Issue #420 One Last Sip of Summer: Have You Tried Both August Water Boxes?

August, you have been hot, busy, bubbly, and just a little dramatic but before we officially turn the calendar to September, we need one final toast to the two boxes that carried us through the month.

The August Still Waters Box and August Sparkling Waters Box from SalaciousDrinks.com offer two completely different tasting experiences. Together, they feature twelve natural waters from nine countries, ranging from delicate, low-mineral waters to bold bottles with serious mineral personality.

In other words, this is not twelve bottles of “just water.” This is a passport for your palate.

The August Still Waters Box: Quiet Water, Plenty to Say

Still water may not arrive with bubbles, but that does not mean it lacks character. The August Still Waters Box brings together Ferrarelle, Icelandic Glacial, Sant Aniol, Saratoga, Splendor, and Ydor. Each water reflects the geology, climate, and underground journey of its source.

We begin in Italy with Ferrarelle, an artesian water with a TDS—or Total Dissolved Solids—of 272 mg/L. TDS gives us an idea of how much mineral material is dissolved in a water. Generally, a lower number produces a lighter sensation, while a higher number can create more body, texture, or flavor.

Ferrarelle spends more than 30 years underground, traveling through volcanic terrain before emerging at the surface. That journey gives it a balanced mineral presence without making it feel too heavy.

Next, we head north to Icelandic Glacial, sourced from Iceland’s Ölfus Spring. With a TDS of only 62 mg/L, it is one of the lighter waters in the box. It is naturally alkaline, with a pH of 8.4, and is filtered through layers of lava rock. The result is clean, crisp, and especially friendly to someone who is just beginning to explore the world of fine water.

Spain’s Sant Aniol turns the mineral volume up slightly. Sourced from a well and measuring 329 mg/L in TDS, it has a more noticeable structure than Icelandic Glacial. This is an excellent side-by-side tasting: try Icelandic first, then Sant Aniol, and notice how the second water feels fuller across the tongue.

America joins the trip with Saratoga, a natural spring water from Saratoga Springs, New York. Its low TDS of 73 mg/L creates a light and refreshing profile. The famous cobalt-blue bottle may get plenty of attention at the table, but the water inside remains crisp and easygoing.

Then there is Splendor from Ecuador, a very low-mineral artesian water with a TDS of just 31 mg/L. It is filtered through volcanic geology surrounding Cotopaxi, giving us another fascinating example of how the earth acts as a natural filtration system.

The box finishes in Greece with Ydor, sourced from an underground formation more than 130 meters deep in the Anthemountas basin. Its TDS of 350 mg/L and notable magnesium content give it a balanced but more mineral-forward taste.

The August Sparkling Waters Box: Let the Bubbles Speak

If the Still Box is a thoughtful dinner guest, the Sparkling Box is the one who enters with music playing.

This box features 22 Artesian, Antipodes, Saratoga Sparkling, Souroti, Splendor Sparkling, and VOSS Sparkling. The fun here is not only comparing mineral levels, but also noticing bubble size, intensity, texture, and finish.

Spain’s 22 Artesian Sparkling has a medium TDS of 663 mg/L. Its calcium- and magnesium-rich profile gives the water structure, while its plentiful yet delicate bubbles make it especially enjoyable alongside food. It is sparkling water wearing a dinner jacket—but it still knows how to have fun.

Antipodes Sparkling from New Zealand offers a much lighter experience. With a TDS of 130 mg/L and a pH of 7, it has a silky, subtle profile and gentle carbonation. This is the palate-cleansing bottle of the group: refined, refreshing, and never overpowering.

Saratoga Sparkling keeps things crisp with a TDS of 73 mg/L. Its light mineral content and champagne-like carbonation make it an approachable choice for people moving away from sugary sodas or looking for a more elegant alcohol-free option.

Now brace your taste buds for Greece’s Souroti. Naturally sparkling and carrying a TDS of 1,070 mg/L, this is the boldest mineral experience in the box. It contains a broad range of minerals and trace elements, and its flavor is not interested in whispering. Souroti enters the room, introduces itself, and remembers everyone’s name.

Splendor Sparkling from Ecuador takes the opposite route. With a TDS of only 31 mg/L, it combines an extremely light mineral profile with added effervescence. Compare it directly with Souroti and you will understand just how dramatically mineral content can change a water’s body and finish.

Finally, VOSS Sparkling from Norway sits comfortably between the extremes. Its TDS of 280 mg/L gives it enough mineral presence to feel structured, while its lively carbonation makes it refreshing on its own, with dinner, or in an alcohol-free cocktail.

Which Box Wins?

That is a trick question we are not making our water children compete.

Choose the Still Waters Box when you want to concentrate on texture, minerality, softness, and finish without carbonation changing the experience. Choose the Sparkling Waters Box when you want energy, bubbles, food-pairing possibilities, and a wider range of intensity.

Better yet, taste both. Start with the lowest-TDS still water, move toward the more mineral still selections, and then repeat the journey with the sparkling bottles. By the end, you may discover that your favorite water is not simply “still” or “sparkling.” You may prefer silky artesian water, mineral-rich spring water, tiny bubbles, bold bubbles, volcanic sources, or something completely unexpected.

August may be ending, but your water education does not have to. Raise one final glass to summer and make sure it contains something worth tasting.

Explore both August Water Boxes at SalaciousDrinks.com. Hydration should never be boring.