From holiday parties to weddings to New Year's Eve celebrations, there's always an opportunity in the winter months to raise a cocktail and celebrate. An important component of many of those drinks is ice. However the shape of the ice used makes a big difference in how the drink appears and tastes.
Festive drinks offer restaurant and bar owners a unique opportunity to attract more customers during peak spending months. Like egg nog sprinkled with fresh ground cinnamon, seasonal cocktails fill diners with the holidays' magic. Bars and caterers that can seamlessly offer seasonal drink menus and pair beverages with the right ice experience increase sales, generate word-of-mouth, and build customer loyalty for year-round patronage.
Moreover, holiday-themed drinks allow for creativity and cross-promotion with holiday menus, making them an intelligent choice when seeking to maximize winter revenue. Mixologists spend years mastering classic holiday cocktails and inventing new recipes. Using the wrong type of ice quickly ruins carefully crafted beverages, but when a bartender gets it right, a line of guests will soon be waiting to be seated in your dining room. Typical fall and winter concoctions that need perfect chilling by the right nuggets or flakes include:
Christmas Margarita
The Christmas Margarita is made with pomegranate or cranberry instead of mango or strawberry and served over ice. However, all Margaritas become overly diluted when mixed with the wrong ice and lose refreshing appeal. The holiday Margarita relies on crushed or finely crushed ice for rapid chilling and to provide the slushy texture that makes it enjoyable.
Old Fashioned
Old Fashioneds are a timeless holiday choice requiring only a single large ice cube. The slow-melting properties of giant ice cubes help to chill the drink without excessive dilution, allowing the complex flavors of the whiskey, sugar, and bitters to shine. Using small, fast-melting ice would disrupt the balance and nuance of this classic cocktail.
The shape of ice in drinks is a critical element that significantly impacts the overall drinking experience. The choice of ice shape affects temperature control, dilution, and aesthetics. Ice cubes greater in size slow down melting, ideal for beverages like whiskey, which require minimal dilution. Aesthetically, specialty ice shapes add sophistication to cocktails and enhance their visual appeal.
Texture and chilling power vary with ice shape, with crushed ice creating a slushy, refreshing feel and bigger cubes delivering a smooth, elegant touch. Ice shape also influences aroma, carbonation preservation in carbonated drinks, and the dilution rate, making it a key consideration for bartenders and mixologists seeking to enhance the quality of their creations.
Efficiency behind the bar is crucial, especially during busy nights. Smaller ice cubes or crushed ice may seem like a good idea, but they melt fast, forcing bartenders to work even more quickly to keep drinks consistent. On the flip side, using larger ice cubes, like those for whiskey, slows things down. Using larger ice also means that your holiday cocktails look stunning. Presentation matters to drink sales. Elegant, slow-melting cubes not only impress customers but also reduce the need for constant ice swaps. They're versatile and work for various drinks, from cocktails to neat spirits.
For bar managers looking to boost efficiencies and wow customers, using ice machines from Icetro and Follett can help increase profits and customer satisfaction.
ICETRO America ice machines are known throughout the foodservice industry for unmatched reliability, delivering the best value and quality. Many ICETRO units have achieved Energy Star® qualification, emphasizing a commitment to energy efficiency and sustainability.
Follett Products has been an industry expert for over 70 years. From their famous Chewblet® ice to flakes, they offer a selection of ice unmatched in the industry.