For any liquor aficionado, the aesthetic of one’s drink can completely alter how enjoyable it is. Every ingredient that is added to one’s drink must be just right. From the food coloring in your cocktail to the bourbon ratio to the clarity of your ice cube.
Many people in the alcohol industry have discovered that creating a clear ice cube is not as easy as one might guess. There’s a science behind it, and each step can be the deciding factor on whether or not your ice will be cloudy.
Why Is My Ice Cloudy?
Impurities (like air bubbles and minerals) are what cause cloudiness in an ice cube. When water freezes without insulation, it always does so from the outside in. So, in a basic ice cube tray, as the cubes freeze, all of the impurities, trapped air, and minerals get pushed to the center.
Another part of the process that affects clearness is how quickly the ice freezes. Water crystals have reflective surfaces. When water freezes quickly, more water crystals are produced, which tend to be smaller. With a larger number of reflective surfaces in the water, any incoming light is scattered across each surface, causing the ice to appear cloudy. If water has been slowly frozen, that means that the water crystals will be larger, and there will be less of them.
Distilled vs. Tap Water
No matter how fresh a person’s water may seem, it is never 100% pure. This means that you are unable to get clear ice with just your choice of water. But choosing the correct type of water is still important, since it will have an impact on the cloudiness of your water.
Distilled water is purified by removing most of the dissolved minerals that are naturally in water. Despite the water being more pure, distilled water will end up disappointing you when it freezes. When distilled water is frozen, the oxygen molecules get trapped, causing the ice to appear with streaks throughout.
After testing it many times, we’ve discovered that tap water or spring water produce the best results. If every other instruction is followed for the clear ice device, these two types will bring perfectly clear ice.
Directional Freezing
In a regular ice cube tray, the water freezes from the outside in due to a lack of insulation on any side of the tray. With directional freezing, water can be forced to freeze from one direction by insulating each side. For example, if every side of an object is insulated except for the top, the water will freeze from the top down, pushing all of the impurities as it freezes.
For the easiest way to utilize directional freezing, we recommend using the Vamoose Clear Ice Device if you plan on creating your own shape. If you are looking for a perfect square ice cube, we recommend the Clear Cube.
Making the Clear Ice
When using a clear ice device, it is important to be patient. The clearest ice comes from water that freezes slowly, so you won’t be able to use your ice immediately.
1. Fill the device
For the best results, we recommend that you pour warm to hot spring or tap water into the clear ice device that you are using. Pour a few inches of water into the device (about ¾), and then place the silicone cup in. Let the water filter through the holes on the bottom, and then continue to fill the cup.
2. Free extra air
Once the cup has been filled, bend the lip of the silicone cup forward to release any air that may be trapped in the device. If the water level drops at all, simply add some more to top off the cup.
3. Freeze
Place the clear ice device in your freezer for around 24 hours. Remember—clear ice takes time!
4. Serve
Once the hours are up, you can remove the device from the freezer. Pull all the way around the top of the silicone cup in a circular motion to remove the cup from the device. After that, you can simply pop the ice directly out of the cup. We recommend letting the ice sit for 3-5 minutes before adding liquid to it in order to avoid any fractures as it adjusts to room temperature.
Benefits of Clear Ice
More Time to Sip
When a clear ice device is used and impurities and air bubbles are removed, the ice produced is purer than the average ice cube. Since it’s just pure water that’s been frozen, it melts slowly.
Better Taste
When a drink is diluted, the thing that dilutes it is just as important as the drink itself. The goal should be to have the ideal water taste. It has been the opinion of many that pure water tastes the best.
Ice Control
Clear ice is predictable when it comes to shape. Cloudy cubes end up shrinking because of the air pockets in them. Since cloudy ice also melts faster, it will never be able to hold the exact shape you started with.
The Look
For a host, the aesthetics of what is being presented are always a top priority. A clear ice cube shows the time and care put into the drink. It’s polished and brings about a “wow” factor that cloudy ice does not. Each cocktail has an elevated feeling that can only be created when the right about of effort is put into crafting it.
Final Thoughts
The debate between cloudy and clear ice is an easy one. With every benefit that comes with using clear ice, it is obvious that the choice is well worth the effort required.
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