Consumers splash out €45-a-pop on ‘designer water’
That’s the view of Martina Delaney, one of the finest palates in the country and sommelier at one of Ireland’s best restaurants, l’Ecrivain on Baggot Street in Dublin.
Used to sampling the finest of fine wines, Ms Delaney was more than qualified to pick out just what makes Bling H2O worth €45 for just 750ml.
On sale as part of Superquinn’s “World of Waters” promotion, the “designer water” is the latest Hollywood craze, favoured by stars such as Paris Hilton.
The inspiration of Hollywood writer-producer Kevin G Boyd, Bling H2O is labelled as the Rolls Royce of water.
Initially introduced to “hand-selected athletes and actors”, it is now available to the common folk for the princely sum of €45.
But is it worth it?
Not according to Ms Delany.
After taking part in a blind taste test with two other brands, Ballygowan and RiverRock, Ms Delaney picked Bling H2O as not only having the poorest taste but, even more humbling for those who splashed the cash on a bottle, tasting most like tap water.
“For me it was very neutral, very earthy and... tastes the most like tap water. It’s a bit like the emperor’s new clothes really, its unbelievable that people would pay that amount of money on a bottle of water,” she said.
Not only did Ms Delaney’s refined taste buds miss that certain something that makes Bling H2O so special, so did all the staff at l’Ecrivain and any of the customers present at the time who were invited to have a sip.
“It really didn’t taste all that special. None of the staff picked it out or any of the customers.
“It’s a name and a talking point I suppose. Certainly, I wouldn’t be buying, I was absolutely shocked that people would buy it. I mean the bottle was not even that nice,” said Ms Delaney.
However, people are buying it, it seems.
“Bling H2O is designed to be a fun, niche product and is selling well since we introduced it at Superquinn. Customers who are buying the product are doing so as a talking point for parties, and for the uniquely designed eye-catching bottle,” a Superquinn spokesman said.
Although a bottle of water at a party is not everyone’s idea of a good night out, clearly somebody likes what Bling H2O has to offer.
It’s not just the public either. The good people at the Berkeley Springs International Water Tasting Festival gave it the gold medal for best tasting.
Incidentally, Martina Delaney felt that RiverRock was the best-tasting water out of the three she sampled.
However, Bling H2O has Paris Hilton’s imprimatur.
These days that’s good enough for an awful lot of people.
