Sip, Savor, and Celebrate

Blackstone Bay is a secluded location accessible only by boat. At the head of the bay lie two tidewater glaciers—Blackstone Glacier on the right and Beloit Glacier on the left. This pristine environment is truly extraordinary. The 300-foot-tall faces of these glaciers are concluding a 12,000-year journey. As the ice breaks off and calves into the ocean, pure ice and water are lost forever. It is important to note that when freshwater icebergs melt into the seawater create halocline. The mixing of freshwater and saltwater makes the environment unsuitable for saltwater fish. In the Permit LAS33009 we are not allowed to disrupt any sea creature. Only Free-Floating icebergs live in front of a Tidewater Glacier. 

January 21st, 2023, Permit LAS 33009 was granted to harvest free-floating icebergs from both Blackstone and Beloit Tidewater Glaciers. We meticulously select icebergs that are ideal for cocktails. Scott Lindquist, the owner of Alaska Glacial Ice, operates the world's only glacial cocktail ice company. All glacial ice has been tested for purity at Alaska Water Laboratories LLC in Wasilla, Alaska 99687. 

The Water Cycle - Nature's Recycling System

The Sun's energy warms water, which transforms into vapor from oceans, seas, and land masses, rising into the atmosphere. This invisible water vapor then embarks on a journey that will eventually return it to the land or water as precipitation. Glacier ice, however, becomes trapped, experiencing a long delay before rejoining the hydrologic cycle. Removing icebergs from one location and melting them in another does not reduce the total amount of water on Earth. In essence, glacier ice is merely taking a "time out." We have the same amount of water on Earth today as we did 12,000 years ago.

 Our selected icebergs are hand-harvested using iceberg fishing tackle, creating a magical experience with 360-degree panoramic views. We focus on purity and beauty, having learned the standards of perfection through our extensive ties with Japanese buyers in commercial fishing. Our Alaskan glacial ice is 100% genuine, and here's the journey of your ice:

Snowflakes falling on snowflakes never touching the ground accumulates in mountain bowls, compressing over thousands of years into a "river of ice." The glacier ice eventually calves into the ocean, marking the end of its journey. We carefully spot the perfect iceberg and transport it to Palmer Alaska in the Mat-Su Valley where it is meticulously processed into 3 oz. pieces. These pieces are then packaged and cased, before being transported to Alaska Airlines Cargo in Anchorage for a flight to Juneau. From there, a trucking company picks up the frozen cases from AK Cargo, ensuring they meet the scheduled port delivery time for a successful handover.

 A question you might ask is, "Why would someone import ice cubes from another part of Alaska when Juneau has its own tidewater glaciers?" The answer lies in two main factors:

1. Purity of the Tidewater Glacier: The most important factor is the cleanliness of the glacier. Moraine lines, which consist of pulverized rocks, often end up inside the glacier ice. For example, Margerie Tidewater Glacier in Glacier Bay has visible black moraine lines, making it difficult to find pockets of pure ice for harvesting.
2. Travel Time for Harvesting: The travel time to harvest glacial ice is another significant factor. Glacier Bay National Park is a long distance from Juneau, and the tidewater glaciers to the south of Juneau are about a 3-hour boat ride one way. In contrast, Blackstone/Beloit Tidewater Glaciers are only 45 minutes away from the home port of Whittier, Alaska. Additionally, Whittier is just 50 minutes from Anchorage, which serves as a better cargo hub.

 Icebergs are heavy and awkward, requiring the use of heavy equipment. We utilize a front-end loader to lift the icebergs out of the boat. This is a delicate operation to avoid damaging the boat or having an iceberg shatter due to an unseen fissure. One wrong bump can result in losing 700 pounds of ice. This has only happened once, and we are taking measures to ensure it does not happen again. 

 Imagine having ice or water that has never been touched, making you the first person to taste, touch, and smell this unique, ancient ice. We take great care never to touch the ice with bare hands, using equipment and utensils at all times to ensure you experience the privilege of first-time purity. Our signature, "Bergy Seltzer," features compressed air bubbles trapped inside the ice, showcasing nature's natural effervescence.

Winter brings snow and temperatures below 32°F, creating ideal conditions for iceberg harvesting, transportation, and storage. We collect icebergs during the winter, process them in the spring, and store the finished cases in cold storage facilities. This ensures we are ready for the Alaska summer cruise ship season, exclusively with Holland America Line.

Alaska Glacial Ice   PO Box 871526   Wasilla, Alaska 99687   (907) 707-8908   scott@alaskaglacialice.com   alaskaglacialice.com

 First Iceberg Harvest 2-22-2025

 The Qayaq Chief is a 45' aluminum landing craft operated by Lazy Otter Charters. www.laztottercharters.com (907) 587-6887 (book your adventure)

Will have Water Testing Reports 10 days after the Iceberg Harvest