How to Make the Right Ice for Your Cocktails, According to a Spirits Expert

With all of the spirits, syrups, fruit juices, bitters, and liqueurs that are used to craft cocktails, one of the most important ingredients — the ice — is often overlooked. By volume, ice usually constitutes the majority of a cocktail, but for many home bartenders, it’s an oversight. Using the wrong ice for cocktails is one of the most common bartending mistakes.

Ice has a major impact on both the presentation and the flavor profile of a drink. “Ice chills and dilutes, and large sizes of ice do so at a slower rate than smaller ice,” says Camper English, cocktail ice expert and author of The Ice Book. The ice should fit the cocktail glassware and the cocktail.

Professional bartenders take ice very seriously. Many of the best bars utilize special ice makers and ice molds to produce a variety of shapes and sizes of ice. Having different formats of ice allows bartenders to carefully select the right shape, size, and volume of ice to pair perfectly with any cocktail.

Upgrading your ice is an easy way to improve your cocktail game and make cocktails that look and taste like they were made by a professional bartender. To help us find the best tools for the job, we asked English about his favorite ice molds, plus tips on how to choose the right ice for cocktails.

When to Use a Large Block or Sphere

Large pieces of ice melt more slowly than smaller pieces. Bartenders tend to use a single large block or sphere of ice for cocktails that are intended to dilute more slowly. Spirit-forward cocktails that are served in a rocks glass like the Old Fashioned or Negroni are most commonly served over a single large chunk of ice. Opting for a large block of ice instead of smaller pieces is also ideal for enjoying whiskey or any other spirit chilled.

ClearlyFrozen Clear Ice Cube Tray

$44 at Amazon

“The Clearly Frozen tray is inexpensive and makes ten 2-inch clear ice cubes at a time,” English says. This mold makes large crystal-clear blocks of ice designed to keep a drink cool, but due to the smaller overall surface area, they melt slowly to avoid over-dilution.

“You can go much fancier in clear cube trays, but this is my workhorse and the best bang for the buck,” English says. “Recently they've added inserts you can buy separately so that it can also make smaller cubes or tall cubes for Collins glasses as well.”

Dexas ice•ology Silicone Clear Ice Maker Tray for Crystal Clear Craft Cocktail Ice

Orig. $43 $31 at Amazon

Large ice spheres serve the same basic function as serving an Old Fashioned on a big rock, but spheres offer more than a stylish flair. Due to having less surface area per volume, they melt slightly more slowly than cubes. Recommended by English, the Dexas sphere molds make two clear spheres that look fantastic in any drink.

“This series of clear ice trays is super sturdy, and I use both their square and spherical trays at home,” English says. “This is the tray I most recommend for gifting a cocktail lover, as it doesn't take up too much space in the freezer relative to other brands. It's nearly foolproof.” 

When to Use Smaller Cubes

The most versatile and widely used style of ice is the standard ice cube. “When I'm not making clear ice, I think the 1.25-inch ice cube is the perfect size for most drinks, as well as for shaking drinks,” English says. This size works well across multiple categories of cocktails, for example, spritzes, margaritas, and mixed drinks like a gin and tonic, and typically requires standard ice cube trays.

Cocktail Kingdom 1.25-Inch Square Ice Cube Tray

$10 at Amazon View on Cocktail Kingdom

“I like this sturdy tray from Cocktail Kingdom,” English says. This ice mold makes fifteen 1.25-inch cubes. Although this mold doesn’t produce clear ice cubes, it’s affordable and easy to use, and the cubes it produces are perfect for serving a wide variety of cocktails. 

Luma Comfort Clear Ice Cube Maker

$296 at Amazon $250 at Wayfair $250 at Walmart

For those who don’t have the freezer space for molds, or need a large volume of ice and don’t have the time to refreeze many trays of cubes, the Luma countertop ice cube maker will do the trick. This machine produces a batch of restaurant-quality, clear ice cubes in about 10 minutes and can make up to 28 pounds of ice per day. Much like the Cocktail Kingdom tray, the ice the Luma produces is versatile and can be used in many cocktails.

When to Use Pebble or Nugget Ice

There’s nothing better on a hot summer day than a refreshing tropical drink served on pebble ice. Smaller, irregular chunks of ice have a high surface area to their volume, so they cool drinks very quickly. That’s why many tropical drinks like the Mai Tai and the Zombie — which tend to be rich in syrups and fruit juice — call for using pebble or crushed ice. 

GE Profile Opal 2.0 Countertop Nugget Ice Maker with Side Tank

Orig. $599 $499 at Amazon Orig. $599 $499 at Target Orig. $600 $499 at Target

When it comes to pebble ice, it doesn’t get much better than the Opal Countertop Ice Maker. This compact nugget ice maker aced our tests, and it can produce a full batch of ice in about ten minutes. It can produce up to 38 pounds of ice in a single day. It’s a perfect match for any cocktail party.

Frequently Asked Questions

What kind of ice is best for cocktails?

The right style of ice depends on the cocktail. For spirit-forward drinks served in a rocks glass, like the Negroni or Old Fashioned, a single large block or sphere is ideal. For a tall drink like a highball or Tom Collins, or shorter drinks like a Tommy’s Margarita, multiple smaller cubes work well. For tropical drinks that contain multiple syrups and fruit juices, pebble ice or crushed ice is best.

Is round or square ice better for cocktails?

The choice between a large cube or a sphere is mostly aesthetic. However, there is one important detail that affects how each shape behaves in a cocktail. At the same volume, a sphere has less surface area than a cube and therefore melts more slowly. In most circumstances, the functional differences between the shapes are negligible, so choose whichever shape is most aesthetically pleasing. 

Does the shape and size of my ice matter?

Size and shape are key factors in determining how fast ice melts. The more surface area of the ice, the more quickly it chills the drink and dilutes it. “A soda served on a huge ice sphere will be warm and unsatisfying, as would a Scotch poured over shaved ice,” English explains.

Does clear ice make a difference?

In recent years, the use of crystal clear ice has become more and more prevalent among professional bartenders and home mixologists alike. “Clear ice melts a little more slowly than cloudy ice, and it can taste a little better,” English explains. “But honestly the main difference is that clear ice looks so, so much better in a drink.”

Does ice affect the taste of a cocktail?

Ice can have a major impact on how a cocktail tastes. As ice melts over time, it dilutes the cocktail with water. Dilution softens the stronger, sharper flavors of a cocktail, like the base spirit or citrus juice. The best bartenders pay close attention to the anticipated amount of dilution and select a specific style or volume of ice to perfectly complement the drink. This ensures that the cocktail will taste the best and won’t become over-diluted before the guest finishes their drink.

Our Expertise

• Dylan Ettinger is a Los Angeles-based writer who specializes in spirits, cocktails, and coffee with hands-on experience visiting distilleries and bars all through the US, Europe, Mexico, and the Caribbean. He is also a long-time hospitality professional with over a decade of experience tending bar, and working in specialty coffee.