When was the last time you made ice cubes?
You may not have really paid attention before, but if you looked in your freezer you would see that your ice cubes have a bit of occlusion in them.
That means they are foggy in the center rather than perfectly clear.
And when you’re having whiskey, that is definitely not something you want.
So, let’s take a look at how to create a clear ice cube.
The Cooler Method
If you have a small cooler that fits easily into your freezer you may want to try out this method that gives you the completely clear ice that you’re looking for.
This method is actually one of the easiest and least time consuming because your freezer is doing all the work rather than you having to spend your time and effort in order to do it.
1. Prepare a small, insulated cooler.
2. Add ice cube trays in rows within the cooler.
3. Fill your cooler with water and place into the freezer without a lid.
4. Freeze the ice cubes completely.
5. Remove the block of ice from the cooler and place in a bucket for one hour.
6. Use a knife to break apart the ice pieces based on the molds that were used.
7. You should have completely clear ice.
The Distilled Water Method
This process is actually quite simple, with very few actual steps.
You will need to take a little bit of time, however.
That can be difficult for some who don’t really want to spend the time required but do want to make sure that they have the clearest ice they can.
1. Boil a pot of distilled water.
2. Allow the distilled water to cool approximately half an hour.
3. Boil the pot of distilled water a second time.
4. Pour the water into your ice cube molds.
5. Freeze in your freezer.
6. You should have nearly pure ice, with the slightest occlusion in the bottom.
The Purification Method
If you’re looking to get your ice more clear without quite as many moving parts as the other two you can simply follow a few steps and get better ice through the purification method.
1. Boil a pot of water.
2. Allow the water to cool completely.
3. Boil the water a second time.
4. Pour the water into the mold or ice cube tray.
5. Wrap the ice cube tray in plastic wrap that keeps out anything extra from the water.
6. Put the tray into the freezer and allow to freeze entirely.
7. You should have completely clear (or at least reasonably clear) ice cubes.
Conclusion
There are likely other ways that you can get a really clear type of water and ice cube, but you’ll get some great quality just from these three options.
They’ll make sure that you have ice that you can really enjoy and that will make sure your whiskey looks even better than ever as well.
So whether you’re making mixed drinks with a bar jigger or just having your whiskey straight, these tips should help you have clear ice cubes for your drinks.
Whisky Will’s the name and Scotch is my game! I am obsessed with whiskeys, bourbons, and scotches and love to write about them. Whisky Grotto is my playground where I educate the world about whisky, bartending, and more. So, keep sipping your drink and have a good time!