Ice Picks, Chippers, & Mallets
Bartenders carefully select the liquors and glassware they use, but one of the most important mixology elements is easy to overlook: ice. Handcrafted ice of any shape can be created using ice picks and other tools, enhancing the look and taste of any cocktail.
While standard ice cubes are fine for most beverages, for cocktails, you're going to need to upgrade the quality with the help of ice picks, mallets, and other tools. Large chunks, clear spheres, crushed chips, and even long spears can elevate your bar's drinks, but you can't get these from a dispenser.
Ice picks and ice chippers are handheld tools used to whittle down large blocks of ice into whatever size and shape the bartender requires. Although these require more effort than simply pushing the button on an ice dispenser, the results are worth it. Hand-carved spheres of crystal-clear ice tailored to specific glassware not only look beautiful but enhance the flavor of the drink as well. Hand-chiseled ice melts far more slowly, enabling guests to savor their drinks, and it can offer an opportunity to show off impressive skills behind the bar.
Crushed ice is essential for blended cocktails and Tiki drinks. Achieving this requires ice mallets and Lewis bags – specialized bags for crushing ice. These durable canvas bags are filled with ice cubes, closed off, and hit with a wooden ice mallet until it reaches the consistency you need. The crushed ice is kept neatly in the bag, and there is no need to worry about spills or leakage because of the natural waterproof qualities of the canvas.