13 Things You Didn't Know About Topo Chico

Topo Chico close-up
Thyme On My Side
Thyme On My Side

You already know there are times when there's nothing quite as refreshing as popping one of those clear, bubbly bottles. But there's also a lot you may not know. Specifically, these 13 things.

La Condesa cocktail ingredients
La Condesa

1. It's amazing in Mexican cocktails

Josephine House and La Condesa both pour mean Topo Palomas. Chupacabra's got El Conquistador with Cruz Silver tequila and fresh lime. And newcomer Whisler's does the Mexicano: Dos Armadillos reposado, Cocchi Torino sweet vermouth, Aperol, Pierre Ferrand Dry Curacao, mole bitters, and an orange peel. But The Ranch Water at Ranch 616 might be the ultimate in Topo cocktail-dom: a super-strong margarita with Hornitos Reposado, Citronge, and lime juice that you temper with a full bottle of the Mole.

East Side Collins
Found Media Group

2. It's amazing in non-Mexican cocktails

Mettle subs it for regular, non-awesome soda water in their East Side Collins (Tanqueray, lemon, lime, cucumber). The Blackheart uses it in their eponymous drink with bourbon and muddled cherries. And Bungalow intergrates it into a Screwdriver with their TopoTito.

El Cerro Topo Chico

3. Those bubbles are legendary

Way back in 1440, Moctezuma I Ilhuicamina was king of Tenochtitlan and the emperor of the Aztec people. He had a daughter with a terrible disease, and when doctors couldn't find a cure, a priest suggested the healing waters of a mystical spring in Northern Mexico. The spring poured forth from an inactive volcano shaped like a mole. The water saved the life of the young Aztec princess and generations of Mexicans started flocking to Cerro del Topo Chico in Nuevo Leon for the supposed healing powers of the water, leading the steward of the springs to start bottling and selling it.

retro topo chico ad

4. It's pretty damn old

The drink has been for sale since 1895. In addition to mineral water, Topo was the first company to bottle Coca-Cola in Mexico (1926!), and only arrived in the states in the early '90s. It's currently available in 34 states (sucks to be you, New York!), and only the Northern half of Mexico.

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5. It is tempting enough to nearly derail Charlie's trip to the chocolate factory

You've gotta burp. It's the only way.

Topo Chico ad

6. Despite the fact that regular Mexican water can damn near kill you will definitely kill you, Topo Chico is actually healthy

 The mineral composition includes sodium (promotes good bowel function!), magnesium (helps with digestion, brain function, and creates a sense of calm), potassium (functioning of the heart, nervous system, kidneys), and manganese, which serves as an antioxidant.

topo chico iced coffee
Addie Broyles

7. Buzz-worthy potential

The Statesman suggests it as a complement to iced coffee concentrate, thus creating perhaps the world's first coffee soda.

DJ Mel Topo Chico
DJ Mel's Facebook Page

8. Topo is the official drink of the official DJ of the President of the United States of America

Austin's turntable laureate and Barack's go-to party-starter DJ Mel drinks it by the case and Instagrams it on a daily basis.

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9. Holy crap watch this video immediately

Little-known fact: stick a bottle of Topo Chico in the freezer for a few hours, take it out, and it won't appear frozen. The minerals in the water keep it from crystalizing into a frozen state, until you pop off the cap and the rush of oxygen slowly turns the water to ice from top to bottom.

Topo Chico glasses
ConversationGlass

10. Crafty people like to make stuff out of it

Drinking glasses? Ashtrays? ...Earrings? A host of Etsy-ers have got you covered.

The Office cast

11. It's useful in an office environment

In the first episode of Season 9 of The Office, Brian Baumgartner drives over a turtle with his car and tries to repair it MacGyver-style using a Topo bottle cap.

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12. It is terrifying to cute animals named after famous literary figures

Although the great Gatsby enjoyed a good dose of mineral water in a Gin Rickey cocktail, this Gatsby is not into it.

Daily Juice cocktails

13. You can also mix it with juice and rum

Daily Juice has a few rum-filled suggestions for the juicing home mixologist: the Sparkle motion (juice of 1 crimson pear, 1/2 lemon, 1 thumb of ginger, 1 chunk of purple cabbage, plus Topo & rum) and the Mango Mojito (2oz mango, 1tsp coconut sugar, 1/2 lime, 4 mint leaves). WHAT NOW, OTHER COCKTAILS THAT DON'T HAVE TOPO IN THEM???

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