Ice Cutting and Molds! - what is the proper ice?
VloĆŸit
- Äas pĆidĂĄn 17. 05. 2024
- Today we're talking all things ice! Recently I've received some questions regarding the ice I use to serve a drink and the ice I use for mixing. So cloudy, clear, cutting, and molds, we'll touch on it all. In a professional setting, it's easy to get spoiled by the commercial machines that offer an effortlessly perfect cube in large quantities. However, when mixing at home, it's not always convenient to have that perfect ice, but don't be discouraged. What's most important to remember is controlling your dilution, and knowing the rate at which your ice will melt. These are techniques I use. Cheers!
Patreon: / anderserickson
TIME STAMPS
Intro: 0:00
Mixing Ice: 1:24
Serving Ice: 4:23
Carving: 6:30
Sign Off: 11:00
THE TOOLS
Silicone ice tray with lid (set of 2): amzn.to/3prA4Oi
Mini cooler by Coleman: amzn.to/2Mw9W6l
Water pitcher with filter: amzn.to/3pArOeR
Serrated knife: amzn.to/3r7AWIv
Wooden ice mallet: amzn.to/2JhCgZ6
Anvil ice pick: amzn.to/3B2Qm5V
Pitchfork ice pick: amzn.to/3B3dOQu
Ice tongs: amzn.to/3cvNYLE
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. I get commissions for purchases made through links in this post.
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Instagram: / anderserickson
Twitter: / anderserickson_
Facebook: / andersericksoncocktails
Co-produced with the lovely Azusa "Az" Inaba đ„ đš
Every bartender has their own opinions on the best ice for cocktails. Crystal clear? Perfect cube? Ice sphere? Whatâs your style? What are your thoughts on freezer cam? Important questions.
Hope you enjoy the video. Cheers! đ đ§
Time stamps đđ
Intro: 0:00
Mixing Ice: 1:24
Serving Ice: 4:23
Carving: 6:30
Sign Off: 11:00
You're too cute!
@Austin Gunther that first break is key. If youâre patient with the break you'll be rewarded. I'm always tempted to chip through the ice, but the idea is to repeatedly just weaken it where you want it to crack - the ice will split on its own when ready. I hope that makes sense đ€Good luck, Austin!
Hi Anders, What is your take on Whisky stones / rocks / steel cubes etc.
Totally agree
Your directional freezing technique is good, however, did you try making clear ice of cooled boiled water, it will result in clear ice without utilising much time resources, make small clear ice cubes in regular ice trays, do try and let knowđ
Anders, you are my favorite bartender on CZcams. Your content is high quality, and your attitude is unpretentious and approachable but still focuses on "next level" bartending. Keep up the good work, it only gets better from here for you.
Thanks for the kind words, Lee! It really means so much, and Iâm glad youâre enjoying the videos!
This guy deserves far more views....dude collab with barfly or greg!
Thanks for the support! Cheers!
Quick tip. If u don't have enough room for a cooler in your freezer, you can use am insulated thermos water bottle and follow the same instructions. I have a small freezer and I found that it works flawlessly and ends in a perfect size for a rocks glass. I usually cut it in half and have enough for 2 drinks. It takes longer to collect a bag but it works.
Oh! If u have a french door fridge like me, make sure to secure them with other things so when you pull out the drawer, it doesn't spill.
oh thanks ! i will try that
ah fuck late response but thank you, i have a fridge freezer combo so maybe itll work
Especially if you freeze it for less than a day, in which case there is no cutting out anything, since the bottom which would be cloudy is still water and you just get a perfectly sized piece of crystal clear ice.
I love the âwelcome back friendsâ opening
I am just going to say it straight away - You are definitely the most underrated bartender on CZcams. Your videos are perfectly cut, the cinematics are awesome... I am just running out of words man
Thank you for the kind words! We put a lot of love into these videos, so it makes me so happy to hear youâre finding them helpful. Cheers to you! đ„
Very Cool! I was a Garbageman in Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks for 23 years. I have quite a collection of coolers. International Visitors know they wonât be flying with their brand new cooler, so many of them just throw them out! Or even sit them next to the trash bins. Also we have a hard rock well just outside Sequoia and our water is delicious! Cheers! Almost Bourbon time!
Iâve worked in the industry for years and you genuinely make me feel passionate and like a teenager again! Well done bro
Ok, so i just wanted to say that as i was scrolling down the comments i noticed how attentive you are about reading people comments. I see so many that youve reacted and replied to. It's very refreshing i guess you could say to see a youtuber like yourself to be so attentive to your viewers. It's one of the many reasons why you are so amazing at what you do. Thank you Anders. :)
Thanks, Joshua! I can't always respond to every post, but I do my best to keep up. Thank you for the kind words - cheers! đ„
Iâve spent five years curating the âclear ice in the coolerâ method the hard way only to land on this exact process. Anyone watching, follow these steps and youâll get great results. Thanks for the video, Anders, even if itâs five years too late!
Dude this page is gonna blow up to millions of subscribers in no time, he is super charismatic.
Anders, Iâm fairly new to your work and am already addicted. Working on my cocktail craft and since itâs going to be 9° here in Michigan tonight, Iâm also going to make some clear ice. Keep bringing me your quality videos, I love everything about them! Thanks!
Judging by all these videos, Coleman business must be thriving.
Just a quick note about the Arctic Circle. I'm originally from Rovaniemi, Finland. On the arctic circle. Between April and October you won't be able to make your ice outside because it's above zero C all the time and in June-August it might be as hot as +30 C.
I've never been more fascinated or entertained by the subject of "ice". Can't wait to try this.
Anders, I just completed this process and it worked really well!! I appreciate your channel and I have really expanded my cocktail palette. Keep it up! Happy weekend!
Awesome video⊠all of the ones Iâve watched so far have been really educational and helpful! Thank you Anders!!
Amazing! Thank you so much! I'll now have always clear ice on my freezer and know my friends will be impressed when I start serving solid clear ice. Really liked that you explained tempering I would have never thought of that.
Thank you for the videos. Very informative, easy to follow, and nice delivery.
Anders, somewhere around my fourth or fifth OEF/OIF combat tour, I used to lie awake staring at the ceiling of my hooch, calculating the stats and odds, knowing I was way overdue for a shellacking. FWIW, the way I got through that dark time was remembering that there were GREAT people back home, and also equally fantastic people I'd never meet, who made all the suckage worthwhile. THANK YOU for being one of those people. May there be more and many like you in the world, and soon. So proud of you, and wanna encourage you to keep pushing forward by sharing what you love to the highest standard. You add zest to our days. Drive on Anders!
Thank you for your words of support. And even more - thank you for your service!
Your videos are so informative and fun to watch
Man this is next level stuff. I switched from cutting my clear ice to using the pitchfork. Not only is it easier, but they just look cooler. Your channel has elevated my bar game to the same extent it has emptied my bank account :)...totally worth it!!!!! Ever thought about doing a series on technique? Free pouring...using pour spouts, hosting a cocktail party (bar setup) other "tips" to go with the sips you could say. Cheers!
Never used more than the knife to cut/shape. Going to check out the picks for sure now đ
In complete agreement with the âfreeze it allâ approach. Leaving a pocket of water might net you more volume of clear ice but itâs not worth the additional effort. You also wind up with some weird shapes that boarder on too thin to be useful.
Hi! I've not had many cocktails and I'm not a regular drinker at all, and I didn't realize how important the ice is! Thanks for your cool videos showing how to make the cocktails and essentials of what one would need to make them. :)
One of my favorite videos yet!
This will be even more perfect with flower in the ice cubes.
I really enjoy your videos. Thanks for sharing all your knowledge. I'm enjoying cocktails so much more now.
Everyone should be like you!
Amazing cinematography and explanation. Thank you for sharing!
Thank you so much! I appreciate the comment. Cheers!
I've started to make clear ice with the directional freezing style and I'm hooked on it. I don't even try to make perfect cubes, I like the "chipped off the ice berg" look with ragged edges. I also made longer pieces of ice for my high ball glasses. Making ice is a good hobby for the days you can't really make/drink cocktails.
Why am I crying at the beauty of this perfect ice?
Great tips on the clear ice! You don't need to score all around, just one side will do it.
Yes!! đ Whoa hoo! I found the mixing ice trays đđ» YAY đđ Thank you đđ»
Perfect tutorial and explanation. Cheers!
tip for those with the swivel type igloo mini coolers; the disks with the logo where the lid pivots come off and reveals two screws that can be removed to take the top off. I had one laying around that I hardly used and it does the trick
Just discovered your channel and i love it, the explanations, cinematography and sense of humor is just great.
Will definitely help me through my bar experience thank you!
Thank you! I'm so happy you're finding value in the content. Cheers to you!
Top quality video Anders. Just subscribed, looking forward to watching more on your channel.
Yesssssssss!!! I'm number 1!!!
Cheers to you, Tim!
@@AndersErickson Happy Friday!!!!!
Tried this for the first time yesterday.
I used some meat handling bbq gloves to hold the ice. These are basically thermal protected silicone gloves, easy to keep sterile and have a good amount of grip. Worked very well for me!
Anders found your videos about 3 days ago just before new year. Watching from the Philippines. I believe I am your first Filipino subscriber. Love your work man. Great content. Happy New Year.
I found your channel while looking for cocktails and found your ice by chance. We like your ice style ⊠subscribed
Fascinating.
So cool making Ice could be a little hobby, and I love having a Godfather couple times a week. And these ice trays I got never come out clear. Definitely gonna try this.
hey Anders, i'm pretty new to this but really enjoy your videos and your personality and passion are great, keep up what you're doing, because you're REALLY good at it! Cheers from Aus.
You're awesome anders
WOW!!! very intestine and informative Thanks
Nice. We have great water here but I would love to try getting it more clear like this. Will work on this coming up. Thank you Anders.
I think Iâve saved a half dozen videos so far. Very helpful! And youâre a cheesehead. Good times on the apple river back in the 70âs. Great job.
I used to make directional frozen ice at the bar. I found a way that is a bit messy but much faster than freezing the whole thing. I used a big cooler in the walk in freezer. I calculated that it took about two days to form six inches of ice. So I set an alarm for two days out, and would carefully tip out the clear ice that formed on top, and let the rest of the water dump out. Then I just cleaned up some of the jagged edges with a pick and threw it back in the freezer on a rack to rest at it's final temperature. It takes a bit of practice but gets great results.
This is a very interesting video!!! Ice is very underrated. It def makes a cocktail look nice. THANKS!!!!
Thanks, Tim! I agree. A simple thing that's pretty important. đ§
Wow that's so amazing! I never new there was so much on ice and how important it is to use the proper type! I love to use big round balls of ice and ice shapes my friends always use to comment on them haha, but i like your one better!!! You are so funny too which makes your videos real keep up the good work!
Simple and make people feel better to drink
I was super intimidated by this topic before; thanks for making it at least more approachable and realistic for home bar folks!!
Thank you for the comment! I'm so happy it helped. There's no need to be intimidated. We're just freezing water đ đ§
@@AndersErickson agreed!! And also adding in one part sharp objects along with one or more parts alcohol đđ
Uh oh! Thatâs a scary recipe. Best to keep those ingredients separated đđŹ
This guy is next level!
You're amazing Anders. Great vid!
Cheers, Tim! Thank you so much!
For serving cubes I just use a large format ice cube tray.
Put the whole tray in the cooler, close the lid, and put it in the freezer.
The slower rate of freezing makes for clear ice.
Remove and chip the edges for that rough-cut look.
đ€Ż
Okay so even as someone who does not drink hard drinks that often this is useful.
I've totally been a Beer Guy besides a shot here and there I'm so intrigued by these mixed drink and I'm wondering why I've never been exposed to them thank you thank you so much I will be heading back to the bars and trying some of these drinks and it eventually will make them myself thank you for your videos badass
Boulder art! Miss those days oâ bourbon n boulders at the Ward. Thanks, Anders.
I sure do too. Hope youâre well!
awesome tips!
Thanks Anders. Ive been doing the whole clear ice thing since lockdown in March and I have to say, itâs very cool having clear ice as needed. I have a horizontal deep freezer so I have a 6 qt and a 9 qt cooler I use. But recently, I have been drinking my bourbon neat so no need for ice. But with spring around the corner, ill be making belmont jewels so clear ice is needed
You are set đ Itâs true, once you get used to having the clear ice on hand, thereâs no going back. Cheers, Kyle! đ„
Thanks!
Excellent. I've been wonder how to do this. I would never have the freezer space. Maybe in the winter though, I can use the garage. Cheers
Ice molds for the win!
I really like the appearance of clear ice. And totally agree with you that uneven ice cubes give kind of a nicer and more unique impression. Thank you for the tips. Cheers!
Agreed! A little uniqueness to each cocktail is a good thing. Cheers to you!
i love this
Great vid, Anders. Was happy that you demonstrated how you made the cubes imperfect. I also found that 24 hrs in the same cooler produced a small band. I'm going to up it to 30 hours next time, but I might just go for your method of 48 hours as well.
Excellent. 30 hours could be the sweet spot. It's always disappointing when you turn the cooler over to see less clear ice than you were hoping for. Best of luck, Mark!
I love your content so much, you are the best Anders đđŒ
I find myself watching your videos over and over again, while sipping on my well deserved & ice cold El Presidente, Cheers đž
Thanks, David! I appreciate that. Youâve got me craving an El Presidente. Sounds perfect right about now!
10 second rule on that ice that fell! Ha! I really need to get into the clear ice game. Used it all the time at my old gig but have been far to lazy at home. Great vid!
Thanks, Vino! I do miss the convenience of having the clear ice on hand all the time, but this isn't so bad. Also love how you call out the 10 second rule! đ
I like your presentations a lot, shows you love your work, and one that loves his work always does it best..
You want clear ice?? Warm up the water before you poor it into the molds..
Haha lol today I was thinking about how I can improve my ice game and tada there is video from Anders :) hope to see more from you!
Great minds think alike! I hope you found this helpful. Cheers!
@@AndersErickson already put the water in the freezer! :)
Clear ice whenever possible! That is all!
Very interesting
As a scientist, re-crystialization is an outstanding purification method. If you want a cheap way to make the whole cooler clear, cut off the cloudy ice, melt the clear ice in the cooler, then re-freeze. Might take 2 cycles (freeze, cut, discard cloudy ice, thaw, freeze) to get a whole cooler full, but that will be your purest water(other than distilled).
Hi Anders, quality videos thank you ! I was wondering if to froze the clear cubes again after making would change the quality of the cube ?
Great videos Anders. Really enjoy them, and I can tell you are too. Glad I'm in before you get huge. Might be a good idea to do an "About Me" or channel introduction video for the incoming swarm of new fans!
Thank you so much! I appreciate the support. A channel intro is a good idea. Thanks for the comment!
You seem like a nice guy.
And video quality is like Peter McKinnon does cocktails. Great work!
Just found you Anders, great stuff! Love the vid! As I mentioned in a comment on your other video, I started my old fashion quest by making ice just like you pointed out in the Coleman cooler! I am going to try to full freeze method and go with irregularly shaped cubes....cool stuff!
Amazing videos!! đđ
Thank you so much! Cheers!
This was an awesome tutorial! I found a couple of old isolated (thermos) coffee cups and they make perfect vessels to create clear ice. They produce sylinders so no cubes, but I get a sylinder with the perfect diameter for my tumblers. Thank you very much. Love your channel :)
Hello Anders !! Thanks for another awesome video ! What do you think about using âmetalâ ice to keep a cocktail cold that you donât want to dilute?
Genial đ€©
Excellent and super informative!!! I need a mini coolerđ€Łđčđ
Thanks for the tutorial! I tried the cooler method and didn't have much luck. What did work was an insulated ice mold, that used directional freezing. One question I did have was, what is the etiquette for reusing ice at home? If I am making drinks for a small group of friends, and someone finishes a drink in like 5 minutes, I feel like its a waste for that beautiful clear cube to get tossed. I'd never use the same ice for a different person, but if someone asked for a refill, would it be uncouth to use the ice from their last drink? Thanks!
As long as the drinker doesn't mind reusing the ice, I see no issue. I know a lot people actually prefer to use the same ice for their next drink. The reused ice is sometimes called "educated" ice or "seasoned" ice - so it's definitely a common practice. On top of that, you worked hard for those clear cubes - why not get the most out of it? Great question!
@@AndersErickson Hey thanks for responding, I didn't know "seasoned ice" was a thing, learned something new!
âAt the barâ. Where ever you are, please tell us, so we go there!!!!
Timing is this is funny, I just ordered my cooler yesterday, going to do some freezing this weekend. Everything I've ever seen said you HAVE to catch it before it fully freezes, glad to see that I can let it freeze though and it will still work. Thanks for the vid.
PS I picked up the Y-peeler and zester you recommended, you were correct, they're both outstanding!
I'm happy to hear you're pleased with the tools, and I think you'll love the cooler! I know there's a lot of opinions on the directional freezing method, but this works well for me. I will add, try and avoid any disruption/vibrations to the cooler as it freezes for best results. I actually put a note on my freezer door to remind me not to slam the door shut or move too much around while it's freezing. Good luck!
@@AndersErickson thanks! I have a full size chest freezer in my garage so disturbing it won't be an issue, will post on IG with my first cubes!
@@AndersErickson so i have 3 daughters that get ice cream out of the freezer every 30 minutes....am i right in guessing i wont get your results lol
Just getting into mixing my drinks now, and love your videos. Quick question - I noticed that the clear ice you made monopolizes nearly the entire room in the glass you used as a tester. Doesn't this affect how much of the cocktail you can pour into the glass when you are mixing a drink? Is there a ratio you use for the glass: block of ice? Thanks!
This is probably the 5th video Iâve clicked on of yours this week. I didnât even take notice of your sub count till today but your channel is way to small! The quality of video set my expectations at 1-3 million
Hi Anders I was wondering how you clean your ice cube trays? I have the exact same ones and do filter my water it is worth noting the water in my area is quite hard. Iâve noticed a white residue build up on my trays and it flakes off the ice cubes once I put them in liquid as well. Just wondering if you had any tips? Thank you Ollie
Guess I'm not doing too badly for a beginner. I keep a zip bag full of square cubes I use for mixing. My freezer isn't big enough for a cooler so I got the True Cube clear cube maker which is fine for crystal clear ice. A gallon size freezer bag keeps a good amount of 2" clear cubes. I need to chip it to fit a few of my rocks glasses. I've always used filtered water for my ice. Thanks for being a great teacher, man! I just wish the fancy ice presses weren't so damn expensive. I would love to have stars and diamonds for a cocktail but for the cost of those, that's quite a few more bottles of Absinthe or re-stocking the home bar. Thanks Anders!
Absolutely! I think youâre doing everything perfectly, and Iâm with you on the ice presses. Very impressive results, but the cost is a real factor. As long as we can achieve a good ice chunk for sipping, weâre doing alright. đ
Just broke down and ordered a Colman cooler so do you just store the clear icebergs in the cooler after itâs made or seal it in freezer bags. Or is it make clear cubes and use them within a day or so..? The benefit of storing them in the cooler is you know thereâs always going to be room for the cooler in the freezer for the next batch.
Im a little bias, but check out Ghost Ice . It is silicone trays designed for directional freezing. Great video btw
Anders, how long will the large cubes be good for? Is freezer burn something you take into account with either the large or small ones? You said âfresh is bestâ but âŠhow fresh?
This is exactly how Iâve been making my clear rocks. Drinking an Old Fashioned one of those rocks is such a gratifying experience. Also, Iâve been buying pebble ice for tiki drinks from Sonic. Itâs like two bucks for a huge bag. Ever done that?
I canât say I have, but I didnât know about it until now. The price sounds alright! Thanks for the tip, Dominic!
I hope anyone who has to have clear ice tips well. This is a pain in the ice.
I purchased the linked ice tongs, but didnât realize they are so tiny. Do you have recommended ice tongs to handle larger cubes like the ones made in this video?
I had to chuckle at "or if you live in the Arctic Circle" nope, just MN with a high of -10 yesterday. Close enough
Two sets of ice trays. 1 inch for stirring - and you donât need to use more than 4 or so cubes. 2 inch cubes for shaking and serving. Done.
Like Gems!!!!
Wonderful content)
Trying to build some of these cocktails in Moscow Russia.
I once plan to visit lake Baikal. It is said that the water their is magical, and that the ice is also of legend. If/when I finally get there, I'm going to try to make a cocktail using that ice. If you had such "Magical" ice, what cocktail would you use it for (in my case I would be in winter Siberia at the moment of making the cocktail).