Although it’s been around for decades, LaCroix sparkling water has only recently become the “it” beverage, part of a national trend away from soft drinks. In 2015 the U.S. saw its lowest rate of soda consumption in 30 years, and water sales continue to skyrocket. Now say hello to a local alternative to the alternative: Montane Sparkling Spring Water.
It’s produced by 31-year-old Hollis Callaway, whose storied family—his great-grandfather Cason Callaway founded Callaway Gardens, and his great-uncle ran against Lester Maddox in one of the craziest gubernatorial races in American history—has owned Blue Springs, located in a protected area of Georgia’s Pine Mountain Range, since the 1930s. What makes the springs’ water taste so clean is the surrounding quartzite bedrock; hard, noncarbonate rock doesn’t erode, which means the water that trickles out of it has a relatively low amount of total dissolved solids (TDS), the measure for mineral content in a given volume of water.
“There’s nothing wrong with minerals from a health perspective,” says Callaway, “but from a taste perspective, there’s a heavier mouthfeel to high-TDS water.” Blue Springs’ water is 31 parts per million TDS compared to limestone springs’ 200 and more parts per million TDS. “This level of purity is rarely found in nature.”
“It makes LaCroix taste like storm water,” says the team at Sweet Auburn’s Cafe and Velo, which sells two flavors of Montane: the cucumber-lime and the Meyer lemon–honeysuckle.
To wit: Its high carbonation level is not for the weak. “It’s almost over the edge,” says Watershed head chef Zeb Stevenson, “but I like that. It hits the reset button on your palate.”
First taste
The staff at Atlanta magazine pounded sparkling spring water to give you our takes.
Original
“It’s great if you enjoy a highly carbonated beverage. I put my ear to the can 20 minutes after opening it, and the bubbles were still dancing around!” —Thomas Wheatley, Articles Editor
Meyer Lemon-Honeysuckle
“It takes me back to plucking and smelling the flowers as a kid.” —Myrydd Wells, Digital Editor
Cucumber-Lime
“Tastes like the water you get at a spa: aggressive cucumber with a politer lime.” —Tess Malone, Associate Editor
This article originally appeared in our October 2017 issue.