International Water Tasting Contest

Festival Location: Berkeley Springs, WV, USA

Festival State: West Virginian Festivals

Festival Type(s): Drink Festivals, Bizarre Festivals

By: © Nelson Taylor 2009

With a rich history in water dating back to 1748 when 16-year-old George Washington visited the Berkeley Springs as part of Lord Fairfax's surveying crew, there's no better location than the town of Berkeley Springs for a water tasting contest. Every February since 1990, a dozen judges made up of news media from around the country (now that's a publicity coup!) sip international waters in three categories: municipal, non-carbonated bottled and sparkling. The 1999 contest received 100 entries. Who would have ever guessed that Rumania's Harghita would be named the best non-carbonated bottled water of the year?

Judges test water for clarity, smell, taste and aftertaste. "Aftertaste is probably the most important," says organizer J.W. Rone. "When I get a glass of water with a bad aftertaste, well, it just ruins the whole water experience." This annual event, just like the water, if free for the 500 folks who show up every year.