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Mountain Valley Spring Water was born in 1871 which proudly makes this year, 2021, our 150th! And to celebrate, we’re sharing 150 stories right here on this site as an homage to our history, our community, pure, raw nature, music, health, hydration, good food, natural, American goodness, and the source of it all.
Mountain Valley Springs to Life in 1871
In 1871, pharmacist Peter Greene and his brother John put their money where their health was, investing in a mineral spring in The Ouachita Mountains in Hot Springs, Arkansas. They renamed the spring after a nearby township, bottling its waters for distribution throughout the region. And so Mountain Valley Spring Water sprang to life.
Water Fit for a King
Among Mountain Valley’s famous fans, one remains King. The legendary Elvis Presley was a dedicated devotee of Mountain Valley — so much so that requests for our water often appeared in the riders for his shows, and a green bottle remains on display at Graceland. Today, Mountain Valley is proud to serve as the official water at the Guest House at Graceland.
America’s Winningest Water
The Berkeley Springs International Water Tasting is, as we like to say, the Academy Awards of Water. It’s also one of our favorite places to spend a day each year, sipping outstanding waters from around the world and seeing where Mountain Valley ranks among them (spoiler: quite high).
A Partnership Full of Good Luck
and Good Music
Mountain Valley has made a number of appearances at the legendary Willie Nelson’s ranch in Luck, Texas for the annual Luck Reunion music festival. This annual “anti-festival” is dedicated to cultivating and celebrating the evolution of our shared American roots. As America’s premium spring water, we share this vision and applaud the harmony, unity and inspiration of this uniquely American music and cultural gathering. In addition to the Reunion, Mountain Valley has been fortunate to be the official water partner at many Luck events, showcasing musical artists and chefs including the Luck Showboat and at the Americana Music Festival in Nashville.
STORY 06
Preserving Southern Food Culture and Heritage
Preserving Southern Food
Culture and Heritage
Mountain Valley is honored to have a seat at the table - even when the table is virtual - for the Symposiums put on by the Southern Foodways Alliance (SFA). These seasonal events bring together chefs, journalists, scholars and supporters for good meals, compelling conversation and a celebration of art and food culture. As a longtime partner of the SFA, Mountain Valley annually supports their mission to document, study, and explore the diverse food cultures of the changing American South.
The Original Mountain Valley Resort Drew International Acclaim
Back in 1871, Mountain Valley Spring Water’s founders believed these mineral springs could cure almost any ailment. Soon after buying the property, pharmacist Peter Greene and his brother John built a two-story hotel where guests could bathe in the springs and imbibe their refreshing, mineral-rich waters. The resort proved popular, drawing guests from as far away as Austria and Germany.
Mountain Valley Spotlights LEE Initiative at the Hot Springs Documentary Film Festival
As presenting sponsor of the 2018 Hot Springs Documentary Film Festival, Mountain Valley Spring Water hosted a collaboration with Chef Edward Lee and his LEE Initiative along with the filmmakers behind “THE HEAT: A Kitchen (R)evolution” — a documentary showcasing the challenges female chefs face in today's male-dominated kitchens.
Wellness Hits the Big Leagues
Executive Chef Jenny Perez has the unique job of keeping Major League Baseball’s Baltimore Orioles nourished. Mountain Valley met with her to learn more about her mission to transform the way people see food — focusing on the incredible healing power of eating well, while educating people along the way.
Popping Up with Our Friends at Goop
You never know where Mountain Valley Spring Water might pop up, including Goop pop-ups. We took part in a Goop Dallas pop-up that was big on Southern charm and included a shoppable pantry stocked with Goop kitchen mainstays, such as Mountain Valley’s iconic green glass bottles, as well as The Blue Apron Cookbook, Goop x Staub exclusive cookware, and more. We had so much fun, we followed Goop to Newport Beach, California where Mountain Valley Spring Water featured in festive cocktails for a holiday pop-up that brought the annual Goop gift guides to life.
A Gathering of Southern Makers and Artisans
Through our 150 years, Mountain Valley has been proud to support Southern makers and artisans such as Alabama Chanin. The Florence, Alabama-based lifestyle company produces design-minded, thoughtfully crafted goods with a focus on sustainable sourcing that emphasizes repurposed and reclaimed materials. Each year, Alabama Chanin hosts The Gathering, a community picnic celebrating and connecting local brands, makers, artisans and collaborators, and an event in which Mountain Valley is proud to take part.
Mountain Valley Culinary Ambassador Chef Michael Reed on Community
One of Mountain Valley’s first Culinary Ambassadors, Chef Michael Reed is a recognizable favorite around Los Angeles, well known for his restaurants, including the popular brunch spot Poppy + Rose. He shares his thoughts on the importance of family and supporting the community.
STORY 15
PROUDLY
ROOTED
Proudly Rooted
We named our company Mountain Valley for a reason: to honor this land that, for centuries, has been a source of life. Ouachita National Forest in Arkansas is more than our home, it’s our essence.
Chef Steve Samson Supports
Alma Backyard Farms
Chef Steve Samson of Rossoblu works with Alma Backyard Farms to bring Natural American Goodness back to their community through food. Alma Backyard Farms helps the formerly incarcerated reclaim their lives by building and working urban farms in disenfranchised communities in Los Angeles.
The Power of Balance
For 150 years, Mountain Valley Spring Water has been naturally infused with trace minerals that give it a slightly alkaline pH. This balanced alkalinity has been shown to neutralize acids and detoxify our bodies. Our water comes by its balancing benefits the old-fashioned way, through time and the hard work of Mother Nature.
Mountain Valley Supports the 2019 Ouachita Challenge and Friends of the Ouachita Trail
Mountain Valley is proud to support community organizations such as the Friends of the Ouachita Trail at the Ouachita Challenge, a two-day, 60-plus mile mountain biking event along the scenic Ouachita Trail in Oden, Arkansas.
A Mid-Summer Gathering in the Smoky Mountains
Tucked away on the wooded Maryville College campus in the foothills of Tennessee’s Smoky Mountains, RT Lodge is a boutique inn loaded with charm. The Gathering at RT Lodge featured a weekend of revelry, great food and drink and, of course, Mountain Valley Spring Water. Renowned chefs cooked throughout three-day event, including RT Lodge’s own Trevor Stockton, Andy Little from Josephine in Nashville, Richard Neal of The Admiral in Asheville, Rick Mace from Cafe Boulud in Palm Beach, Emily Blount from Saint Leo in Oxford, along with special guests Allan Benton of Benton’s Smoky Mountain Country Hams, Colleen Cruze of Cruze Farm, Distiller Shannon Walker and more.
Back to the Source Film Winner at 26th Anniversary Hot Springs Documentary Film Festival
Deep within The Ouachita Mountains, on the doorstep of a national park, lies the unforgettable spa city of Hot Springs, Arkansas. There the Hot Springs Documentary Film Festival is host to North America's oldest all-documentary film festival. For the Festival's 26th anniversary…
Mountain Valley Supports Operation BBQ Relief
Mountain Valley has been honored during our long history to support organizations that make an impact. One such organization is Operation BBQ Relief, a non-profit venture that responds to natural disasters and other emergencies to help feed displaced residents, first responders and personnel. We worked with Operation BBQ Relief in 2018 for a fundraising event at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland that supported wounded warriors as well as their families and hospital staff.
Eating, Drinking & Yoga at Eat Drink Vegan
Mountain Valley Spring Water is proud to support health and wellness events across the country, including the Eat Drink Vegan festival in Pasadena, California. In addition to presenting an array of purely plant-based food and drinks, the annual event features a 5K race plus an exhilarating group yoga session, promoting full-body wellness.
The Water of World Leaders
For almost 80 years, Mountain Valley Spring Water was served in the hallowed halls of the White House. Thirteen U.S. Presidents, from Calvin Coolidge to Bill Clinton, stocked the larders of the Executive Mansion with our signature glass bottles. After President Dwight D. Eisenhower suffered a heart attack in 1955, he is said to have imbibed Mountain Valley Spring Water on the advice of his physician.
Chef Jason Witzl followed his stomach — and found Mountain Valley
Chef Jason Witzl, the force behind the critically acclaimed Ellie’s in Long Beach, California, has always let his stomach be his guide. This flavor-first system led Chef Witzl to Mountain Valley Spring Water, which he uses for everything from cocktails to boiling pasta.
Arkansas meets Austin
We love supporting other great Southern brands. When our friends at Austin Eastciders — makers of quality craft ciders in Texas — launched in our great home state of Arkansas, we jumped at the chance to collaborate. That’s how this refreshing recipe for Apple Citrus Vodka Soda was born. Click the link to try it for yourself.
STORY 32
Mountain Valley Presents Culinary
Project Ambassadors
Mountain Valley Presents Culinary Project Ambassadors
In 2020, we launched The Mountain Valley Culinary Project to forward our mission to bring people together through the natural American goodness of outstanding food, drink, and the culinary experts who bring it to the table. The Mountain Valley Culinary Project Ambassador program features an elite group of respected members of the hospitality community invited to guide the brand’s mission through a year-long collaboration. Our inaugural Culinary Ambassadors include Chef Michael Reed of Poppy + Rose in Los Angeles, Chef Crystal De Luna-Bogan of The Grilled Cheeserie in Nashville, Master Sommelier June Rodil of Goodnight Hospitality in Houston, Chef William Dissen of Haymaker & The Market Place in Charlotte and Asheville, and Chef Andrew Lim of PERILLA Korean American Cuisine in Chicago.
Drinking spring water from glass and aluminum bottles tastes better
We refuse to compromise our water. Our glass and aluminum bottles are for more than just looks. Both keep Mountain Valley Spring water pure, balanced and refreshing, from the moment it leaves our springs to the moment you twist off the cap and take that first delicious gulp.
Happy 100th birthday to Hot Springs National Park
This is a big year. Not just for us but for a close friend, as well. As Mountain Valley Spring Water turns 150, we’re proud to raise a glass to Hot Springs National Park because our beautiful neighbor turns 100 this year. That’s right, on March 4, 1921, Hot Springs was made an official national park by President Woodrow Wilson. Visitors to this unique national park can soak in the thermal waters, drink spring water from the fountains and hike densely wooded slopes - all just steps away from downtown Hot Springs.
A Lesson in Local Sourcing with Culinary Ambassador William Dissen
Mountain Valley Culinary Ambassador William Dissen is a passionate supporter of sourcing locally, something he does everyday at his restaurants. Chef Dissen shared with Mountain Valley a few recipes showcasing some of the great local ingredients that make his North Carolina home special, including a Southern Fritto Misto Platter, highlighting seasonal vegetables and served with a ramp aioli, and a Wild Violet Vodka Spritz. Click to view the full recipes.
Chef Marcel Vigneron on Sourcing the Best Ingredients
One of the World Food Championships’ top 10 competitors of 2019 and “Top Chef” alum Marcel Vigneron is a chef who takes pride in sourcing the best ingredients. He sees the earth as a grocery store. No wonder Mountain Valley is his favorite water.
Mountain Valley Culinary Ambassador Chef Michael Reed Supports His Community
Mountain Valley was proud to work with our Culinary Ambassador Chef Michael Reed by donating water to the Skid Row Housing Trust in conjunction with one of the many initiatives that Reed and his restaurant, Poppy & Rose, do to support their downtown LA community. On this day, Reed and his team donated hundreds of meals - along with bottles of Mountain Valley - to the staff of the organization that provides permanent supportive housing to people who have experienced homelessness, prolonged extreme poverty, poor health, disabilities, mental illness and/or addiction so that they can lead safe, stable lives in wellness.
Chef Crystal De Luna Bogan Floats on with Mountain Valley
Mountain Valley Culinary Ambassador Chef Crystal de Luna Bogan has perfected the art of the grilled cheese sandwich at her three The Grilled Cheeserie locations around Nashville. Now, she’s turned her attention to perfecting milkshakes and floats — with a little help from Mountain Valley Spring Water. See how Chef de Luna Bogan uses our Sparkling Blackberry Pomegranate to turn a simple ice cream float into something that feels magically refreshing.
Taking Mountain Valley Fandom to New Heights
Straight from the heart of the Ouachita mountains to the Rocky Mountain State of Colorado, Mountain Valley would like to give thanks for bringing us along your incredible journey. Fan and founder of Foot Doctor Sports, Seth Minter maintains a passion for training top athletes around the world, teaching and learning from others and believes that any and all training should be done as close to nature as possible. Keep climbing and keep growing!
Mark Scott - Living & Delivering the American Dream
It’s pretty intriguing to follow Mountain Valley LA’s founding distributor
and
president, Mark Scott on his journey in living and delivering the “American
Dream”.
Mountain Valley Spring Water has been a part of Scott’s family since the
1970’s.
What started as his father’s small dairy distribution business in the flat
planes of Indianapolis has since expanded to the hills and valleys of Los
Angeles and beyond.
He is a true voice, equal parts wanderlust and wise about the everyday lives
he
has touched and the Mountain Valley’s rich heritage as America’s Original
Spring
Water.
Music — The Language of the Spirit
Mountain Valley Spring Water has fueled creative spirits for decades, from Hildegarde to Elvis to many of today’s popular artists. As a sponsor of Luck Reunion, the annual “anti-festival” at Willie Nelson’s ranch in Luck, Texas, we’re thrilled to continue that tradition. Luck unites chefs, artisan craftspeople and musicians such as Nashville’s own Langhorne Slim. We simply keep them hydrated.
1908 — Strangers on a Train: Two Moguls Bet Big on Mountain Valley
On a train from Hot Springs, Arkansas to New York City in 1908, two strangers struck an unlikely partnership over bottles of Mountain Valley Spring Water. In the first of our “Talking Bottles” series, hear this story directly from the source.
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Thank You,
Los Angeles
Thank You, Los Angeles
Thank you, Ostrich Farm, Poppy + Rose, Met Her At A Bar, Ostrich Farm & Salud Juice. Thank you for helping us becoming the premium classic and perfect pairing we are today. We hope to replenish your source this year, the way you have always and continue to replenish ours.
A Mountain-inspired Cocktail Recipe
Mountain Valley Spring Water comes together with craft distillery Ventura Spirits and their foraged Wilder Gin. The Ventura Spirits mission is to use the natural and agricultural bounty of California's central coast to handcraft spirits that take on the taste of the land. Their passion for capturing natural American goodness caught our eye, and their Wilder Foraged Gin Fizz made our mouths water. We talked with them about how they’re contributing to the great spirits tradition.
Secretariat’s (not so) secret weapon
The key to winning the Triple Crown may be in the water. The winter 1974 Mountain Valley newsletter featured a curious column titled “If Tweedy or Laurin Should Call.” The report says horse-racing legend Secretariat’s famed trainer, Lucien Laurin, and owner Helen Tweedy gave the thoroughbred Mountain Valley Spring Water when the horse had health problems. They were so thrilled with his recovery that Secretariat continued to drink Mountain Valley throughout his career, and they continued the hydration practice with Secretariat’s offspring. “(I)f someone named Tweedy or Laurin should phone you and ask you for 25 or 50 five-gallon bottles, it’s not for a small pool … but for a young brother of the distinguished chestnut-haired gentleman with four legs.”
Part Chef, Part Pioneer: Meet Daniel Bruce
In his 30-plus years as a chef, Daniel Bruce has blazed new food trails. He cares about his ingredients just as much as he cares about his staff and guests. And, of course, he cares about his water, which is why only the crisp, pure taste of Mountain Valley will do.
Making memories with Amanda Shires
Some of our happiest memories involve music. In 2018, Mountain Valley spent some remarkable moments with the incredible Amanda Shires. At AMERICANAFEST in Nashville and the annual Newport Folk Festival, we watched Amanda sip from our green bottles before bringing down the house with her refreshingly distinct style of country-folk-rock. That same year, Mountain Valley sponsored Garden & Gun’s Made in the South Awards, where we listened to Amanda and her fiddle make their magic in the event’s Back Porch Session with our water by her side. Cheers to more musical memories!
Bringing Mountainous Refreshment to South Florida’s Gulf Coast
Aqua Systems believes water should be clear, easy and simple. That’s why they’ve teamed with Mountain Valley. Based in Fort Myers, Florida, Aqua Systems delivers our purely sourced, award-winning waters up and down the Sunshine State’s Gulf Coast. From Mountain Valley’s 5-gallon glass water-cooler bottles to our single-serving sparkling waters and every bottle in between, we’re proud to partner with Aqua Systems to help get our water direct from its source deep in the heart of the Ouachita Mountains to our many Florida fans. It couldn’t be clearer, simpler or easier. Thank you, Aqua Systems!
Among the Greats
Mountain Valley has a great history with our friends at MADE SOUTH, so it’s no surprise we had a blast working with them on their Great Slider Showdown events in 2018 and 2019. Culinary “greats” Alton Brown, Maneet Chauhan, Sean Brock and more critiqued top regional chefs as they competed for “greatest” slider bragging rights. It was a one-of-a-kind experience in Nashville. And we were proud to be there to help keep all these greats refreshed.
A Perfect Pairing With The Peach Truck
We collaborated with the folks from The Peach Truck in Nashville for this refreshing Sparkling Peach Sangria recipe. Unlike grocery-store peaches, The Peach Truck’s peaches are picked from its orchards and delivered directly to its customers mere hours later, for a level of farm-to-table freshness that can’t be beat. It’s the taste experience that nature intended, much like the natural American goodness of Mountain Valley Spring Water. Check out the link below for the recipe and to learn more about The Peach Truck.
Two True Originals Coming Together at Home
Thank you Jesse Brooks! The songwriter and digital producer brought us into his New Orleans home, combining the refreshing taste of Mountain Valley Spring Water with our vintage-style dispenser (which was included with purchase). What started as a family tradition while vacationing in Hot Springs, Arkansas has become an everyday home essential — and a beautiful one at that. Jesse and his family will always have a sip of Hot Springs with them. Sign up for Home Delivery and order yours today!
Upcycling with Mountain Valley: Keeping our green bottles green
We think our emerald-green glass bottles are beautiful. We think they’re even more beautiful when they find new lives and purposes. From simply recycling them, which we always encourage, to upcycling them into household decor, here’s a look at what to do with your empty emerald vessels.
Of Mobsters, Moonshine and Mountain Valley
Nestled amid the rolling slopes of The Ouachita Mountains, our hometown of Hot Springs, Arkansas is quiet and off the beaten path; a secluded secret waiting to be discovered. The area has attracted some notorious visitors over the years, including the infamous Al Capone. The mobster lived part-time in suite 443 of The Arlington Resort Hotel. The Fort Smith Times Record reported Capone’s suite housed a secret passage to the Ohio Club, Arkansas’s oldest bar. Capone would strike moonshine deals at the club, then sneak his illegal booze back to Chicago in bottles labeled “Mountain Valley Water.” Using our name to traffic illicit alcohol? We’re not sure how to feel about that. But clearly it worked.
STORY 60
Thank you,
Napa Valley!
Thank you, Napa Valley!
Thank you, Contimo Provisions & The Station in Napa Valley! Where nature serves as a constant source of inspiration, where the menus are seasonal and history is honored. Thank you for using the best ingredients and for raising a glass to the crisp, clean taste of Mountain Valley.
Mountain Valley & Exotico Tequila = A Winning Combination
Mountain Valley teamed up with Exotico Tequila to present an array of
cocktails celebrating the naturally delicious combination of our Sparkling
Essence flavors with its premium tequilas. Exotico crafts unaged tequilas
made with 100% blue agave. They’re the perfect complement to the crisp clean
taste of Mountain Valley Spring Water.
Whether you like a simple spritz or consider yourself an expert mixologist,
there are plenty of cocktails to choose from at the link below.
The Perfect Meal Pairing For Our Sparking Key Lime Twist
When it comes to food and drink, some things are better together. Finding the perfect pairing is an art form, as we learned from chefs and restaurateurs Ryan Rogers and Andrew McCabe of bar Vetti in Louisville, Kentucky.
Babe Ruth Gets into the Swing of Hot Springs
Before Major League Baseball sent its players to Florida and Arizona for spring training, it sent them to Hot Springs, Arkansas. The city served as the preseason home for the Chicago Cubs, Pittsburgh Pirates, Brooklyn Nationals, Chicago White Stockings and Boston Red Sox in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Spring training as fueled by some of the world’s purest spring water? We like it! Perhaps the most famous ball player to ever swing a bat in Hot Springs: The Great Bambino himself, Babe Ruth. The Sultan of Swat is said to have hit his first-ever 500-foot home run in Hot Springs’ Whittington Park. It proved to be the start of a long and fruitful career for The Babe. We like to think, maybe there was something in the water.
A Match Made in Mississippi
We’re always proud to partner with other great Southern brands and makers, like the folks at Cathead Distillery in Jackson, Mississippi. Mississippi-born and bred, Cathead is the state's first legal still — opened more than 100 years after prohibition. Cathead crafts high quality small-batch spirits. Its signature vodka has proven to be a perfect complement to Mountain Valley — so perfect, in fact, Cathead offered a special limited-edition collaboration package featuring its vodka, a bottle of our Sparkling Water and a recipe for “The Porch Swing” cocktail, perfect for summer sipping on porches and anywhere else.
Byrne Offutt - Finding His Way Back To The Source
Byrne Offutt grew up in Hot Springs, Arkansas. He was living in L.A. when he decided to go back to the source and started distributing Mountain Valley Spring Water. For Byrne, it made sense. He felt a connection. Mountain Valley is a Hot Springs original. So is he. Byrne spoke with us about his decade-long tenure with the company in L.A., the balance he feels at work, the rise of the farm-to-table movement in California, and how America’s original spring water company fit right into it.
From Death & Co, A Burger-Fries-Soda Combo That’s Anything But Ordinary
Death & Co is a restaurant and bar that has moved the bar. It’s a bar that has pushed the bar into realms previously unknown. We asked Death & Co Denver executive chef Jonathan Merrill to dream up a delicious Mountain Valley-based beverage. He, of course, took that bar and raised it, to include not just this effervescent Mountain Valley Sparkling Water creation, but these outstanding burger and fries recipes to go with it.
Water, the Gold Standard of Hydration
At Mountain Valley, we believe wholeheartedly in the power of water. Proper hydration has been linked to countless health benefits, from improved memory and mood, to healthier skin, shinier hair and fewer headaches. And, to be properly hydrated, nothing beats water.
Raising Glasses and Funds in the Big Easy
Every now and then, we have the good fortune of spending a little time in the Big Easy. Such was the case in June of 2021, when Mountain Valley once again sponsored the New Orleans Wine & Food Experience. Between sips of fine wines and craft beers, and bites from dozens (and dozens) of the restaurants that make up the Crescent City’s soul, Mountain Valley was there to refresh palates with our award-winning spring waters. This year’s event raised funds for the New Orleans Culinary & Hospitality Institute as well as Cafe Reconcile, which offers employment and job training to NOLA youth. In its almost 30 years, the event has raised more than $1.5 million for local culinary organizations. To that, we say: Cheers!
Mountain Valley and Mountains of BBQ
Picture it: more than a dozen of the best pitmasters from around the U.S., world-famous butchers, award-winning bakers and pie makers — all of them serving hand-crafted creations, and all of it washed down with the crisp, pure taste of Mountain Valley Spring Water. Lucky for us, we didn’t have to simply picture it. We got to live, breathe and savor it in with acclaimed Chef Jean-Paul Bourgeois in Manhattan’s Madison Square Park during the 2018 Big Apple Barbecue Block Party. The two-day food and music festival brought together thousands of BBQ lovers, present company included, for a smoky good time.
Mountain Valley Culinary Ambassador Braithe Tidwell, A Staple at A New Orleans Staple
Braithe Tidwell, wine director at the legendary Brennan’s restaurant in New Orleans, has plenty of things keeping her busy — 15,000 things, give or take a few-dozen cinsaults and syrahs. That’s how many bottles of wine Brennan’s keeps in its carriage-house-turned-cellar and that Ms. Tidwell keeps catalogued in her wine-loving mind. Her job is, of course, more than memorizing vintages. It’s about championing the growth and education of her team while tantalizing the taste buds of Brennan’s guests. Meet our Mountain Valley Culinary Ambassador and see how her style of Natural American Goodness follows her glass to glass.
Connie & Angela Scotchie - Delivering Good Water to Good People
Connie Scotchie’s journey with Mountain Valley started with a neighbor knocking on her door. Thirty-some years later, it’s become a family business. Now retired, Connie passed the business along to her daughter, Angela, who’s continuing the family’s passion of “delivering good water to good people.”
Proud Partner to the Texas Food and Wine Alliance
A couple things we love at Mountain Valley: local food and the complex culinary web it’s weaved throughout these United States. That’s why we’re proud to partner with the Texas Food and Wine Alliance, a nonprofit dedicated to fostering awareness and innovation across the Lone Star State’s culinary communities, in our 150th year. The Texas Food & Wine Alliance has chapters in Houston, Dallas, and San Antonio that are each dedicated to fostering awareness and innovation through grants, educational programming, and events.
Arkansas The Beautiful
Many of our favorite images of the breathtaking Ouachita Mountains and Arkansas were captured by the incredibly talented Tim Ernst. The preeminent Arkansas wilderness photographer, Ernst is an avid outdoorsman with more than 30 years experience taking beautiful scenic photographs across Mountain Valley’s great home state. Since a picture is worth a thousand words, we’ll let some of Ernst’s stunning images speak for themselves.
Chowing Down with Mountain Valley at Chow Chow in Asheville
In our 150th year, Mountain Valley Spring Water headed to Chow Chow Asheville to help support the organization's mission of celebrating and enriching the unique foodways of the Southern Appalachian region for a weekend of in-person signature events.
An Arkansas film deserves Arkansas water
When Arkansas’s own Joey Lauren Adams chose to make her directorial debut movie, “Come Early Morning,” right here in our home state, we at Mountain Valley knew we wanted to help. That meant keeping the cast and crew, including award-winning actress Ashley Judd, properly and locally watered. For our thirst-quenching bit of assistance, Ms. Adams and Ms. Judd signed a script from the 2006 film and kindly gave it to us for our Visitors Center. “To Mountain Valley,” the inscription reads. “Thanks for keeping us hydrated and happy.” You’re welcome!
Mountain Valley Ginger Ale Kept the 1920s Roaring
In “The Roaring Twenties,” as Prohibition settled in and bootleggers did all they could to get around it, a new nonalcoholic beverage gained popularity: pale and dry ginger ale. Bartenders needed a powerful soda that could match the potency of illicit moonshine, and beverage companies throughout the country set out to fill that demand — including Mountain Valley. Green 12-ounce bottles of Mountain Valley “pale dry ginger ale” from 1920 are on display in our Hot Springs Visitors Center. We’re not sure exactly how many pale dry ginger ales we sold, but we’re happy to have helped keep the 1920s roaring.
Mountain Valley Through the Eyes of an Artist
When Dallas-based fine artist Stephen Selzler moved to Hot Springs and chose to paint a few of our iconic glass bottles for the Justus Fine Art Gallery, we were blown away. In an Instagram post, Mr. Selzler said the paintings showcase his “obsession with art that explores legacy brands, one of which is @mountainvalleywater.” Selzler, who draws inspiration from Andy Warhol, Jeff Koons and Norman Rockwell, said the colorful works of art “commemorate one of the oldest product marques exported by this city and its venerated mineral waters.” We like to note he painted one of Mountain Valley’s sparkling spring waters. A natural seltzer by Selzler? Sounds refreshingly beautiful to us.
The Official Spring Water of Chiefs and Champions
In the 1990s, as the Kansas City Chiefs topped the NFL’s AFC West Division, Mountain Valley was there. In fact, it was all over this great city. “Today, you will find Mountain Valley Spring Water in Kansas City’s finest homes, offices and restaurants, as well as throughout the Chiefs’ offices and training facilities,” a 1990s ad campaign noted of “The official spring water of the Chiefs.” It concluded: “We’re proud that the Chiefs are carrying on the championship tradition.”
STORY 82
Mountain Valley
an Odds-On Favorite
at Oaklawn
Mountain Valley an Odds-On Favorite at Oaklawn
The Mountain Valley Handicap, later known as the Mountain Valley Stakes, was a longstanding annual tradition at Oaklawn, one of the premiere thoroughbred racetracks in the country since 1904, located here in our hometown of Hot Springs, Arkansas. At six furlongs — just under a mile — the horse race took about 1 minute, 10 seconds most years.
Still Bottled at the Source: The Mountain Valley Plant Today
In our 150 years, as America’s oldest continually operating bottled water company, Mountain Valley Spring Water has stayed true to our our source. Our bottling plant has always operated adjacent to our protected natural spring in the heart of the Ouachita Mountains near Hot Springs, Arkansas. What started as a simple, family operation way back when has grown into a state-of-the-art facility where our signature green-glass bottles are filled with the purest, most refreshing water we’ve ever tasted.
Horsing around with the great Alice Guffey Miller
Few people are as dedicated to the Arkansas art scene as Alice Guffey Miller. For decades, her work has graced the halls of museums throughout the U.S. and the world. So, when she chose our signature, green-glass bottles for her “Speed Steed,” a sculpture, now on display at the Hot Springs Convention Center, we weren’t simply honored. Neigh, we were thrilled!
Hot Springs Delivered to You, Yesteryear and Today
Our nationwide distribution network was the hot topic of this 1970s Mountain Valley ad — as was the telephone book. While little has changed with our purely sourced spring water, lots has changed with technology. Today, you’re only a click away from convenient home delivery.
A History of Bringing Business and Music Together
The Mountain Valley Spring Company’s Visitor Center sits in Hot Springs’ historic district and is on the National Register of Historic Places. The center’s third floor holds a special bit of history. It was originally a big-band hot spot of the Roaring ‘20s, famously known as the “Japanese Ballroom.” The space’s original ceiling and period fixtures have been fully restored. While the third floor is now used for offices, we continue to celebrate and support legendary musicians with our event partnerships.
STORY 87
Thank You,
Charleston!
Thank You, Charleston!
Green glass bottles of Mountain Valley have been spotted in many of the tastiest hot spots in the Holy City of Charleston, South Carolina. A few of our favorites include Babas on Cannon and The Daily and Chez Nous. We’re proud to be on so many tables in this food-loving town!
What Exactly is Spring Water?
This seems like a simple question. It’s water … from a spring. Right? If only it were that easy. We take a look at the defining characteristics of spring water. Because after 150 years of sourcing some of the best in the world, we’ve learned a thing or two.
An Historic Visitor Center for an Historic Brand
This stately structure, a fine example of Classical Revival style, was originally built over a spring in 1910. Historically authentic renovations were completed in 2004, adding to its popularity among Hot Springs residents and visitors. Our Visitor Center is on the National Register of Historic Places as part of Hot Springs.
Heifer International supports farmers with ‘Feast in the Field’
In 2019, we proudly sponsored the 75th anniversary of Heifer International, supporting Heifer’s USA mission of bringing together farmers to build rural, farmer-owned cooperatives in the communities that need them most. Arkansas chef Donnie Ferneau explained to us his take on Natural American Goodness, cooking with the local and seasonal ingredients that form the foundation of his menu, and the culinary bliss of combining natural ingredients with the clean taste of Mountain Valley Spring Water.
Arkansas’s Own: President Bill Clinton
When Arkansas’s own Bill Clinton made it to the halls of the White House, he took his hometown spring water with him. President Clinton continued a long line of leaders who served our purely sourced spring water in and around the Oval Office, a tradition that dates back to Calvin Coolidge. A 1996 New York Times article noted that Mr. Clinton could often be seen “cradling a bottle of Mountain Valley” during his jogs.
The Shirts Off Our Backs — For Sale Online
We love our fans. We love them so much, we’d give them the shirts off our backs. Or at least make them for sale online. Our apparel and branded merchandise, here by popular demand, allows you to wear your Mountain Valley love on your sleeve (and head, and neck). Pro tip: when in Hot Springs, stop by our Visitors Center to find Mountain Valley swag you can’t get anywhere else.
Your Favorite Water, Delivered
From our classic 2.5 and 5-gallon glass bottles, available with a variety of dispensers, to our full line of spring, sparkling and sparkling essences waters in case packs — you can have just about any Mountain Valley product brought to your door. Get yours delivered at the link below.
On Nantucket, Wine, Food, Charity and Mountain Valley
Over the course of five days and 60 mouthwatering events, the 2018 Nantucket Wine & Food Festival reminded food lovers from around the world just how delicious this little island truly is. And, through its dozens of charitable donations, just how powerful a good appetite can be. Mountain Valley proudly supported the event’s many causes, as well as the many chefs who took part, including New York City’s Elizabeth Falkner and Boston’s Tiffani Faison. Mountain Valley Spring Water served not only as a festival sponsor but also as a refreshing palate cleanser between courses. Oysters and Mountain Valley. Pasta and Mountain Valley. Pinot noir and Mountain Valley. We say: Yum, yum, yum.
Hydrating Boxing Legends: The Mountain Valley Knockout
Muhammed Ali, Sugar Ray Robinson, Floyd Patterson, Jack Dempsey, Gene Tunney — when we at Mountain Valley learned our purely sourced spring water had been used to fuel some of boxing’s biggest names, well, we were knocked out. Another boxing icon we kept hydrated: the legendary world heavyweight champion Joe Louis. As Louis’s trainer once wrote, “Because most water varies not only from city to city but even from the same source, I’ve solved my problem by stocking in a supply of Mountain Valley Water.” It takes the best to hydrate the best.
Outstanding in the Field (With a Glass Bottle of Mountain Valley)
Since 1999, Outstanding in the Field has joined the country’s most innovative farmers with locavore eaters looking to reconnect with their food. Dubbed a “roving restaurant without walls,” the event is one with which Mountain Valley proudly partnered in 2019. Mountain Valley Spring Water served as the featured water for the 120 guests who gathered at a long table that meandered through the heart of Wattles Farm in Hollywood, California. Chefs Steven Fretz and Ryan Ososky created four stunning and purely plant-based courses for the night. The event was, as its organizers like to say, a “celebration of people, place and the origins of good food.” We say: Cheers to that!
In Pursuit of America’s Pure, Original, Premium Best
Mountain Valley Spring Water has been naturally free-flowing inside our heartland for thousands of years. Its sacred source lies deep within the pristine wilderness of the Ouachita Mountains, where we’ve been bottling it in glass to preserve its award-winning taste — and the planet — since 1871. It’s a celebration of our American source and spirit.
The World Food Championships with Award-Winning Chef Marcel Vigneron
When Chef Marcel Vigneron took Rookie of the Year honors at the 2019 World Food Championships in Dallas, we couldn’t have been more thrilled. Mountain Valley Spring Water sponsored the “Top Chef” alumnus and Culinary Institute of America graduate during the event, cheering him all the way to the winners’ podium. We like to think our purely sourced spring water helped fuel Chef Vigneron’s hard work, as well as the inspired-by-nature approach he took with his award-winning dishes.
Water That Sparkles, From Tastebuds to Judges’ Tables
Watching people’s eyes light up when they taste our Mountain Valley Sparkling Spring Water is one of our favorite things. Infused with bubbles and the perfect hint of natural fruit essences, this isn’t just any fizzy water. This best-in-the-world, award-winning sparkle is purely Mountain Valley. Read on at this link.
World Class in
the Mid-Atlantic
When America’s iconic spring water and our nation’s capital come together, refreshing things happen. Such is the case with Mountain Valley Spring Water Mid-Atlantic. Based in Annapolis Junction, Maryland, this distributorship has been living its motto, “World-class water deserves world-class service,” since 1920. Mountain Valley Mid-Atlantic’s very first delivery went to none other than President Woodrow Wilson at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. In the 101 years that have followed, the company has delivered to world-renowned chefs, athletes, politicians and the millions of people who keep this powerful region churning.
Celebrating Mountain
Valley, ‘90s Style
The year was 1996. Bill Clinton won reelection. The U.S. hosted the Summer Olympics in Atlanta. And, perhaps most importantly, Mountain Valley Spring Water celebrated our 125th anniversary with some majorly rad swag. The varsity jacket, the shot glasses, the, um, signature wood box for toting around the shot glasses — we made our mark on the moment. Thank you to Mountain Valley’s New York distributor, Stuart Scott, for sharing the memorabilia.
A Superior Collaboration 150 Years in the Making
A true Hot Springs original, Superior Bathhouse Brewery is the only brewery in a U.S. National Park, and the only brewery in the world to utilize thermal spring water in their beer. When we explored partnerships for our 150th year, teaming up with Superior made perfect sense. Two Hot Springs originals, coming together to create an exclusive custom brew using Mountain Valley Spring Water? Tastes great to us.
A Nod From the Halls of Little Rock
Mountain Valley Spring Water has received some wonderful 150th anniversary wishes this year, including one from the governor of our home state. Arkansas’s leader recognized our employees and their hard work in writing Sept. 21, 2021. The letter praised our connections to such legendary Mountain Valley fans as Frank Sinatra, John Lennon, Sugar Ray Leonard and Elvis Presley. It noted, “From Coolidge to Clinton, Mountain Valley Spring Water has been the official water at the White House and is still served on the Senate floor today.” We’re blushing. It’s always nice to see our team recognized for its dedication.
Mountain Valley’s Greatest 150 Playlist
In celebration of our 150th anniversary, we've compiled 150 of our favorite songs from artists who’ve sipped and supported Mountain Valley through the years. From The King to the Queen B, Beyonce herself; from the Lumineers to country legend Shotgun Willie; from Kehlani to Lenny Kravitz — while our green-glass bottles have many famous fans, we too are fierce fans of the legendary artists who inspired this all-American soundtrack.
Brian Rose -
Bringing America’s
Taste Buds Back to
the Source
For Brian Rose, the owner and president of Water Event in North Texas, Mountain Valley has been a celebrated source of consistency for the past 50 years. Brian has watched America’s taste buds change. And change again. But what excites him most is keeping Mountain Valley’s legacy of natural goodness alive for the next generation.
Raising a Glass (or Two) to 150 Years
Nothing says “Happy 150th anniversary!” quite like a signature cocktail — or two. We’re honored to have Mountain Valley Culinary Ambassador Braithe Tidwell of New Orleans’ iconic Brennan’s Restaurant dream up this pair of celebratory beverages to mark our milestone year. Her Mountain Valley Buck features our Key Lime Twist Sparkling Spring Water teamed with vodka, lime juice and fresh mint, while her Mountain Valley Rose joins our White Peach Sparkling Spring Water with Laird’s Applejack brandy and homemade grenadine. Braithe’s beautiful concoctions have left us speechless. What we can say: Cheers!
Natural American Goodness, in the Wild and in Our Bottles
Chef William Dissen understands the power of Natural American Goodness — in its wildest form. The Mountain Valley Culinary Ambassador has been foraging for ingredients since he was a kid walking by his grandfather’s side in the mountains of West Virginia. At The Market Place, Dissen’s award-winning farm-to-table restaurant in Asheville, North Carolina, he showcases the hyper-local bounty of the region. And he washes it down with the Natural American Goodness of Mountain Valley Spring Water.
Mountain Valley Goes Globetrotting
While Mountain Valley has been refreshing the U.S. for 150 years, our purely sourced spring water first went global in 1932 — thanks, naturally, to “Lord Beaverbrook and the Duchess of Talleyrand.” An early 1980s edition of “The Spring” credited the lord and duchess for shipping cases of Mountain Valley to England and France. In 1938, our spring water hit China thanks to the Soong family, who ordered cases on the advice of their physicians. And, 45 years later in 1983, distributor Ken Hasegawa sent cases of Mountain Valley Spring Water to Japan. Get yours delivered at the link below.
Purely Refreshing Pageantry: Mountain Valley & Miss Arkansas
Mountain Valley Spring Water has proudly hydrated champion boxers, a Triple Crown-winning thoroughbred, and even The King himself, Mr. Elvis Presley. So, why not a pageant queen? In 2013, we went back to our roots to sponsor the Miss Arkansas Pageant in our hometown of Hot Springs. That year’s winner, Amy Crain, won $20,000 in scholarship money for her platform on bullying prevention, and she went on to represent The Wonder State in the competition for Miss America.
Elevating Meals, One Sip
at a Time, for 150 Years
Today, you’ll find Mountain Valley Spring Water in the kitchens and behind the bars of some of the finest restaurants across the U.S., from the iconic Brennan’s in New Orleans to San Francisco’s Zuni Cafe. But our purely sourced Ouachita Mountain spring water has been elevating dining experiences since our founders started bottling it back in 1871. The crisp taste of Mountain Valley has long been recognized as a palate refresher, as the kind of water that can complement a great meal of any caliber. Cheers to that!
Naturally Refreshing from Year 1 to Year 70 to Today
In the 1940s, Mountain Valley Spring Water was 70 years young. Much has changed since then, but according to this sales brochure from the era, some things haven’t. Our purely sourced Ouachita Mountain spring water remains mineral rich and can still be delivered to your doorstep — home or office. We still proudly call Hot Springs, Arkansas home, and our claims of “delicious to the taste” are now backed up by some serious awards (19 of them, to be exact). Mountain Valley Spring Water has come a long way in our 150 years, but the water at the heart of our business is as naturally refreshing as ever.
A Holiday Fit For A 150 Year Old Brand
We were honored to have Hot Springs Mayor Pat McCabe declare Saturday, October 9, 2021 as the first official Mountain Valley Spring Water Day in the city of Hot Springs. What an honor! We think the natural next step is, of course, making it a national holiday, as well.
No Kid Hungry x Chef Matthew McClure x Mountain Valley
When the opportunity arose to help end childhood hunger while supporting an Arkansas chef and his dedication to local foodways, we leapt. Mountain Valley Spring Water proudly sponsored No Kid Hungry’s 2019 fundraiser with Chef Matthew McClure of The Hive in Bentonville. It was an all-Arkansas night filled with food, community and charity. Nothing makes us happier than seeing our Natural American Goodness helping to create more of it.
Getting “Fancy Like” with Walker Hayes
Before Walker Hayes was “Fancy Like” Applebee’s — and Kesha — he was twirling green bottles of Mountain Valley Spring Water in anticipation of his 2017 album “Boom.” Mountain Valley sponsored the singer’s release party in Nashville that year. We hope it was exactly the Boom he needed.
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A Double Celebration for Two American Originals
A Double Celebration for Two American Originals
America’s original premium spring water met America’s original all-documentary festival, the critically acclaimed Hot Springs Documentary Film Festival. This fall, we celebrated our 150th and the event’s 30th anniversary in our Hot Springs home. We painted the town Mountain Valley green with a kick-off block party, toasted to a special collaboration with Superior Bathhouse Brewery, hosted a citywide bike parade and capped off the fun with virtual "Back to the Source" conversations featuring notable Arkansas natives. Talk about twice the birthday delight!
The Power of Knowing Your Roots
At Mountain Valley Spring Water, we believe there’s humility and honesty in knowing your roots. In 2006, Charlie Nelson found his by pure accident. Or maybe pure luck. Read on to see how Nelson and his family picked up where their ancestors left off, to create Nelson’s Green Brier Distillery in Tennessee, maker of award-winning bourbons and whiskeys.
Saluting the Best in the Land at the Iowa State Fair
As the official water of the Iowa State Fair, the oldest and largest agricultural and industrial exposition in the country, we take pride in our shared tradition of celebrating the best in the land. From horse pulling to fine art contests, circus acts and musical performances, find a whole lot of fun and America’s award-winning original premium spring water at the Iowa State Fair.
The Future of Food Looks Bright
A shared passion for food brought together Texas Food & Wine’s Culinary Arts Career Conference and Mountain Valley for a special one-of-a-kind event that gave Texas high school culinary students a taste of different career paths within the food and beverage world. This year’s speakers included Bravo “Top Chef” alum and restaurateur Tiffany Derry; author and meat expert Jess Pryles; food connoisseurs Gavin Booth and Karen Reinsburg; and pitmaster and chef Evan LeRoy.
A Whole Lot to Love at Whole Foods
We partnered with Whole Foods in a shared pursuit of nourishing people and the planet by delivering the highest quality natural goods shoppers can trust. From NYC to Denver to San Francisco, you can find the crisp, clean taste of pure Mountain Valley Spring Water in Whole Foods locations across the country. Stock your cart with beautiful green bottles of Mountain Valley as we pursue a greener future.
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From Deer Mountain Inn to Mountain Valley: Chef Ryan Tate
From Deer Mountain Inn to Mountain Valley: Chef Ryan Tate
As head chef of Deer Mountain Inn in Tannersville, New York, Michelin-starred Chef Ryan Tate believes in serving the natural goodness of his surroundings and washing it down with the crisp refreshment of Mountain Valley. He wants to bring diners closer to their ingredients and closer to the bounty of the surrounding Catskills and Hudson Valley. The mountains, the woods, the fantastic foraging — discovering America’s natural goodness never tasted so good.
Milk, Bread, Mountain Valley Spring Water
Today, thanks to online ordering and home delivery, the delicious taste of Mountain Valley Spring Water is just a click away. While we love nothing more than delivering the crisp refreshment of our purely sourced water directly to your door, Mountain Valley has been a grocery-store staple for decades. Just ask these bottles from the 1950s. Milk — check. Potatoes — check. Natural American goodness bottled in sustainable, recyclable and beautiful glass just as it has been for 150 years — check and check.
An Eli Mason Fall Fizz — The Mountain Valley Way
Eli Mason makes Old Fashioneds easy — and delicious. The Nashville-born cocktail-mixer company prides itself on using a proprietary blend of all-natural ingredients. Its products eliminate all the muddling and mashing, so you can cut straight to the sipping and savoring. For this Fall Fizz recipe, Eli Mason teams its Spiced Simple Syrup with a bubbly bottle of our Mountain Valley Sparkling Spring Water to create a non-alcoholic drink that tastes like a glassful of fall.
Refreshing Water from a Refreshing Company
Mountain Valley Water of Southern Illinois doesn’t just deliver the pure, crisp and award-winning refreshment of Mountain Valley Spring Water to homes and offices, they also serve as parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles. For 25 years, our Southern Illinois distributor has been a purely local, purely family operation. And really, what’s more refreshing than that?
“Back to the Source” with Famous Arkansans
As part of our partnership with this year’s Hot Springs Documentary Film Festival, we hosted virtual "Back to the Source" conversations featuring notable Arkansas natives such as Dawn Hudson, chief executive officer of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, included here; as well as musician Mae Estes and actor and director Joey Lauren Adams. This virtual series made the festival accessible worldwide and explored the life and work of these prominent Arkansans, as well as the role their home state and ours played in shaping their lives.
American Goodness, Korean Style: Meet Mountain Valley Culinary Ambassador Andrew Lim
Executive Chef Andrew Lim of Perilla in Chicago bridges the gaps between his Korean and American roots with food. Using the communal nature of Korean cuisine, Lim taps into a different kind of American Goodness, one that’s delicious, shareable, diverse, inclusive, and in constant pursuit of improvement. Meet the Mountain Valley culinary ambassador who’s striving to keep his traditions flowing.
Mountain Valley + Loblolly Creamery, a Summery Match Made in Arkansas
Our Mountain Valley Sparkling Essence Spring Water + scoopable sweets from our friends at Loblolly Creamery in Little Rock, Arkansas = heaven in a glass. See how Loblolly’s crafty, small-batch sorbets and ice creams can turn our already ethereal sparkling spring waters into fizzy floats of summery goodness that can easily be enjoyed year-round.ck.
Delivering Purely Sourced Refreshment Since Day One
It wasn’t easy becoming the first bottled-water company to deliver coast to coast across the United States. In Mountain Valley’s earliest days, our water shipped via mules that pulled wagons of 60-gallon tin drums direct from our Ouachita Mountain source to be bottled at the destination. Some of our first delivery vehicles were Ford Model TT trucks, their beds rigged with wood siding to keep our barrels of crisp, refreshing Mountain Valley goodness secured in place. The second photo shows a 1910 Rapid, apparently owned by the Arkansas Motor Truck Co., hauling barrels of Mountain Valley Spring Water out of our Hot Springs home to thirsty customers around the country.
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Thank you, Brooklyn!
Thank you, Brooklyn!
At Mountain Valley, we like to find American Goodness all across these United States, and Brooklyn sure hasn’t let us down. Thank you to Cotter Barber in Greenpoint and Izzy Rose in Clinton Hill — places where barbers and baristas come together, and where a cocktail bar meets a flower cafe — for keeping our emerald-green bottles in steady supply and our pure, crisp America Goodness flowing.
Cocktails and Conversation in Charleston
Edward Crouse and Marie Stitt are no strangers to entertaining. As owners of the popular European-inspired cafe, Babas on Cannon in Charleston — a restaurant that pairs old-world charm with Southern comforts — the couple live, eat and breathe hospitality at work and at home. The duo shared their tips for entertaining, including a fantastic batched cocktail, and a refreshing, Mountain Valley-infused agua fresca that are sure to keep things lively during the holiday season and year-round.
Showboating with One of our Favorite Texas Chefs
When our friends at Luck Reunion, the “anti-festival” hosted by the legendary Willie Nelson, set out to, quite literally, showboat one of our favorite Texas chefs, we were all in. In 2019, Chef Ben Runkle of Austin’s Salt & Time hosted an unforgettable dinner for 50 lucky guests as they cruised the Cumberland River aboard a Nashville showboat decked out in lacy filigree and powered by a candy-apple-red paddle wheel. Working exclusively with local purveyors, Runkle’s multi-course menu showcased the Deep South at its most delicious. And we at Mountain Valley Spring Water were thrilled to sponsor it.
Making Telluride Even More Crisp and Refreshing
For 40 crisp and mountainous years, the Telluride Wine Festival has been a culinary destination for vintners, chefs and food-obsessed eaters from around the world. In 2018, Mountain Valley got to see our waters paired with brilliant dishes from world-renowned chefs and sipped between glasses of elegant wines. In Telluride, life is refreshing.
Kim Bishop — Carrying on a Family Tradition
Kim Bishop with Bishop's Water Company in Lake Worth, Florida grew up playing on the bed of the family’s 1952 Dodge delivery truck. Across three generations, the family-owned business that started in 1959 has become a household name, one they’re all proud to be a part of.
Drinking in History at the Belmont Stakes
When Anne Scott woke up June 2, 1973, she had no idea her love for her father, horses and Mountain Valley Spring Water would collide. That day, her dad, former Mountain Valley New York President John G. Scott, got a call from his biggest client: the trainers of the legendary Secretariat. As so many thoroughbred racehorses have, Secretariat only drank Mountain Valley Spring Water. The horse had won the Kentucky Derby earlier that year as well as the Preakness. Now Secretariat and his team were in New York’s Belmont Park, where they hoped to make history. But first, they needed more Mountain Valley. The Scotts personally came to the rescue, loading their family station wagon with as many gallons as they could fit. Secretariat’s crew was so impressed with the Scotts’ service, they gave them tickets to sit in the Winner’s Circle and watch the upcoming race. A week later, Anne and her dad did just that, drinking in one of the most legendary horse races ever, live and in person.
There’s No Place Like Our Ouachita Mountain Home
There’s no place like home. Especially when that home is tucked into the heart of the Ouachita Mountains. This rolling and captivating mountain range runs from our hometown of Hot Springs in western Arkansas to southeastern Oklahoma. The Ouachitas are home to many things: abundant wildlife, gurgling creeks, and one of the oldest and largest national forests in the Southern U.S. They’re also home to the pure, natural, free-flowing springs that have given Mountain Valley its crisp, award-winning flavor for 150 years.
Rebooting Restaurants, Reinforcing Communities
From day one, Mountain Valley has proudly supported the LEE Initiative, a nonprofit founded by Louisville’s Chef Edward Lee. This year, we chose to support their Restaurant Reboot Relief Program which invests in independent farms and restaurants throughout the country, connecting chefs with local suppliers for dairy, produce, meat and more, to help heal the pandemic-ravaged supply chain. At Mountain Valley, we understand the importance of food in creating community, and we’re happy to help reinforce those bonds.
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Postcards From a Hot Springs Paradise
Postcards From a Hot Springs Paradise
In the early 1900s, the Mountain Valley Hotel in Arkansas’s Hot Springs National Park was the place to be. This stunning, three-story property with its lush gardens and onsite spring — fed by the same pure, crisp waters we still bottle to this day — beckoned wellness seekers from around the world. We’re not sure what’s written on the backs of these postcards, but we imagine they must end with, “Wish you were here!”
Garden & Gun, Refreshed by Mountain Valley
When the good people at Garden & Gun magazine asked us to partner with them for their ninth-annual Made in the South Awards in 2018, our answer was: Heck yeah! Mountain Valley Spring Water proudly sponsored the event, which honored the best in Southern craftsmanship, from music to style, decor and, our favorite, food and drink. That weekend our purely sourced spring water hydrated renowned musicians, artists and the 1,000-some attendees celebrating them. We’ll say it again: Heck yeah.
The Heart of a Yankee, the Culinary Soul of a Southerner
Chef Kevin Ashworth is a self-proclaimed Yankee who hails from Ohio, due north of the Mason Dixon. But Ashworth’s Appalachian roots run deep — as does his love for food. We caught up with the chef in 2019 to talk about church potlucks, seasonal ingredients, Southern culture and working with the legendary Chef Edward Lee at Louisville's famed 610 Magnolia.
There’s No Place Like Mountain Valley For The Holidays
The weather outside might be frightful. Our advice? Let our team do the heavy lifting. We’re making lists and checking them twice, to ensure that your home is fully stocked with the crisp refreshment of Mountain Valley for the holiday season and all year round. Sign up today for home delivery, it’s the gift that keeps on giving.
Just Water the Doctor Ordered
In our early years, Mountain Valley Spring Water wasn’t simply refreshing, it was prescriptive. The Ouachita Mountain mineral springs from which our water is sourced have long been known for their healing properties. From the indigenous Tunica, Caddo and Quapaw peoples to wellness seekers from around the world, humans have been drawn to these waters for thousands of years. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, those who couldn’t travel to our springs could be prescribed our water by their doctors. A Mountain Valley ad from the 1930s claimed it “combats acidity - flushes kidneys.” In 1955, Dwight D. Eisenhower’s physician advised him to drink Mountain Valley Spring Water following the president’s heart attack. Today, Mountain Valley only feels prescriptive. Hydration, we’ve learned, is crucial to good health. And it’s easier to stay hydrated with crisp, purely sourced spring water that tastes as great as ours.
The Flavors of Arkansas: JBF x Bentonville x Mountain Valley
When the James Beard Foundation hosted a benefit dinner in Bentonville, Arkansas in November 2018, we knew we had to take part. The event showcased some of our home state’s finest chefs, serving the absolute best ingredients this area grows, harvests and cures. Such a meal requires an equally local, equally wonderful water — that’s where we came in. Our emerald green bottles lined each table, refreshing palates between these hyper-local courses the way only Mountain Valley Spring Water can.
Drink it for the ‘Gram: Mountain Valley in Your Home and Your Feed
Few things make us happier than seeing our Mountain Valley Spring Water in your hands and homes. Thanks to our nationwide home delivery, and the power of social media, we’ve been really, really happy lately. If you’re a Mountain Valley fan, be sure to tag us in your posts. If you want this refreshing, purely sourced Natural American Goodness delivered to your doorstep — can you feel us smiling? — you can get started here.
A Food Event Fit for Our 150th
During our 150th year, Mountain Valley joined forces with Los Angeles magazine for their annual The Food Event 2021 at the beautiful Hummingbird Nest Ranch nestled in the Santa Susana Mountains. This epicurean extravaganza took place on an idyllic afternoon featuring samples from many of Los Angeles's top restaurants, along with boutique wines, craft cocktails and spirits tastings. The Mountain Valley chef demonstration stage featured live cooking demos by renowned chefs, including Raphael Lunetta of Lunetta All Day in Santa Monica, Moises Placencia of Theía, Cameron Slaugh of Nonna Mercato and Sandra Cordero of Gasolina Cafe. And, of course, the Mountain Valley was flowing.
Pigging Out for a Cause with the Austin Food & Wine Alliance
In November, as folks around the country geared up for turkey and stuffing, we pigged out on tacos. Mountain Valley Spring Water sponsored the Backyard Edition of Austin Food & Wine Alliance’s 10th annual Wine & Swine. The event featured some of Texas’s brightest chefs making one of Texas’s favorite foods: tacos. Hosted by Chef Edgar Rico of Nixta Taqueria, who crafted a main course of hand-pressed tortillas that could be packed with confit squash, fire-roasted suckling pig or heritage pork carnitas, the meal raised funds to fuel the Alliance’s mission of strengthening local food systems while promoting the next generation of culinary businesses and advocates. Tacos, for a cause.
A Water of Distinction for 150 Years
The crisp and purely refreshing taste of Mountain Valley Spring Water has long made it a beverage of distinction. While the Mountain Valley of modern day is beloved by chefs, athletes and families alike, our bottled-at-the-source spring water has always turned heads. An 1879 article in Hot Springs Illustrated Monthly touted Mountain Valley Spring Water for its healthful benefits but also as a “high-quality table water.” In the 1870s, drinking water simply for the taste of it was a novel idea. Fast forward 150 years, and this “high-quality table water” has won international awards for our naturally balanced and naturally delicious taste. We’ll raise a glass to that any day.
Whiskey, Bourbon, Rye and Mountain Valley — Oh My
For six years, the Orange Coast Whiskey Classic has brought together fine spirits, crafty mixologists, and sweet and savory food creations in beautiful Costa Mesa, California. In November, Mountain Valley proudly sponsored the 2021 event, which featured more than 30 whiskey, bourbon and rye distillers from around the U.S. and the world. From slowly savored sips of single malts, to serious cocktails smoked by hand, it was an evening to revel in all things barrel-aged, while cleansing the palate with the crisp, refreshing American Goodness that is Mountain Valley Spring Water.
Stirring Up Summer with Holeman & Finch
We asked Gina Hopkins, Chef Linton Hopkins and their team at Atlanta’s Holeman & Finch Bottle Shop to dream up some refreshing cocktails using Mountain Valley flavored sparkling waters, and the results had us drooling. From a fizzy mojito infused with our Blackberry Pomegranate Sparkling to their take on Ranch Water brightened by Mountain Valley Key Lime Twist Sparkling, these cocktail recipes will make it feel like summer every day of the year.
Thank you, Hot Springs
We have to send a very special thank you to our very source, the Mountain Valley spring in Hot Springs, Arkansas. Nestled in the pristine wilds of the Ouachita Mountains, our source has inspired us and refreshed us for 150 years. Our source has been the heart and home of America’s original premium spring water for a century and a half, and it will remain exactly that for years to come.