Champagne, beer, soda and SPLASH™ customizable craft seltzer cocktails all have something in common – Effervescence. Carbonation. Better known as tiny bubbles in your drink.
The carbonation created by your soda machine actually makes SPLASH™ flavorful cocktails taste even better. Carbonation not only adds a tickle to your nose; it also changes the taste of water by creating a sharp, tangy flavor that can complement some drinks. This enhancement is caused by an acid. When the carbon dioxide dissolves in water, some of it reacts with the H2O to form a weak carbonic acid, H2CO3, which gives the beverage a “zing.”
But where do the bubbles come from? Let’s go back to chemistry class. (Don’t worry. There’s no test at the end.)
Carbonation is a solution of carbon dioxide gas in water. The carbon dioxide is generally kept in the water through pressure and will slowly release once that pressure is relieved, forming bubbles of carbon dioxide gas.
To force carbon dioxide to dissolve in water, low temperature and pressure are required. CO2 dissolves much better in cold water than hot. So, to carbonate water, you chill it and then apply high-pressure CO2, using your SodaStream® or other bubble-making machine.
Life of the party chatter: Cool carbonation data
As you make your guests their unforgettable SPLASH™ cocktails, hit ‘em with some bubble facts. “Hey, Stan, did you know that…”
“..in nature, some famous mineral springs produce naturally-carbonated spring waters. We gotta go find them and put some SPLASH™ in nature’s mix.”
“…carbon dioxide is one of the byproducts of fermentation (along with alcohol), which means that many alcoholic beverages naturally become carbonated in the bottle. But since I’m making your SPLASH™ fresh, you don’t have to worry about ‘old’ bubbles in your drink.”
“…one odd quirk of carbonation is what happens if you freeze a carbonated drink: The bottle or can usually bursts. That’s because when a carbonated drink is frozen, the liquid forces out the CO2. This creates a huge amount of gas pressure. Eventually, the combination of this pressure and the expansion of the ice (which is less dense than water) will burst the bottle or can. That's why you don't freeze carbonated drinks, man. It’s dangerous.”
“…carbonic acid also has a mild antibiotic effect that prevents bacteria from growing in the water. So you’re becoming healthier with each sip of SPLASH™. You’re welcome.”
“… and no, carbonated drinks are not bad for you. Really. NO evidence suggests that bubbles do damage to your dental health or bone health. In fact, the bubbles may actually enhance digestion by improving swallowing ability and reducing constipation.”
That’s right! Ready for another SPLASH™? We are!
Sources: https://www.seriouseats.com/cocktail-science-what-is-carbonation-how-to-carbonate-soda-better-carbon-dioxide-facts
https://www.cnet.com/home/kitchen-and-household/appliance-science-the-compressed-chemistry-of-carbonation/
https://www.healthline.com/health/food-nutrition/is-carbonated-water-bad-for-you#weight-gain