The 10 Best Bottled Waters

By Gayot Editors

The Best Bottled Waters to Drink

When it comes to water, quality matters, which is why we set out to find the finest H2O on the market. Sourced from ancient French springs, crisp Nordic aquifers and active Hawaiian volcanoes, GAYOT’s list of the Best Bottled Waters include some of the purest, most unique waters in the world.

Naturally high in essential minerals and subjected to minimal human contact, these waters provide a refreshing and replenishing experience. Whether you prefer sparkling or still water, you’ll enjoy one-of-a-kind flavor profiles that set this group apart from other bottled brands.

Since taste is an important yet subjective matter, we not only ranked these waters by that criterion, but we also favored water brands that follow the “less is more” approach, thus preserving natural purity.

If all this talk of H20 has you thirsting for more, be sure to check out the Best Enhanced Waters, featuring sips with added nutrients, flavors and health benefits.

STILL

1. Berg Iceberg Water

Discover the benefits of iceberg water with Berg, one of GAYOT's Best Bottled Waters.
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Origin: Newfoundland & Labrador, Canada
Water type: Still

Offering a crisp taste of freshly melted snow, this water is harvested directly from icebergs.

Harvested from icebergs off the coast of Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada, Berg water traces its origins 15,000 years back to the ancient glaciers of Greenland. Isolated from humans deep within the reaches of the Arctic snow cap, the ice is only accessible when massive chunks break off and make their slow journey down to the Canadian coast. The resulting water is unlike any other on the planet — naturally pure and containing no trace minerals. Bottled with a minimal amount of processing, the water is clean and light with a quenching, crisp taste.

For more information, visit the Berg Water official website.

2. Evian Natural Spring Water

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Origin: Évian-les-Bains, France
Water type: Still

This natural spring water is collected from the Source Cache in France.

Discovered by a French nobleman during the French Revolution, Evian stems from a source thought to hold curative and restorative powers. Evian begins as water that emerges from the Source Cache in France in a mountain tunnel at 52.88 degrees Fahrenheit. The source is fed from the melted snow and rain that filters through glacial sand from the Vinzier Plateau over a period of fifteen years. The glacial sand is surrounded by clay, which protects the water from pollution and gives it its mineral composition and taste. The water is bottled at a nearby plant, which along with the brand, is owned by Danone.

For more information, visit the Evian Water official website.

3. Vittel Natural Mineral Water


Origin: Vittel, France
Water type: Still

This still, mineral-rich water springs from the Vosges Mountains of France.

Home to thermal baths and even a Club Med, the French town of Vittel is built around water in more ways than one. In 1854, lawyer Louis Bouloumié purchased the land surrounding a spring in the Vosges Mountains of Northeastern France, establishing a spa and later bottling the mineral-rich water that attracts so many visitors. The spring flows from an immense underground aquifer where rock strata and sandstone charge the water with calcium, magnesium and sulfates.

Although the brand is now owned by Swiss conglomerate Nestlé Waters, Vittel remains popular with athletes and is the official water of the Tour de France.

For more information, visit the Vittel Water official website.

4. Waiakea Hawaiian Volcanic Water

Waiakea Hawaiian Volcanic Water
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Origin: Mauna Loa Volcano, HI, U.S.A.
Water type: Still

This volcanic water originates in Hawaii through both snowmelt and rain on the pristine peak of the Mauna Loa volcano.

Sourced from the snowy peak of Mauna Loa, the world’s largest subaerial volcano, Waiakea’s water is naturally filtered through thousands of feet of porous volcanic rock before being bottled. The resulting product is rich in electrolytes and essential minerals, as well as unusually alkaline, giving the water its distinctive sweet finish.

In a true display of Aloha spirit, Waiakea is deeply invested in protecting the environment and helping the less fortunate, becoming the first Hawaiian bottled water to be certified carbon neutral. In addition, for every one liter sold, Waiakea donates one week of clean water to communities in Africa and around the world in partnership with Pump Aid.

For more information, visit the Waiakea Water official website.

SPARKLING

5. Apollinaris Mineral Water

Apollinaris Mineral Water best bottled water

Origin: Bad Neuenahr-Ahrweiler, Germany
Water type: Sparkling

Bottled at the source in Germany, this popular water is named after the patron saint of wine.

It’s owned by the Coca-Cola company, but this self-proclaimed “Queen of Table Waters” has been a preferred drink of gourmands since would-be winemaker Georg Kreuzberg discovered a spring on his property in 1852. Named after the patron saint of wine, Apollinaris is bottled at the source in Bad Neuenahr-Ahrweiler, a renowned spa town in Germany. The naturally sparkling water boasts a playful effervescence and balanced mineralization that make it an excellent palate-cleanser and cocktail base.

6. Badoit

Badoit water
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Origin: Badoit, France
Type: Sparkling

This water from France offers a generous amount of trace minerals as well as light, playful bubbles.

Revered by the ancient Gauls and enjoyed by kings, the waters of Saint-Galmier have long been recognized for their restorative properties. However, it took an enterprising silk salesman named Auguste Badoit to share the spring water of this tiny French town with the world.

Traveling to the surface from 500 feet below the Loire Valley, the water is naturally endowed with a generous amount of trace minerals as well as light, playful bubbles that give Badoit its signature taste. Today, this water brand — part of Danone, which also owns Evian and Volvic — is a common sight at fine restaurants, where its delicate carbonation and balanced taste complement the subtle flavors of gourmet meals.

For more information, visit the Badoit official website.

STILL & SPARKLING

7. American Summits Spring Water

American Summits bottled water is sustainably sourced from springs high in the mountains of protected regions.


Origin: Beartooth Mountains, WY, U.S.A.
Water type: Still, Sparkling

Water sustainably sourced from springs high in the mountains of protected regions.

Sourced from high in the Beartooth Mountains of Wyoming, American Summits spring water is naturally sustainable and never treated with purifying chemicals or preservatives. Filtered through layers of granite and metamorphic rock, the water is infused with trace elements that replenish the body’s essential minerals and work to maintain normal blood flow.

The alkaline property of the mineral water also helps to restore our natural pH balance by neutralizing stored acids and toxins. American Summits is committed to eco-friendly practices, collecting water with minimal environmental impact and using 100 percent recyclable glass bottles made in North America.

For more information, visit the American Summits official website.

8. Hildon Natural Mineral Water

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Hildon Natural Mineral Water

Origin: Broughton United Kingdom
Water type: Still, Sparkling

Naturally low in sodium, Hildon natural mineral water is prized for its purity and well-balanced taste.

One of the UK’s most prestigious bottled waters, Hildon Natural Mineral Water is served at the House of Commons and the Royal Opera House and is rumored to be the water of choice at Buckingham Palace. Hildon begins as rainfall, which percolates through the chalk hills of the Hampshire countryside. After a period of 50 years the water emerges at an underground aquifer beneath the nineteenth-century Hildon Estate. The chalk acts as a unique natural filtration system, protecting the water from pollution and endowing it with high levels of calcium. Once it reaches the source it is immediately bottled without chemical treatment.

Naturally low in sodium, the water is prized for its purity and well-balanced taste. Hildon, which produces both still and sparkling varieties, was the first company in the world to sell a natural mineral water with a carbonation level below 2.9. This low level of carbonation makes their “gently sparkling” water ideal for sipping alongside wine and subtly flavored dishes, which risk being overwhelmed by more robust bubbles.

For more information, visit the Hildon Water official website.

9. Smeraldina Artesian Water

Smeraldina is bottled artesian water from the island of Sardinia, Italy.
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Origin: Tempio Pausania, Italy
Water type: Still, Sparkling

Bottled artesian water from the island of Sardinia, Italy.

It must be in the water — at least that’s one theory for Sardinia’s unusually high concentration of centenarians. The Italian island has long been known for its healthy, happy residents, most of whom were raised on the mineral-rich water bubbling just beneath the surface.

Discover the restorative powers of its springs at home with Acqua Smeraldina. Bottled at the source at Monte di Deu (the “Mountain of God”), Smeraldina’s artesian water is naturally filtered through subterranean granite rock, which imparts it with health-boosting trace elements and a light, refreshing taste.

For more information, visit the Smeraldina Artesian Water official website.

10. Sole Natural Mineral Water

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Origin: Nuvolento, Italy
Water type: Still, Sparkling

Get a taste of the Italian Alps with Solé, a light alternative to more densely carbonated sparkling waters.

Found at the base of the Italian Alps in the small village of Nuvolento, the Sole source has been providing the local community with water for at least a millennium. Since 1896, the Bodei family has been sharing this special water with the world. Naturally low in sodium with a light effervescence, Solé (the family adds an accent over the “e” to aid non-Italians with pronunciation) is a light and refreshing alternative to more densely carbonated sparkling waters. Although Solé has gone global, the brand remains committed to its hometown, providing free water for the local school. For a more upscale experience, sip from one of Solé’s specialty bottles, including the Arte and Acqua Armani lines.

For more information, visit the Sole Mineral Water official website.