"IceCubes" news and stories

Years ago I worked a bar that only had an ice machine that made soft, mushy pellet ice that was great for sodas, sweet teas and my mint juleps. However, this ice made slushy, watery drinks when shaken, especially with all the excess water that resulted from the pellets sitting in a steel ice bin. I would bring my own bag of cubed ice from the corner gas station to work every day. I never imagined years later, ice would become so controversial.

Now, you can stir your drink with an ice spoon, or pour your highball concoction over prepackaged ice cubes made from purified, distilled water that's supposed to make a clearer ice cube than your tap water in the old fashioned ice tray. Big, clear ice cubes do look good in a glass. You can spend hours at home with distilled water, boiled twice, agitated while freezing to release air trapped inside to make your own clear cubes, but I've not found this very exciting.

Nowadays your top bars may boast about their expensive ice machines such as Kold-Draft or Hoshizaki brands. These machines make square ice cubes measuring more than an inch around that have been touted to make your drink better. Some bars even take these cubes from the ice machine and put them in a deep freezer for "double frozen" ice.

Are you itching for a cold drink, but don't want a mass of ice cubes to dilute the beverage?

There are all sorts of things out there to keep your drinks cold that go well beyond simple cubes of ice. Over the years, we've seen naughty ice trays, slick water-free globes, and even, believe it or not, rocks. But what about the clear chill of ice bullets?

UberReview has shared a new way to make ice -- the AK Ice Tray, which molds water into AK-47 ice ammo. It's not a new way to slay your opponents, but it would make a mixed drink look pretty sleek. Just imagine -- a ring of bullets with some tasty liquor poured over it, a bucket full of bullets for a gangster shindig, or the perfect gift for a gun toter. Not bad for under $15.

Bite the bullet, baby!

[via Serious Eats]

Ice molds available for $8 from Calliope serve a dual function. Not only do you get a cool guitar shaped ice cube to keep your drink cold, but also the handle of the guitar can be used as drink stirrer. Rock on!!

I think it would be fun to make guitar-shaped popsicles with these molds. I do wish, however, that more than three came in a package. I'd like a big party pack for a summer party with all of the guitar handles in different colors. That way, they could serve as a way to identify your drink.

[via Mix Mingle Glow]

Whether it's for iced coffee or a party, here are some fun things you can do with ice cubes.