volvic (france, still, available nationally)

for those of us who enjoy a high-end bottle of water but don't need a braggadocios name in our hand, volvic might just be the perfect brand. maybe it's just me, but i hadn't heard of this 7ph'd bottle until this summer, despite it being available since 1938. that does not mean that it has gone unnoticed by everyone, though: the company employs virtually its entire town in france. they are socially responsible outside of their own area, too, recently launching the drink 1 give 10 program through which--in conjunction with UNICEF--they donate 10Ls of clean drinking water to children in a developing nation for every 1L they sell. ...and people say bottles of water are bad for this world.

packaging 6/10:
this delightful, unpretentious packaging has been made out of PETE since 1997--a highly recyclable form of bottle. still, it's fiji-esque box shape is not the most efficient use no matter how recyclable it is, and with the blue bottle i can't help but conjure images of poweraid. i do love the pre-galaxy mario hills on the package, though, and the font choice is perfect.

taste 7/10:
shockingly crisp and smooth no matter what the temperature, volvic provides one of the most refreshing experiences in a bottle. it is a bit heavy, though, but it does not diminish from the qualities mentioned before--a rare feat for a water described as such.

clarity 10/10:
what can i say? when you're clear, you're clear.

trendiness 9/10:
this one's on the up-and-up--the fact that i had not heard of volvic until coming to new york city is a plus in this category, especially considering how "in" it is with the right crowd here. i feel humbled.

value 8/10:
at 29.79 for a 12 pack of 1L, volvic does not come cheaply. i can't help be a fan knowing that part of that money is going to UNICEF, however, so i can't knock it for its price. and given that volvic is probably often charged to the corporate account, it's a way to get people to give back without even knowing. high marks for an expensive bottle.

overall:
as a purported bottle water expert, maybe i'm diminishing a bit of my reputability by hammering home how i hadn't been privy to volvic's magic until recently. still, i'm not ashamed to admit the truth, and in all honesty i'm excited to know that there are undiscovered bottles like this floating among us waiting to be discovered. i only hope other nectars taste as sweet.

40/50

ideal for: trick-or-treaters tired of orange change collection boxes, happy hipsters, fans of bumpy three-dimensional quadrilaterals