The Inn at Little Washington, a three-Michelin-starred restaurant in Washington D.C., has introduced a luxury “water menu” featuring 25 different waters from around the world. The menu offers a range of options from glaciers and water sources from Finland to New Zealand, including some American choices from California and Texas.
While the cheapest option is free Virginia water, the most expensive option is Berg water from Canada, which costs $95 per bottle and is collected from 15,000-year-old glaciers. The menu includes water from underground glaciers that have never been in contact with the air, resulting in unique tastes and textures.
The waters are listed similar to wines, with scores indicating their level of saltiness, sweetness, or smoothness. For example, Vichy Catalan water from Spain is scored as the “saltiest,” while waters from Virginia, California, and Romania are tied for the “sweetest.” The menu also includes flavor notes for each water, and the restaurant’s wine director can offer pairings based on the selected water.
According to chef and proprietor Patrick O’Connell, “We can now create a paired water menu with our menu. These waters are so unique. Some are from underground glaciers that are 3,000 years old. They’ve never been in contact with the air. The varieties, tastes, and textures of these waters are absolutely fascinating.”
