Let’s face it. Ice is cool, and it really adds a special touch to your chilled beverages. The best mixologists can produce great cocktails, but if the ice is soft, watery, or off-tasting, their skill is for naught. High-quality ice takes your drinks to another level. But that’s not all it’s good for.
When you are entertaining, you may not always think about what kind of ice goes best with what you are serving. Here are some tips when it comes to choosing your ice.
Crescent
This type of ice is aptly named for its half-moon shape. Due to its unique crescent, liquid easily flows over it and keeps the ice from packing together. Not only does this result in less splash and better displacement within your beverages, it allows for maximum ice bin storage. Crescent ice is great in most settings, especially if you are worried about your drink splashing out of a glass when poured. Enjoy sipped beverages like tea, fruit juice and iced coffee, as the high surface area allows for rapid chilling and low dilution.
Full or Half Cubes
Full cubes are by far the most common shape. The cube is just right for any drink, and the large surface area helps drinks to cool quickly. You’ll find they’re an excellent choice for spirits served on the rocks and shaken cocktails, as they are slow to melt. It’s also great in your cooler.
Flaked
Flaked is the ideal ice type for making blended frozen drinks and smoothies as the ice is soft, flaky and easier to blend. Hosting an event? What better way to preserve food on display, such as seafood, meat, and produce. Flaked ice maintains the hydration of the food consistently for long periods of time. For this reason, it is also a great choice for transporting perishable food.
Gourmet
Shaped like a small shot glass, this crystal clear ice has a very beautiful look to it, which is what makes it so attractive for special events and wet bars. Sometimes referred to as Top Hat or Octagon, gourmet ice cubes have a unique shape, and don’t dilute the flavor of your drink. This makes it perfect for alcoholic beverages and punches that will be sipped slowly. The Scotsman Brilliance® Gourmet Cuber provides pure ice and fits under the counter of any indoor or outdoor kitchen.
Nugget
Nugget ice is soft, chewy, and great for food service; you have likely enjoyed it at your favorite drive-in restaurant. When crafting mixed beverages with this ice, the drink will keep its flavor well. The nuggets tend to not stick together and are slow to melt. Nugget ice is also popular in salad bars and banquet displays to keep food cool. Now you can have this ice in the comfort of your own home with the Scotsman Brilliance® Nugget Machine. It can produce 80 pounds of ice in 24 hours and allows you easy access to nugget ice any time. Understanding the difference between the ice shapes and types should help you to better use them to their maximum potential. You can find the Scotsman Brilliance® Ice Machines at Friedman’s. We hope you will visit us soon to experience our high level of expertise, exceptional service, and value.
