Ice cube mold
Ice cube molds can be made of various plastics. A few, mostly from the USA, are also made of metal (e.g. aluminum). The most commonly used plastics include silicone, polypropylene, rubber or polyethylene.
There are almost no limits to the variety of shape and color. The main shape is of course the cube, but spheres, cylinders or bar shapes are also becoming increasingly popular. Ice cubes for the use in cocktails should have an edge length of approx. 3 cm. Extra-large cubes with an edge length of 4-6 cm are often served in the guest glass. Spherical shapes are often around 6 cm in diameter.
The different shapes are used with a reason by bartenders. Dilution is an important and desired process in cocktail making. Some drinks, such as strong Negronis, benefit from the dilution with the melt water to make the drink softer over time. Large ice cubes make for little dilution, while smaller ice cubes may water the drink down quickly. Ice spheres cause the least dilution in a given time, which is due to its low surface-to-volume ratio.
When choosing the right ice cube mold, it is particularly important to ensure that it does not impart any flavor to the ice. Especially with spherical shapes, the mold should be well closed in order to avoid leakage.
