If you're still blown away by the ice maker in your fridge, you might want to sit down for what you're about to read.
Forget the argument about on the rocks or a splash of water -- you can now super-size your ice via spherical ice molds ($16). The molds create ice spheres that are 2 inches in diameter, they'll fit snugly in a lowball glass.
The ice sphere has origins in Japan, where apprentice bartenders (possibly Ralph Macchio) hand carve spheres from blocks of ice. Expensive whiskeys are served over the sphere of ice because it melts slower, allowing the liquid to chill without being watered down.
The idea is the same as what's at work inside an Ice Bar -- a block of
ice takes a lot longer to melt than a handful of ice cubes. Ice will
turn to liquid faster when there is a higher temperature differential
between the air/liquid and the ice.
You could create your own customized ice balls for $175. You can also find square ice cubes or any number of shapes in silicone
trays, the same kind used for baking molds. A bar in Chicago, Rocks, was developed around a signature ice cube that is 2 inches square.
With
spherical and square options, this seems to be begging for a comparison
based on the ability to chill vs. the melt time. A slightly lower-tech
version of Will It Blend -- with the added bonus that no whiskey need be hurt in the process.
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