Discover the Best Bottled Water Brands: A Comprehensive Guide

Introduction

For most U.S. citizens, turning on the tap and filling a glass with safe drinking water is a fundamental right. But that doesn’t stop Americans from consuming over 12 billion gallons of bottled stuff a year – and dropping upwards of $200 million on those plastic bottles! When it comes to staying hydrated, discerning consumers know that choosing the best bottled water ensures optimal refreshment.

While the debate rages on about the ethics and sustainability of the best bottled water industry, one question continues to bubble up: which bottled water tastes the best?

With so many different brands and sources on the market, it can take time to determine which waters deserve those crisp, excellent pours and which should be left warming on the shelf. We’ve evaluated the most popular options stateside – from Fiji to Poland Spring – to uncover what makes them unique in taste, source, and purity. Delving into their specific filtration methods and mineral compositions, we’ll highlight what sets each apart while also looking at some of their controversies.

After considering these key factors, we’ll share our thoughts on America’s top contender for the most refreshed, refined, and revelatory best bottled water. We’ll also provide pro tips for finding your winning flavor profile, as personal tastes influence what we consider the best-tasting waters. Sometimes, pure and neutral does the trick, while others prefer a more mineral-rich flavor.

So read on to uncover our refreshed take on the most crisply satisfying sips in the U.S. best bottled water scene!

What Makes a Best Bottled Water

With dozens of domestic and imported brands vying for space on store shelves, how do you know which bottled waters are the cream of the crop regarding quality, taste, and purity? While personal preferences always vary, there are a few key markers that the finest bottled waters have in common when being evaluated:

Purity Should Be Priority #1

Ensuring purity and safety should sit firmly at the top of any best bottled water brand’s priorities. Great-tasting water starts with high-quality sourcing and production methods, including:

• Advanced filtration – Multiple advanced methods like reverse osmosis and U.V. light treatments help remove impurities.

• Contaminant testing – Rigorous contaminant testing protocols check for bacteria, chemicals, and toxins traces. Standards should far exceed municipal tap water.

• Protected sources – Brands like Poland Spring derive water from protected underground springs or other sites not exposed to surface pollutants.

• Sanitation safeguards – Strict sanitation practices during bottling processes guard against introducing microbes or other contaminants.

Brands investing in these critical purification safeguards are more likely to produce crisp, clean-tasting waters.

The “Goldilocks” Mineral Formula

Mineral content and pH level greatly influence best bottled water’s taste. Most specialists agree the ideal mineral formula for flavor strikes that “Goldilocks” balance – not too much, not too little.

Mineral	Impact on Taste
Calcium and Magnesium	Impacts level of hardness; Too much translates to salty or metallic tastes
Sodium	Necessary electrolyte; Excess amounts can lead to unpleasantly salty flavors
Potassium	Softens mineral impact and balances salty ions

Consumers often gravitate to brands with a more neutral mineral profile. However, some argue that mineral richness enhances taste – it’s subjective!

Sourcing Should Emphasize Sustainability

Increasingly, consumers want assurances that their bottlers prioritize eco-sustainability from source to production to packaging:

• Alternative packaging – Some brands offer cans, pouches, or other vessels instead of plastic. Returnable glass bottles are growing in popularity. 

• Production efficiency – Whether facilities run on renewable energy or take steps to reduce their environmental footprints shows commitment. 

• Local sourcing = Lower emissions – Waters like Poland Spring with regional sources have lower transportation-related emissions than those imported.

Best bottled water no longer exists in a sustainability vacuum – conscientiousness around broader environmental impacts should sit alongside great taste when judging overall superiority.

While everyone’s palates, preferences, and priorities regarding bottled waters may differ slightly, prioritizing these fundamental quality, taste, and sustainability benchmarks is a good bet for finding your perfect sip!

Comparing the Top Best Bottled Water Brands in the USA

The best bottled water industry saw explosive growth in demand over the last few decades as brands touted purity, health benefits, and convenience. With so many domestic and imported options flooding in, how do you determine which bottlers stand out?

We evaluated some of the heavy-hitting bottled water players in the U.S. market on taste, quality markers, sustainability, and more to uncover who’s making a splash:

Fiji Water – One of the Pioneers

This iconic square bottle has graced Hollywood award shows and upscale eateries for years. One of the early pioneers of imported waters, Fiji Water, continues to have die-hard fans. Drawn from an isolated Pacific Islands artesian aquifer, it sets itself apart from local brands in several important ways:

Taste & Quality

• Higher silica content adds a smooth, almost creamy mouthfeel
• Natural electrolytes enhance flavor
• Higher pH = bolder taste

Sustainability & Ethics

• Carbon neutral delivery helps offset transport emissions
• Increased focus on local community investment and facility efficiency upgrades in Fiji

However, there are some notable downsides to its imported origins and elite brand status:

• Higher price point leaves bad taste for some
• Food miles required still greater than regional waters

Fiji remains a go-to for those who crave smooth, tropical-esque-tasting water and don’t mind splashing out a little more. But the “it water” crowd continues to diversify…

Evian Water – Mineral Rich FROM French Alps

Another imported best bottled water giant, Evian derives its name directly from its source – Lake Evian in the French Alps. Filtered through glacial sands, it offers a unique mineral profile:

Taste & Quality

• Higher mineral content from glacial filtering
• pH of 7.2 balances acidity for smoother flavor

Sustainability & Ethics

• BPA-free recyclable plastic used for bottles
• Carbon neutral certification through supporting environmental projects

However, there are some common gripes around Evian’s taste and origin story:

• Not as neutral tasting as some prefer 
• Being imported has a larger environmental transportation impact

While not everyone loves the distinguishing hints of minerals, supporters of Evian consider it one of life’s refined luxuries.

Fiji Water – One of America’s Top Shelf Imports

!Fiji Water

Regarding upscale best bottled water imports, Fiji Water is one of America’s most coveted brands. And for good reason – this remote Pacific island source carries a certain exotic, luxury appeal. But how exactly does it taste compared to the competition on U.S. shelves?

Taste Profile

Hailing from the Yaqara Valley on Fiji’s main island, Viti Levu, natural artesian springs feeding Fiji Water pick up a unique mineral profile as it filters through ancient volcanic soils. The water’s most defining characteristic is its higher silica content, which lends a rounder, smoother mouthfeel.

Quality Controls

Fiji employs advanced filtering across its deep aquifer sources, including:

• Microfiltration
• Reverse Osmosis
• Ultraviolet Sterilization

The remote tropical source benefits from little development or agriculture that could contaminate groundwater. High annual rainfall also continually recharges aquifers.

Rigorous testing protocols ensure each bottle meets pharmaceutical grade purity standards – often exceeding US EPA limits for tap water on contaminants.

The Downsides

The primary knocks on Fiji Water come from its environmental footprint and price point:

• Transportation emissions – imported water always comes with a higher emissions impact from trans-oceanic shipping. Fiji offsets some of this with recyclable packaging and Pacific reef conservation partnerships.

• Higher prices – as a premium imported water, Fiji sits towards the top end for per-bottle prices in the U.S. – which can be off-putting for everyday consumption.

Fiji remains a refined choice if you seek luxury water to keep as an occasional treat. But for more eco-conscious daily drinking, domestic waters have the edge.

Evian Water – French Alpine Origins

!Evian Water

Evian springs to mind when thinking of refined European best bottled waters for many. Filtered through glacial sands high in the French Alps for over 15 years, Evian carries a uniquely crisp, clean taste.

Taste Profile

Evian picks up intriguing mineral notes with a signature light salty flavor from a granite spring bed beneath slopes near Lake Geneva. Key elements, including calcium, magnesium, and bicarbonate, contribute to a finish some describe as “cold mountain breeze” esque.

Quality Controls

Advanced purification protocols ensure pharmaceutical levels of purity: 

• Filtration through mineral-rich glacial sands
• Ultraviolet treatments 
• Ozonization for disinfection
• On-site testing laboratory

Stringent microbiology controls and integrated facility management from source to bottle help secure quality.

The Downsides

Two frequent complaints about Evian echo familiar refrains:  

• Carbon emissions – despite its pristine image, importing water halfway around the world racks up transport impacts 
• Price tag – costing nearly 3X domestic spring waters

For those less concerned by environmental issues or budget, Evian remains a distinctly smooth sipping experience. But the premium European cachet defies greener, leaner priorities many now hold best bottled water brands to.

What’s the Best Tasting Bottled Water In the USA Ultimately?

!Bottled water tasting

With endless options spanning imported indulgences to domestic spring waters, how do you decide what best bottled water tastes the best in America?

The answer proves more complex than simply naming a single winner. Personal preferences, taste bud sensitivities, and desired qualities like purity vs mineralization determine one’s top sip. Nonetheless, a few glasses of water perennially bubble up as crowd favorites.

Key Factors Influencing Best Taste

Pinpointing the tastiest bottled water incorporates a matrix of factors:

Mineralization

This covers the amount and type of dissolved solids. For some, traces of calcium, magnesium, and electrolytes enhance flavor. But for others, purity means zero mineral taste interference.

Mouthfeel

The sensation and texture water leaves in your mouth. Silky smoothness from silica, for example, appeals to many as superior mouthfeel.

Finish

Like a fine wine, the subtle flavor water leaves as an aftertaste helps differentiate quality. Descriptors like “crisp,” “clean,” or “refreshing” indicate taste appeal. 

Carbonation

It is an element of personal preference, but carbonation adds enthusiasm to a better drinking experience.

Crowd Favorite Waters

Now to highlight those few brands that seem to consistently rise above the saturated best bottled water market in pleasing American consumer palates:

• Fiji Water – Lusciously smooth taste with a silicate mouthfeel keeps this import a high-end favorite.
• Poland Spring – Crisp consistency from Maine Springs quenches tastes for purity. 
• Volvic – Subtly sweet, volcanic French spring water intrigues sparkling water devotees. 
• Evian – Those craving hints of minerals laud this European-sourced sipper.

While one of the above may take the trophy for the best-tasting water in your books, honoring subjective preference wins. Try a range of bottled waters while paying attention to subtle flavor profiles. And always feel confident relying on good old-fashioned tap when it comes down to environmental impact or budget!

Conclusion: Best Bottled Water

After diving deeper into America’s significant best bottled water players, what closing insights can we offer on selecting your perfect pour?

I. Reflect on your priorities:

Think through what matters most to your best bottled water experience – factors like:

• Price point
• Sustainability
• Taste preferences (mineralization? carbonation?)
• Quality controls
• Convenience

Ranking personal priorities helps narrow down ideal brands.

II. Taste test for your profile:

Rather than accepting marketed claims at face value, embark on your tasting tour to decide what satisfies your palate. Evaluate waters unthinkingly when possible and see if you can detect subtleties between them. Pay attention to:

• First sip impressions
• Mouthfeel
• Aftertaste over time

Take tasting notes to zero in on preference patterns.

III. Consider alternatives:

If environmental impact lingers as a concern, investigate options like water filters to minimize plastic waste from bottled varieties. Refillable bottles/cartridges and plant-based vessel alternatives are also on the rise.

IV. Recognize the power of perception & price:

Studies reveal people will rate water as superior in blind taste tests and then rank it lower when labels and prices are shown. Don’t let perception override personal experience. From pristine mountain springs to advanced purification processes, the quest for the best bottled water leads to unparalleled purity.

While areas like sustainability and ethics still demand improvement industry-wide, keeping an open, curious mindset around bottled water preferences at least guarantees you a more enjoyable drink! The best bottled water ultimately comes down to what best satisfies your tastebuds.