Yes, we're going back to spherical ice today, this time in a much more affordable and accessible fashion than Day 4's recommendation. Judging by the feedback I received after posting about the Cirrus Ice Ball Press (as my buddy Chadzilla pointed out, that's an awful name), you guys are interested in ice spheres. And why shouldn't you be? They're pretty frickin sweet! So, on Day 7 of Bourbon Christmas I give to you...the Spherical Ice Mold from Tovolo.
In the freezer I keep at The BTS, I've currently got 9 varieties of ice ready to go - 4 types of cubes, 4 types of spheres, and some of the regular chipped ice you get at the market in a big 10-pound bag. I've already discussed the benefits of the ice sphere so no need to rehash. What I can tell you is this - the Tovolo Ice Sphere Mold is the biggest and best ice sphere mold on the market. I like that they are individual molds. Others that I have in my
freezer are trays, and while they work just fine, they tend to leave a
"saturn ring" around the middle of the ball because of the way the tray
is constructed. With the Tovolo mold, you don't get that ring. These
are also the largest ice sphere molds I've found. They fill a double
old fashioned glass perfectly. I haven't timed how fast they melt but
I'd say it's easily an hour. It's real easy to make ice balls using
these molds.
Care for an ice ball with your bourbon, Sir?
So if you don't want to shell out boku bucks for the Cirrus press, this ice sphere mold is the way to go. You can find them at a decent price here. I've bought a ton to give as gifts to my bourbon drinking buddies. I strongly recommend you do the same!
So now for Bourbon Christmas you've got a little piece of bourbon history to read, some great juice, and a nice glass to sip it in. But what if you want to sip your bourbon on the rocks? On Day 4 of the 10 Days of Bourbon Christmas, we'll address the topic of ice in a premium way. Yup, we're blowing the bourbon budget with Day 4's recommendation. This
is the one you get for the bourbon lover who really appreciates his
spirit and who takes care of you with bourbon recommendations, tastings,
knowledge tidbits, bottle finds, bottle deals, etc. (I hope you're picking up the hints I'm dropping...)
MackDaddy of Ice - The Cirrus Ice Ball Press
When it comes to drinking bourbon, I always recommend trying it neat first, with no water or ice added in. This allows you to get the full flavor of the whiskey as intended by the Master Distiller who gave it life. But sometimes you'll want to add a little ice. Adding ice will cool and dilute your bourbon, bringing it down in proof. For many, this makes drinking bourbon a bit more palatable. Be wary though - traditional ice cubes tend to melt rather quickly and too much can lead to drinking a glass of water with bourbon essence. That's a buzzkill. This is where having the Cirrus Ice Ball Press is a major advantage.
You see, ice as a sphere melts slower than ice as a cube. Why? Simple science. A sphere made of ice has less surface area in contact with the liquid in the glass than a traditional cube while allowing for the most possible volume. This allows for a slow, somewhat controlled dilution of your bourbon without watering it down. A little bit of dilution will open up the bourbon you're drinking and expose more flavors that may have been hidden behind the higher concentration of alcohol.
Goodness, gracious, great balls of...ice?
Not only does the Cirrus Ice Ball Press help you to cool your drink, it does so in a badass way. Makes a great impression on guests of your bar wherever that may be. Check it out in action!
Ok, so it's not the most budget-friendly gift but it sure as hell is pretty cool. Don't worry if this is not in your price range for Bourbon Christmas. I'll have a few more ice-related gift ideas for Bourbon Christmas that will produce great results and fit any budget. Stay tuned!
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