Ice: are you a cube or sphere person?

[john E]

just wondering. I have a few friends who are firm believers in  one or the other. others dont care. I have been in a round sphere mode lately. what are you thoughts?

 

john

[evasive]

I have a couple 2” sphere molds in the freezer, but lately I’ve been using big chunks of crystal-clear ice. They do melt more slowly. 

[JCwhammie]

I' make my own clear cubes. They melt a lot slower than regular cubes, as they're solid instead of having tiny gas bubbles inside. Plus they look better. 

 

 

[Sgtspitter101]

I had a large clear cube in a old fashoned once at a resturant. It was pleasing to the eye but i have no problem with the half or crescent moon cubes from a standard whirlpool door. Now the small ice pellets from certain fast food resturants would make one hell of a slushie in four roses yellow label.

Edited September 28, 2020 by Sgtspitter101

[GaryT]

I have a few sphere molds (including a Death Star one) that I've used, but I use standard cubes from the ice maker more often than not.  When I do reach for ice, it usually means I'm going to be taking my time with a pour - and while the spheres melt more slowly, they continue to melt (and there's a LOT of ice).  Plus the big spheres are hard to stir around in some of my glassware.  

[PhantomLamb]

I like the spheres only if they are perfect and I can’t ever get mine like that.

 

Instead I use giant cubes as they are much easier to make and melt slower.

[Flyfish]

Jonathan Swift, I think, tells of partisans who were Big-endians in opposition to the Little-endians. That is, which end do you crack your egg from? It seems to me far more important to have whatever shaped ice you prefer made with the best quality water. A tiny smidge of sulfur could destroy your Pappy.

[geclbxf]

thanks for sharing the video - that was helpful

[Cornmuse]

At home my cubes and spheres are always made with distilled water.  I prefer a big, custom-cut cube for a cocktail.  I like a sphere for  a quick on-the-rock quaff, but they do melt faster.  I'll use directional freezing for the  ice I cut, but ordinary silicone molds for the spheres and regular cubes.  I'm seriously considering subscribing to an ice service for home bars that started up a few months back in my market.

 

Joe C.

[Flyfish]

57 minutes ago, Cornmuse said:

 I'm seriously considering subscribing to an ice service for home bars that started up a few months back in my market.

Exactly! My friend Bill insists on using nothing but "custom ice" in his bourbon.  After the first pour, I don't care so much about ice quality.

[BigRich]

While I find the various iterations of large pieces of ice to be cool looking and fun in a bar, it’s just too much damn work at home.  I like to drink the shit, not impress people. 

[flahute]

3 hours ago, BigRich said:

While I find the various iterations of large pieces of ice to be cool looking and fun in a bar, it’s just too much damn work at home.  I like to drink the shit, not impress people. 

Hahahahaha. BigRich with the blunt levity. I love it!

 

As for me, I have both spheres and big cubes. They mostly get used in cocktails. The only time a big cube gets put in a bourbon is when I'm drinking barrel proof out by the fire pit and don't want to mess with adding just the right amount of water.
 

[fishnbowljoe]

3 hours ago, BigRich said:

While I find the various iterations of large pieces of ice to be cool looking and fun in a bar, it’s just too much damn work at home.  I like to drink the shit, not impress people. 

So, no ice then? 

 

Biba! Joe

[gurgalunas]

I'm a neat drinker, unless trying to slow the intoxication like on a trip or playing cards.  Prefer globes when the situation calls for ice.  Regular cubes melt too fast for me to enjoy the pour.

[NDN98]

When I drink with ice, I prefer the large clear cubes.  Purchased a TrueCubes mold and it has been perfect for making slow melting clear cubes.

[Double C's]

When I do use ice it is mainly during the summer when I want my bourbon cold. I mainly use a large cube but I will also grab some regular sized cubes from the ice tray as well. My only problem with icing bourbon is that it makes it go down much faster and I tend to drink more than if I just sit down with a neat pour and sip it.

[Bob_Loblaw]

On 9/28/2020 at 8:50 AM, PhantomLamb said:

I like the spheres only if they are perfect and I can’t ever get mine like that.

 

Instead I use giant cubes as they are much easier to make and melt slower.

I agree with this.  Spheres preferred, but much harder to make (longer freeze time, more work, less output) so I use cubes more.  Mostly in cocktails, drinking outside, or day drinking to help slooooow me down. 

[smokinjoe]

I’ll throw the big cube and big sphere makers in the freezer, as I do enjoy the big boys in cocktails.  Mostly though, it’s regular icebox ice.  I’ll say that I do prefer the big cubes over big spheres because I’m afraid one of these days that big ball is going to come rolling down the glass and knock out a tooth.  

[Flyfish]

19 hours ago, smokinjoe said:

 I’ll say that I do prefer the big cubes over big spheres because I’m afraid one of these days that big ball is going to come rolling down the glass and knock out a tooth.  

A great reason not to go with the rocks "rocks" that are actually rocks. Or even steel balls. Though I have often coveted balls of steel.

[Clueby]

I rarely use ice except in the shaker for a cocktail.  When I pour out of the shaker its either no ice, or over a large frozen steel ball (I have at least ONE ball of steel!) or the "rock" rocks.  For bourbon its usually use the "rocks" if I want it chilled.  I haven't lost a tooth yet.  I will very, very seldom put a small sliver of ice into some neat bourbon.  I have found a few bourbons (Early Times BIB and King of Ky are a couple) that open up for the better with water or ice but in my experience I almost always prefer it neat.

[fishnbowljoe]

10 hours ago, Flyfish said:

Though I have often coveted balls of steel.

Man, it’s hell getting old. I know there’s a line here somewhere, but for some reason it escapes me. 

 

Biba! Ken

[StarSurfer55]

I prefer large square cubes. 

[ThirstyinOhio]

I think I prefer large square cubes...but the spheres look nice too