Iceberg Shortage Creating A Challenge For Newfoundland's Tourism And Iceberg Vodka

The scarcity of icebergs off the north east coast of Newfoundland this year is causing trouble for not just the tourism industry but it is also creating a challenge for the island's premium vodka business.

Iceberg Vodka, based out of St. John's, is made from the pure water only found in icebergs. It is then blended and bottled by the Newfoundland Liquor Corporation and distributed across Canada. The incredibly pure water used in the vodka has typically been harvested by fisherman from icebergs found off of the coast but changing weather patterns have made it difficult this season.

"This has been a lean year for icebergs," said Frank Heaps, CEO of Iceberg Vodka. "Our product's exceptional smoothness and taste is very much a result of the iceberg water, which comes from icebergs formed 12,000 years ago, when mother nature was still a virgin. If they cannot be found near St. John's where the product is made we are forced to go further afield to find them."

Currently, Iceberg Vodka is harvesting the icebergs found offshore of Labrador, however in the past when icebergs have been harder to find, water had to be sourced from icebergs as far away as Greenland. "It varies from year to year depending on weather, wind and sea conditions", says Heaps.

"The reason that icebergs are so important for Iceberg Vodka is more than just the name. Technically speaking, tap water, which many spirits are made with, typically contains 200-300 of impurities while water from icebergs contains just .04 ppm," Heaps went on to say.

While these icebergs are typically harvested off of the northeast shore of Newfoundland, weather conditions farther up north have caused icebergs to mostly abandon their southerly journey past Newfoundland through "Iceberg Alley", on their way to extinction in warmer climes to the south.