Hear ye! Hear ye!
Robert Matthew Van Winkle will be proud, because today is all about Ice, Ice, Baby. Whether it’s mixing or shaking; serving strained or on rocks; one thing quality cocktail bars never get wrong is the ice.
So that’s why we at simplehomebar.com believe in up-ing your ice game at home. Now let’s be clear, we’re not going to insist you buy expensive, purified block ice at $8/cube. But we do think it’s important you know why certain ice is served with certain drinks, and how you mimic that experience at home (because, ya know, that’s literally what we do here).
So, why is ice important?
Well, because ice melts. And melting is great for chilling, but it also adds water to your drink. So first things first — your ice should be made with safe, drinkable water. If you filter your drinking water, you should use that same water to make your ice.
If this feels like it goes without saying, then count yourself as one of lucky ones! But if you need or prefer to filter your drinking water, we recommend this large capacity dispenser. And always follow official directions on how to safely consume your local water supply.
Now onto shapes…
Over the centuries, incredibly smart people have done the math & science to determine which ice shapes do the right things for which ingredients. We are not science-oriented people, but we can appreciate the gist of things: temperatures, surface areas, density, how molecules move, etc.
We know (speaking generally here, so don’t @ us) that whiskey shouldn’t be watered down and vodka should. Why? Because whiskey sits in barrels for years to absorb distinct flavors. Whereas vodka is literally filtered 5-10 times so you’re left with basically water & ethanol (yum!).
We may sound anti-vodka.
Let us explain:
The beauty (and the danger) of vodka
is that it takes on any flavor you pair with it.
It quickly becomes undetectable,
which can lead to irresponsible consumption —
something we definitely don't condone here.
Vodka is a staple in many home bars
& low calorie recipes,
but we encourage you not to make it the foundation.
Big Ice
We are obsessed with big ice. Big ice, as defined by us, is a cube or sphere that is 1.5-2 inches wide. It is absolutely imperative to have the capability to create big ice for your simple home bar. It’s needed in a bunch of our favorites, including:
See our cost-effective recommendation for Big Ice (2-inch molds) on our Essentials page.
Crushed Ice
If you love rum, you’ll want to do your crushed ice justice. When it’s time for a tiki, get your ice right with a canvas bag and wooden mallet. It may sound superfluous, but it’s a *therapeutic* way to get authentic, perfectly chewable ice. Channel your rage into making ice for your quality homemade cocktails, that’s what we always say!
Clear Ice
Perhaps you’re ready for the ‘gram or maybe you just fancy yourself a big shot — either way, you’re ready to up your game. Introducing clear ice to your home bar requires a tiny bit more effort than we normally advertise. But hey! You’re up for the challenge! It’s just frozen water, after all!
Our clear ice mold is about 50/50 on truly clear ice, but it does give us an ample supply of both Big and Crushed ice for our cocktails, so we count it as a win.
SimpleHomeBar.com 
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