Local spring water "blings" in Hollywood
Nine hundred feet behind a bottling plant in Dandridge, Tennessee, a natural spring puts out about 2.5 million gallons of water a day. It's been a known water source since the 1800's when it was originally used to water cattle. Now, it's satisfying the thirst of big Hollywood stars.
"Mariah Carey at the Grammy awards, it was put in her dressing room," English Mountain Spring Water owner John Burleson says. "It was in Madonna's dressing room. Jamie Foxx is another prominent artist."
In 1999, English Mountain Spring Water was recognized as having the best tasting bottled water in the world. That's how they became the bottling source for the Beverly Hills company "Bling Beverages". "They came forward and said 'Look, we know your quality is good, would you be interested in doing glass bottles?'," Burleson says.
Glass bottles were a first for English Mountain Spring Water, but the offer was too good to pass up. "When I saw the bottle, I was blown away," Burleson says. Adorned with Swarovski crystals, the bling bottles are shipped to the East Tennessee plant. They're then filled with English Mountain Spring Water. All of the bottling is done by hand and then shipped from the plant to "bling h2o" customers.
"The product has been featured at the NBA all-star game," Burleson says. "We are currently featured in the two five star hotels that are in the country of Dubai," he says. "We are in the Mirage Hotel in Las Vegas." It's down-home water, turned high couture hydration.
"We've heard rumors, we don't know this to be a fact, that Paris Hilton's mother comes in and buys it, and gets it for her dog," Burleson says. "We do know she buys the water." But if you want to bling it, get ready to dish out the "Benjamin's". The bling h2o bottled waters have sold for as much as $125 in some hotels and restaurants. You can also get English Mountain Spring Water locally at Cracker Barrel. It's one of their biggest customers. (WBIR)
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