A bottle of Icelandic Glacial peeking through the cut-out of a 6-Pack carton.
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| KAREN HOCHMAN is Editorial Director of THE NIBBLE. |
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December 2006
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Icelandic Glacial
A Spring Water From The Remote North
CAPSULE REPORT: From the vast untouched terrain of Iceland comes a refreshing, crystal-clear spring water that’s gotten more press for its packaging than what’s inside. But the contents are first-rate, and deserve their own special notice.
Mention “Iceland” and an image of a vast, untouched terrain of glaciers and mountain springs feeding crystal-clear lakes comes to mind. In fact, Iceland has one of the cleanest environments on the planet and its water has exceptional standards of purity.
From this oasis comes Icelandic Glacial spring water. Its source is the Ölfus spring on  Iceland’s southwest coast. One of the world’s largest and purest springs, it was formed during a massive volcanic eruption more than 4,500 years ago and is shielded from the elements by an impenetrable barrier of lava rock. Icelandic Water Holdings, established in 2003 and headquartered in Reykjavik, controls the exclusive bottling rights to the water. There is a 128,000-acre exclusion zone above the spring, and no farming, animals or buildings are permitted in the surrounding area. The water is piped directly from the spring into a state-of-the-art bottling plant via a dedicated stainless steel pipeline.
Yet, for all the legacy and purity, abetted by the finest technology, it is the bottle that keeps winning acclaim for Icelandic Glacial. Earlier this year it won the Silver Medal for Best Packaging Design at the Berkeley Springs (West Virginia) International Water Tasting, a People’s Choice award. Last year it won the Best Overall Concept award at the Bottled Water World Design Awards in Dubai. The patented bottle has a sculpted top resembling a glacier, and behind the product name on the label are visuals of glaciers. Four different labels affixed randomly to four slightly different bottle shapes can create a panoramic glacial landscape when lined up on the retail shelf.
Design aside—note that many of the newer waters, seeking to cash in on the bottled water trend, offer no much more than a flavorless liquid in a snazzily-designed bottle—we really like the refreshing taste of this water. In fact, the water appeals to us more so than the bottle design (perhaps we’re just not the outdoors type). Chilled and refreshing, it is as thirst-quenching as a trip to the glaciers (yes, we have been there). Take a sip and you find that it’s different from many other spring waters. There’s a pronounced note of the “glacial” in the mid-palate: a refreshing, almost minty “ah!” that makes us appreciate every glass we pour. Those seeking to quaff pure drink from an ancient spring should see what Ölfus has to offer. We sure wish that pipeline came into our house!
| WATER |
Icelandic Glacial Spring Water
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| Origin |
Thorlakshofn, Iceland
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| Type |
Still |
| WATER ANALYSIS |
mg/l |
| TDS* |
68.0 |
| pH Factor |
7.75 |
| Calcium |
6.4 |
| Chlorides |
13.0 |
| Bicarbonate |
N/A |
| Hardness |
26.0 |
| Magnesium |
2.4 |
| Nitrate |
>.03 |
| Potassium |
0.6 |
| Sodium |
12.0 |
| Sulphates |
3.4 |
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*TDS = Total Dissolved Solids
N/A = Not Available
ICelANDIC GLACIAL SPRING WATER
Still Water
- 1 Liter (1000 ml) Bottles
$1.69
- 500 ml Bottles
$1.29
- 500 ml Six-Packs
$6.99
Target Stores has the sole distribution rights among mass-market retailers. Gourmet grocers, natural food merchants and specialty stores carry the line.
IcelandicGlacial.com
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Prices and product availability are verified at publication but are subject to change.
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