Issue #443: Could Sparkling 22 Artesian Be Your Sober October Signature?

Every memorable dinner table has a small signature. Perhaps it is the music, the plates collected on vacation, or the fact that someone always insists there is room for dessert. This October, let the water become part of that signature.

Our suggestion is 22 Artesian Sparkling from La Rioja, Spain. Its striking bottle, intriguing source story, and lively pour make it an inviting companion for Sober October. Enjoy it plain with dinner, or give Friday a little ceremony with our Apple Citrus Sparkler.

As The Waterlady, I enjoy giving a water enough attention to become familiar. One bottle at one dinner is an introduction. The same source over several meals can help you discover where it fits your own table.

What the number actually means

The 22 in the name refers to the water's reported constant source temperature of 22°C, approximately 72°F. It is not a promise of twenty-two minerals, a pH value, or a secret numerical ranking.

Our product description places 22 Artesian in La Rioja's underground water landscape. La Rioja may be familiar to many people through wine, but this bottle gives us another way to explore the region at the table.

We like that shift for Sober October: keep the curiosity about place and dining, and bring it to a water you can enjoy plain.

The profile in our current listing

The sparkling 22 Artesian we carry comes in an 822 mL glass bottle, with a white cap and a neck label marked Sparkling Water. The current analysis lists a mineral value of approximately 663 mg/L, with calcium around 142.2 mg/L, magnesium around 32.2 mg/L, and sodium around 13 mg/L.

Those values put more mineral presence on the page than you will see with some very lightly mineralized waters. Whether you experience that as a more noticeable texture or finish is something to investigate through tasting.

An artesian source with a sparkling finish

22 Artesian Carbonated has added CO₂. Artesian describes its underground source; carbonation describes the bubbles in your glass. These are two different parts of the bottle’s identity, and both are worth knowing.

Start with a small plain pour in a clean glass. Notice the sensation of the bubbles, then the texture and finish. Does it feel lively at the beginning of dinner? Do you enjoy another sip after a savory bite? Your palate gets the deciding vote.

The Waterlady’s preference is to chill the bottle before serving, pour gently, and recap it between refills. Give the water a chance to introduce itself before inviting fruit and maple syrup into the conversation. There is room for both a plain sparkling pour and a dressed-up drink at the same dinner.

Our three-night Spanish table idea

Night one: an easy tapas-style supper. Put out roasted peppers, a little bread, olives, and a dish you enjoy. Pour sparkling 22 Artesian alongside the food and enjoy how the experience develops throughout dinner. Observe what you prefer beside the salty and savory foods.

Night two: a warm, vegetable-rich dinner. Try a bowl of lentils, roasted vegetables, or a mushroom dish. Serve sparkling 22 Artesian and notice whether you enjoy its presence throughout the course.

Night three: a shared weekend plate. Serve sparkling 22 Artesian plain, with the option of an Apple Citrus Sparkler for guests who would enjoy a little fruit. Introduce both choices without asking anyone to explain why they want an alcohol-free drink.

Let the water speak before the garnish

There is nothing wrong with fruit or herbs in a glass. But give 22 Artesian a plain introduction before adding them. Otherwise, you may decide you love lime and never learn whether you enjoy the water on its own.

Use a clean glass and begin without ice. Let the first sip settle before taking another. Notice the finish and whether you immediately want more. Those simple observations can become the foundation of your own tasting notes.

Make an Apple Citrus Sparkler

This pale gold, alcohol-free drink pairs autumn apple with lemon and a touch of maple. Sparkling 22 Artesian makes up most of the measured liquid, so the water has a real role in the recipe. The apple fan and orange-peel curl match the drink in our photo.

For one drink:

• 4 oz chilled 22 Artesian Carbonated
• 1 oz clear apple juice
• ¼ oz freshly squeezed lemon juice
• 1 teaspoon maple syrup, or less to taste
• 3 large ice cubes
• Garnish: a thin apple fan and a small curl of orange peel

Combine the apple juice, lemon juice, and maple syrup in a roomy stemmed glass. Stir until blended, then taste and adjust the sweetness before adding the water. Add the ice, slowly top with sparkling 22 Artesian, and give it one gentle stir. Finish with the apple fan and orange peel. Serve immediately.

Use clear apple juice for the translucent golden appearance shown. Chill the juice ahead of time, and add the sparkling water last. Skip vigorous stirring or shaking once the bubbles arrive.

For four guests, combine 4 oz apple juice, 1 oz lemon juice, and up to 4 teaspoons maple syrup. Divide among four glasses, add ice, then top each with 4 oz sparkling 22 Artesian. This keeps the mixing simple and lets everyone receive a freshly finished drink.

Make it a signature you can repeat

One reason to buy a water you enjoy again is that repetition teaches you more than a single tasting. You can change the meal while keeping the bottle familiar, or compare it with another source while keeping dinner the same.

Shop 22 Artesian Carbonated at Salacious Drinks for your next dinner or Apple Citrus Sparkler. Choose the sparkling 822 mL glass bottle with the white cap featured in our photo.

Sober October can introduce a ritual you keep long after the month ends. Bring the bottle to the table, tell its temperature story, and find out what your own signature pour might be.

Cheers from The Waterlady's table.