Occasionally, old news will randomly reemerge on your online feed. Some of it is charming, some of it is strange, some of it hardly makes sense, and some of it goes viral again. And food-related mishaps just won't go away, no matter how much time passes. With a 2023 social media post from none other than Martha Stewart, that is exactly what has been happening lately. On a trip to Greenland in August 2023, she offered a glimpse of the local cuisine and culture, and years later, the internet has decided it's worth fussing over again.
However, this is not an OMG-so-cool type of fixation. It's the kind that is a little worrying. After all, Martha Stewart is a lifestyle icon that people have trusted for decades when it comes to cooking, hosting, and doing things the "right" way. She is more than just a celebrity sharing sporadic travel photos. As a result, things quickly heated up when fans revisited her trip to Greenland. While on a Swan Hellenic cruise from Iceland to Greenland, Stewart casually mentioned on Instagram that they “actually captured a small iceberg for our cocktails tonight.” The photos showed glaciers in the wild, then chunks of that same ice sitting on a bar cart, ready for drinks, with Stewart posing calmly, cocktail in hand.
The Heated Rivalry Of The Ice From The Iceberg By Martha Stewart
Using melting icebergs for drinks didn't really sit well with many people, even if it initially seemed stylish and elegant. This was especially true given the current state of climate change. Stewart stated, "We actually captured a small iceberg for our cocktails tonight after the first zodiac cruise from @swanhelleniccruises into a very beautiful fjord on the east coast of Greenland." However, opinions were expressed in the comment section as soon as it was posted. Many of them. The post wasn't well received by followers, who described it as strangely placed. "Drinking iceberg cocktails while the planet is literally on fire is a bit tone deaf," one commenter said. "Martha, the ice caps are melting—don't put them in your drink," warned another person. The atmosphere quickly changed.
Image Credit: Unsplash
Stewart's cruise operator, Swan Hellenic Cruises, has a page on sustainability on their website. The organisation "cares deeply about our planet's rich environmental and cultural heritage," according to the page, and travelling with them is "one of the most sustainable choices for anyone looking to explore our beautiful planet." Others in support point out that comparable cocktails are typical fare on local cruises and that the potential influence of bottled water and spirits corporations is greater.
Why Is It Concerning And Why Has It Popped Up Everywhere Again?
Because it lies at the awkward nexus of privilege, food, and climate change, the entire iceberg-cocktail moment is making a comeback. On the one hand, it's just a drink cooled with natural ice; on the other hand, it feels very “bucket-list luxury travel” and daring. But, icebergs have become a global symbol of melting polar regions and global warming. People are therefore offended when they witness one being used for cocktails. It turns a serious environmental issue into something that looks casual and consumable, which is why the internet is reacting so strongly this time around.
Image Credit: Wikimedia Commons
People are also discussing it because food choices now have a lot of significance and are no longer solely based on taste. What you eat, drink, and even post online is increasingly tied to conversations about sustainability and responsibility. The iceberg story keeps resurfacing because it forces people to think about how climate change shows up in everyday moments, even in something as small as a drink. It’s less about the cocktail itself and more about what it represents. How casually everyone treats natural resources, and how hard it is to separate luxury experiences from the reality of a warming planet.
Can You Make The Iceberg Coffee Cocktail By Martha Stewart At Home?
Not everyone needs to follow in Stewart’s footsteps for the iceberg coffee cocktail. To replicate this at home, a real iceberg is obviously not necessary, and you really shouldn't do that. It would be wiser to mimic the appearance rather than the source because the criticism revolves around the careless use of natural ice. Use purified water, bring it to a boil once or twice, allow it to cool, and then gradually freeze it in a closed container. This helps you get firm, transparent ice that feels elegant and elevated without feeling bad about the environment.
The drink itself is thought to be a spirit-forward cocktail. It probably has vodka or gin, as those are frequently combined with ultra-clear ice for delicate tastes. It will have a simple martini-style presentation, with a dash of tonic or a twist of lemon. The ice is the main focus rather than the booze, which is precisely why the incident initially generated so much discussion.