How to make CRYSTAL CLEAR ICE - SUPER EASY 

This just popped up in my suggested videos. One suggestion I picked up somewhere else - you can do this small scale without the cooler and the cutting. Take an insulated drink glass such as Yeti or for coffee etc. Fill them about 2/3 full and put in the freezer for about 12 to 16 hrs. (You'll have to adjust based on freezer temp and insulating properties of your glass). As with the cooler, you still want some liquid on the bottom. Two advantages to this. First, they come out drink sized - no cutting necessary. Second, if your freezer is like mine, it is far easier to find room for a couple of glasses than an entire cooler. This really is just "coolers in the small" but same principle. I happen to have an insulated glass that makes cylinders just small enough to fit in a glass for whiskey. It makes for a neat effect since there is almost no whiskey between the ice and glass so it looks almost clear on top and brown on the bottom.

I’m all about quick and easy with little mess - in other words: CONVENIENCE. I love the clear ice ball maker. Have one that makes four at a time. If I’m going to need more than that, I start however many days I need to in advance. Take out the clear spheres and put them into a large ziplock bag in the freezer. Repeat four at a time for as many as are needed. 😃

Great video Curt. I've been making clear ice for years just like you do with the cooler. From the science end of the process, here is why the method works: Ice is created at temperatures of 32 F and below. Only the purest water freezes first (the quickest) at 32 F. The rest of the water containing "solids" or impurities will settle lower in the cooler. The directional freeze you discussed allows for the creation of the clear ice first unlike an ice cube tray that is formed when water is frozen from all directions. Another important piece is that water is constantly absorbing its environment. Any strong aromas in your freezer can impart a nuanced aroma to the ice. Since most traditional frig/freezer combos have only 1 compressor in it, air is constantly recirculated from the frig to the freezer to the frig, etc. imparting a slight flavor element on the traditional ice cube. For this reason, I take my formed & cut clear cubes and place them in a zip-lock bag in my freezer. I cloud go on about this for an hour but wanted to share a little of what I learned in residential appliance & ice machine sales.

Buddy, you really nailed that video.. It takes a lot of guts to do what I just saw for the world to watch.. In Culinary School I had a very good ice carving instructor. He was so talented. We got in large blocks...would temper them and carve away.. Here in Cambodia clear blocks can be purchased just about anywhere and there are even men pulling wagons with straw and ice blocks delivering to people. The reason is most of the population does NOT have a fridge or a freezer and the ice is needed for their very large coolers. Much like my mom used as a kid ...thus, the term ice box... This is such a great video and your replies to questions in the comments are excellent. Like ..how to get it out of the cooler!. This was such a fabulous way to end your series on home bars.... Those ice trays are so great...much like the baking trays made from the same material.. That t-shirt kicks ass ... Trent really designed a great shirt!

I found that with the large trays that if you drill or punch a small hole in the bottom middle of each cube square, it will allow any air bubbles to escape and your cubes will be totally clear . I also place something to support the tray higher where the freeze area is higher in the cooler. 24 - 26 hours is plenty. If ice in cooler is frozen solid though it will not effect cubs,but will just give you more ice to remove tray.... Ice will really impress your friends. Makes for a classy looking drink. I also just store cubes in a gallon zip lock bag in freezer and just take out what I need for drinks.... Usually just take a sandwich bag of cubes. Can always get more out of my deep freeze when I need more..

I’ve used this method for awhile now. Couple additions. I store mine in a ziplock in the freezer. They do freeze together a bit, but a few taps and they come apart. Second tip: I let the ice temper before cutting by letting it sit on a cookie sheet for about 15-20 minutes. It cuts much straighter and cleaner.

I’ve been making mine for a couple of months now.. I’ll go ahead and make a few batches and store them in big freezer ziplock bags. All my friends and family are impressed by them and ask how to make it all the tome

Such a likable guy and straightforward information! Thanks

I totally agree that clear block of ice although it’s a pain is absolutely beautiful. I do the same thing with the cooler. It’s messy, but who cares doesn’t cost nothing but a cleanup.

Sometimes i enjoy using the rough cuts, or the imperfect cuts. I refer to them as a glacier or ice berg rather than a cube, (a lot of time you'll get something triangular or whatever) but it looks neat when you have an odd shape of ice in your glass.

The open cooler method works great.

I never really thought of small, broken pieces of ice affecting cocktail mixing. You are an ice scientist! I haven't tried cutting my own ice yet, but do have a slow freezing trey which works well. That Jeremy Siers video is very popular an dis a similar process. Team Clear Ice!!

Been doing this way for awhile and its great, but also recently tried using an insulated stainless steel tumbler in the freezer which has made the easiest, best clear ice I’ve made yet.

I came looking for how to use my spherical ball maker...basically exactly the one you have. The part that I was screwing up was not letting it freeze all the way to the bottom. I can't wait to try it! Thanks!

I think most people would say you're over-thinking the ice factor in a drink, but I'd appreciate the effort in my glass.

Perfect glass, ice, ingredients and spirit; combining all is a great art form.

GREAT VID. I have also found that I can use my "rock" as my mix/chilling ice in the mix glass as well instead of the smaller, cloudy ice. Once done I pour into my glass and then gently slip my perfect fit "rock" into the rock glass. The liquid is cold and has had minimal melting from my "rock". The ice now has had a relationship from beginning to end so to speak LOLOL.

you just improved the quality of life for me and all bourbon lovers✨

Kurt, I use the same method. But when I cleave the ice block, I gently tap the top of the knife. The ice seems to cleave more cleanly than with one hard hit. I made a friend a Four Roses on a clear cube and he loved it. He never cared for bourbon. There is nothing like a clear cube in an old fashion. I also have the clear sphere maker. My friends are impressed. They think I am obsessing.

I was given some of the single silicone ball molds as a gift. After some research I figured out I could put them (hole facing down) in a Stainless steel large insulated travel mug, and it would freeze from the top down to make really nice clear balls.

Interesting. My recommendation is that you float a silicon tube(s) in the top of the cooler. When they freeze you have a tube of clear ice inside the silicon tube. Slide tube from ice and cut to length. I will try this myself. Thanks

GREAT SHOW as usual !!!! SHIRTS LOOK AWESOME WILL BE ORDERING ONE !!!!! THANKS FOR THE GREAT ICE TIPS !!! GOOD ICE DEF MAKES A DIFFERENCE

Good video! I started doing this after seeing the Jeremy Siers video. I always have a batch ready to be cut when friends come over. Then I get a good laugh when I go to their house, and they have started doing hand cut clear ice. Keep the movement growing!

Great demonstration! I've been wowing my friends with this technique for a few months now. Another cool tip is if you are mixing tall drinks in a collins glass, you can carve a single long "cube." I also sometimes make the cubes kind of jagged or rugged looking for effect.

I've scrolled past this one to watch other SLB videos because it just looked insignificant to me. I have ice. What would I need to watch this for? I was looking at my spheres that my very cool refrigerator makes for me last night and it reminded me of this video that I keep avoiding. I believe this cutting a homemade slab bit is going to be my newest thing. It clearly will separate my creations which can start to look like assembly line products to what I truly mean them to be, hand made creations. Thanks for the video

I use a brass ice ball maker and making the block of clear ice then making clear ice balls would really be great. Can’t wait to try it.

Very similar to the men harvesting ice at the beginning of Frozen! Let it Go!🙏🏻

When I use my small cooler for directional freezing, it takes a while for the ice to thaw and come out of the cooler. The cooler needs to be over a sink when removing the ice so the water doesn't spill on the counter or floor. Also, I store each cube in a small zip lock bag. When I store the ice in a plastic container, the cubes can freeze together and they can be hard to separate.

Thank you!! 😊

Yeap, good method on clear ice. I saw Jeremy Siers did clear ice also with that little mobile fridge

Finally! You brought us a tip that won’t cost me money haha. Great idea!

It has been a while, but I thought this would be very helpful. When you scored the big block of ice, you only did one side. If you took a few seconds to score all of the sides, you are much less likely to have an uneven edge when you break with the mallet. Just a few extra seconds gets you go much more ice to use.

I am going to replace the sphere ice molds I have with the crystal ice ball you have. Now I know why I get cloudy Ice. Thanks.

I'm trying this tonight, I have a clear ice maker built in but the cubes are small. On a 2nd note Where you in the Navy, you remind me of a Capt I knew, same stature, and demeanor.

Id love an slb windbreaker!

Very cool. Looks so good in the glass

I have never once thought about the look of my ice in a cocktail. I drink my bourbon neat so it has never come up

Good information, will give it a try.

Well I can share what not to do.....lol I actually just did this 4 days ago but tried to do it at a larger scale. I poured one of those 5 gallon water recyclable bottles in a large new cooler and sat it outside with the lid open. Another video talked about how because the sides and bottom are insulated, the cold air pushes the oxygen and impurities in the water to the bottom leaving clear ice on top. The directional cooling you mentioned. Anyhow, my thought was I could score it and make thick slabs then do as you did here with each slab but that block was so difficult to manage, I ended up just making nice chunks. Not my best effort hahaha. It started off presice and careful but looked more like a fist fight by the time I got to the end of that chunk. Next time I will certainly do this at the scale you have here. Lesson learned.

I've done this & it works great. They now have a clear ice cube cooler that makes it easier. But this way is more fun. Cheers !

Very good tips. Thanks for adding.

Good video. I'm in Ottawa, so we have a great big outdoor freezer on for the next 2 months or so. Although it's hard to guage how long before the water partially freezes, I've found even in a standard freezer that it can take longer than 24-28 hours to produce a good sized block. Once you have your frozen block, set it up on a cutting board with a channel groove to carve it. The ice shards should be saved as they can be used in your mixing tins when preparing your cocktails. When you start making your own clear ice a lot, buy your own knives and mallet so you don't dull or dent your wife's knives. Cheers,

Love the shirt Kurt . Let’s get those bad boys online !

A good reverse osmosis (RO) system will give you clear ice by removing 99% of all impurities. I use 2 inch silicon ice trays and have beautiful clear ice for all my cocktails. I really enjoy your videos.

Thanks for the tips Kurt !! Shirt looks great as well😉

I would offer an alternative...Clearly Frozen. The product makes 10 square cubes. No cutting required. I've used it for nearly a year and found it perfect clear ice maker. As an alternative, you can slice up lemons, limes, orange, mint leaves and place them inside to give the ice another dimension to the appearance. Heck, I've added flowers to the cube :)

Great explanation 🙂

I really enjoy using the large silicone square molds in my bar. I noticed if I use distilled water they come out a bit more clear.

I have square solid soapstones that you freeze and won't dilute your drinks at all.

Great video!!!! Making clear ice is totally worth it!!! I make 2 cubes a day, and I love it!! I use one of those insulated drink things, about 10" tall, freeze it, cut the clear ice into two discs, then trim to cubes!!!!

Love these videos. I would definitely order a 2x shirt

Somebody famous once said “see some guys like to hand carve their ice and all that stuff but I don’t have time for all that”

To sum up this video in one word, Cool!

Great video, can't wait for merch.

Thank you for the useful information!!! Can't wait to try it.

Awesome tutorial!

My granddaughter referred to the clear ice cubes is diamonds 🥰

Thanks Kurt. Great idea using the smaller Coleman. Enjoy all your content 👏👍

Loving the new shirt. 👍🏾👍🏾

The shirt looks great! 👍

I have some ice balls made from Kentucky limestone water for those really special pours.

Your content is TOP NOTCH! Thank you!!

11 minutes and 21 seconds is when i knew there was nothing easy about this.

Your t shirts are looking really good!! 👍

Excellent video

Clear ice must be trending. Tipsy Bartender did this same video last week too.

Pro tip - if the cube is just a little big for the glass, turn faucet on very low (barely a stream) and rub just the corner to be made smaller with your hand. Quick melts just the problem area - and problem solved.

Shirt looks legit

“WIFE’S DOMAIN, so I gotta be really careful. RIGHT BABE?” *tiny laugh & indistinguishable noise from wife* *husband realizes he messed up, double chuckles* “So we are in the FAMILY kitchen” His poor wife

I love the clear ice chunk method! I'm definitely going to try that

Heck yeah I want one of those shirts! Some SLB glencarin glasses would be awesome too.

What a great vid, was just online last week trying to learn to do this, luv new shirt!- classy, u continue to differentiate on little things… ❤️ from MI. 👍

I want a shirt!!!

I need a SLB Drinks shirt!

Nice new shirt Kirk, looking fresh 🥃

Kurt love the show , love the shirt, I’d definitely purchase one when possible. Me and my wife watch the your videos all the time from Pittsburgh PA. Keep up the good work and thanks for all the great tips!

we use round silicone molds and like them, but it would be nice to have them turn out clear. I wonder if distilled water would make them clearer Will try!

Great tutorial! Thank you.

I always use Fiji water for my ice trays.

Interesting stuff. Right now here in central Pa., for the past 9 days it's been nothing but ice ALL AROUND OUTSIDE!! Let me know Kurt and I'll send ya some! (: thanks for the vid.

I stumbled across your channel during the middle of my dry January. Needless to say, I'm counting down the days until it's over so I can mix up a cocktail or two! Thank you for all the great instructional videos, especially the ones on bourbon and bourbon cocktails! One quick question about clear ice...when using the small cooler idea, would it work leaving the cooler out overnight in freezing temps? My freezer's too small to fit a cooler, but I can leave it on the back patio. I know the temperature won't stay constant, so wasn't sure how important that was.

Cheers!

Wow that was great information.

If you want really clear ice you need to repeat the process a couple times. Make a few ice blocks as described, let them melt in the cooler, and freeze again. Each cycle removes additional impurities.

Great video. I”m looking forward to trying it, and steeling myself for my wife’s comments on my level of sanity.

So far, unclear ice doesn’t bother me. But now I know how to male crystal-clear ice, in case I ever want to.

I refrigerate my water first, cold water seems to freeze slower than warm water.

Does the Styx song " To Much Time On My Hands" ring a bell???

Hi Kurt,the New Shirt looks great! I love your Bourbon shows! Very informative. Thanks for all that you and Trenton and family do. All the best for 2023. Rick

If you do a couple blocks ahead of time for a party do you pre cut and store in the freezer or do you leave as blocks and shape as you go? Guess I really want to know if they stay separated in the cooler if stored

Great video Kurt, only 2 things If someone complains about the ice in there drink they're getting kicked out. And lastly if your ice melts in your glass your drinking to slow.

If you don't have a Coleman cooler, what about some Tupperware? Would that work?

Cuttin' that ice with a very sharp knife could yield a "Bloody Mary". Watch out!

Ive heard if you use good water, it will freeze clear... Unlike tap water

So after making the clear ice how would you go about storing it? Do you put it back in the freezer. If so does it cloudy after the fact?

Definitely interested in shirts or other merchandise you may have available! Looking forward to making clear ice! Thanx.

There are a couple of clear ice makers out there and sphere makers that produce a lot of ice. Easy to slice your finger doing it that way. And you do not have to have your hands ever touching the ice for sanitary reasons.

Want a large cloudy ice block for a rock glass, use a solo cup with water to the L.

1st Floor Bourbon Kitchen

First time seeing your video, if you make clear ice, cut it like you did and put it back in the freezer will it stay clear?