach simple syrup, or more, per your taste. Add a splash of Mountain Valley Sparkling White Peach Spring Water, then garnish with a peach slice and a sprig of mint.
Find more of our favorite mocktails here.
The Perfect Pairs: Mountain Valley Sparkling Key Lime Twist AND …
Subtly tart and mouthwateringly tangy, our Sparkling Key Lime Twist pairs nicely with a beach. Or with a cold winter day when you’d rather be on a beach.
- Asparagus: The grassy, woodsy earthiness of asparagus practically begs for an acidic pick-me-up. While many asparagus recipes call for topping with lemon, a squeeze of lime and a sprinkling of chopped macadamia nuts can be far more interesting.
- Lamb: Lamb and mint are a Christmas classic. And one you can easily modernize with the tangy kick of a few charred limes — and a glass of Mountain Valley Sparkling Key Lime Twist to wash it all down.
- Key lime everything: We know and love Key lime pie, but what about Key lime doughnuts, Key lime pound cake, Key lime cookies! Let the limes run wild for a sweet and spot-on pairing with our Mountain Valley Sparkling Key Lime Twist.
Cocktail recipe: The Mountain Valley Buck
A new spin on a Prohibition-era favorite, The Buck is thought to have been created in the late 1890s. Here's what Mountain Valley Culinary Ambassador Braithe Tidwell of the iconic Brennan's in New Orleans says about this cocktail: "It is a close cousin of the Vodka Collins and Mamie Taylor, and actually means any cocktail made with the addition of ginger beer. Typically, a Vodka Buck is often ordered under the name The Moscow Mule, a new American favorite.
“I added fresh mint to this Mountain Valley Buck, and I love how refreshing this cocktail is with the Mountain Valley Key Lime Twist, while also having a spicy holiday twist added by the ginger beer.”
Ingredients (1 cocktail)
- 2 ounces vodka
- 1 ounce lime juice
- 6 ounces good ginger beer (like Fever Tree)
- 2 ounces Mountain Valley Sparkling Key Lime Twist
- Mint leaves
- Lime
Directions
- Tear and bruise up a few mint leaves. Sprinkle half in a wine glass and add vodka, lime juice and ginger beer.
- Fill glass with ice and add the other half of the torn mint to the glass. Top with Mountain Valley Sparkling Key Lime Twist.
- Garnish with a mint sprig and lime wedge.
