An Austin-based beverage company is hopping into Guy Fieri's convertible for a trip to Flavortown. Waterloo Sparkling Water and the chef and longtime Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives host are releasing three collaborative flavors: Lemon Italian Ice, Huckleberry Cobbler, and Spiced Mango Sorbet. They'll only be available for a limited time "this summer," according to a release.
The release says that each flavor is "inspired by Fieri's personal experiences." They're also all tied to places Fieri goes on family trips, which makes sense for Fieri's personal brand, which very often depicts him on the road.
"We're goin' big on flavor together!," said Fieri in the release. "The team at Waterloo Sparkling Water is incredible at bringing flavor to life, so I knew they'd hit it out of the park with these limited-time sparkling waters inspired by some of my favorite flavors."
East Coasters living in Austin already know the Lemon Italian Ice flavor hails from their northern beaches and boardwalks. This flavor is "lemony tart and sweet." It's one of a few citrus flavors on the Waterloo lineup, but surprisingly, the common flavor only appears with others: Lemon-lime and Blackberry Lemonade.
Although huckleberries grow across a large part of the United States and Canada, Fieri honors the Pacific Northwest with Huckleberry Cobbler, the most left-field flavor for a sparkling beverage. It promises "a burst of wild berries and comforting spice" for a unique drink that took 40 rounds of mixing to get just right.
Finally, and closest to home for Austinites, Spiced Mango Sorbet is of course a Mexican celebration. The release previews a drink "balancing the tropical sweetness of mango with zesty lime and a touch of savory spice." Mango already exists on the Waterloo lineup in a tropical fruit blend, but this one sounds more feisty.
In Fieri's own words: "Lemon Italian Ice is a tart and sweet throwback to East Coast summertime family trips. Huckleberry Cobbler is sweet and tangy berry bomb with a surprise hit of baking spice. And Spiced Mango Sorbet has just a touch of spice highlighting some bright fresh mango — it's a first-class fiesta! Bring on the summer!"
Waterloo, founded in 2017, is an increasingly ubiquitous brand in Austin, sold at many grocery stores, casual restaurants, bars, and music venues. Aside from its local appeal, Waterloo is appreciated for its wide flavor variety and lively carbonation that's not as aggressive as some competitors, offering a well-balanced option. Waterloo does not use sugar or sweeteners, and all flavors are natural.
"We are thrilled to collaborate with Guy Fieri on these fantastic sparkling waters, bringing to life our mutual love of epic flavor with a first-of-its-kind strategic brand collaboration in this competitive category," said Waterloo CMO Kathy Maurella. "When the Mayor of Flavortown joined us at our summer launch event last year, we immediately started brainstorming more ways to capture the spirit of both Waterloo and Flavortown. From start to finish, this has been a true partnership."
Fieri has been all over San Antonio recently — trying pastrami, tacos, and tortas ahogadas — but his visits to Austin have been more business-oriented. Perhaps some new sparkling waters will have a sway on his list of road trip destinations soon.
