Tag: ice

  • What is Directional Freezing?

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    Camper English
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    Directional Freezing is a simple method to make crystal clear ice by controlling the direction that water freezes. It was first explained here on Alcademics.com by Camper English in December 2009. The method has been written about in books, used in commercial products, and is employed in many small cocktail bars around the world.

  • Ice Info for New Readers

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    Camper English
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    Hello new readers – The best of the ice posts are: – How to make clear ice using a cooler – How to make giant crystal clear ice cubes Then some fun projects with ice are here and here and here and here. 

  • Modern Day Pond and Lake Ice Harvests in America

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    Camper English
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    I got it into my head that I want to see a pond or lake ice harvest, despite my contempt for winter.  Commercial ice harvests changed the cocktail landscape in America in the early-mid 1800s, allowing for the creation of juleps and cobblers and the popularization of the drinking straw and the cocktail shaker.  Today…

  • How Machine Ice Is Made

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    Camper English
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    These are a few ways that ice was and is made, which I learned from the awesome book Ice: The Nature, the History, and the Uses of an Astonishing Substance by Mariana Gosnell. Slushie Method The first way is just like making ice cream the old-fashioned way: snow or cold water mixed with salt can become…

  • Carved Ice Balls: Starter Molds

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    Camper English
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    Here's a method that gets ice balls started using the cooler method for making clear ice.  This comes courtesy of Dave Michalowski, for I saw it on his Facebook page and asked if I could steal his pictures to share. Thanks Dave!  He says, "I am using the round containers for the ice balls. I…

  • Tales of the Cocktail Preview: The Chainsaw Shift

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    Camper English
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    This is a preview of a seminar that will be given at Tales of the Cocktail in New Orleans, which takes place July 20-24, 2011. The Chainsaw Shift There are two seminars this year at Tales about setting up an ice program. I'm pretty sure this one will be the only one with chainsaws though. The other, How…

  • Stovetop Ice Balls: A First Attempt

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    Camper English
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    Now that we know one way to make crystal clear ice, what are we gonna do with it? One thing I've wanted to attempt is to make ice balls. These can be carved by hand, but that's a lot of work. The big copper ice ball makers make lovely ice balls, but these cost a…

  • It’s Easter Egg (Ice) Time Again

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    Camper English
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    Here's the Easter Ice project from a couple years ago that I'm reposting. Go here to learn how to make it.

  • Fortune Ice: Like A Fortune Cookie But With Ice

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    Camper English
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    In my latest set of fun experiments with ice, I created fortune ice.   I'd been meaning to do this for a while, but two things made it actually happen. First, I bought a Tovolo King Cube Ice Cube Tray to make 2-inch cubes. Second, I realized I could use my Label Maker for the fortunes.  I was thinking…

  • Cutting Blocks of Ice with an Icepick

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    Camper English
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    update 2021 Better ice cutting pictures are on this post. To cut the large blocks of clear ice that I make at home using and Igloo cooler (methodology here), I have always busted out the saw I bought for that reason.  However, last week I gave a talk on ice at Portland Cocktail Week with Evan…