Ice, Ice Baby

So by this time we have talked about certain spirits, glassware, etc. Another small way to up your cocktail game is with ice. It can make a really good cocktail, great. It’s one of those details that will separate your gatherings from others that you will go to.

Yes I know your ice-maker has cubes. They melt fast. They are tiny. And let’s be honest, they are fine for your Diet Coke with your frozen pizza, but not for your friends when they want a proper cocktail. No one wants an old-fashioned with 11 half-moon shaped cubes that dilute the drink.

There are a ton of silicone trays out there with all shapes and sizes of ice. I like to have some of the smaller squares for most of the drinks that require multiple cubes in them. The large guys are good for an old-fashioned where a large, single cube is common. I have used these before and they are great.

Only downfall is you have to make them ahead of time for a few days to make sure you have enough. Unless you buy a ton of trays.

But here lately I have found hacks to help improve my ice game — and requires no work on my part. There are a couple places you can just get bags of ice that work great for cocktails! And the first one is thanks to an introduction from my buddy Dave.

There is a neighborhood grocer in Webster Groves (Freddie’s Market) and their bag ice is the smaller square cubes! Done and done. And you get to support local and maybe buy a few other things from them. I am currently on the hunt for other locations that sell the same square ice — for those that may not be super close to the Webster Groves part of St. Louis.

The second is pebble ice. I mean, this ice is so good, maybe it isn’t just for your cocktails. What I tend to use it for are tiki drinks. But Chick-Fil-A sells their pebble ice in bags! So get yourself a spicy chicken sandwich, waffle fries and a bag of ice or two.

Bag of square ice from Freddie’s in Webster Groves.

This stuff isn’t hard, but it does make a difference. It is really all about the small details. And your guests will notice.