A few weeks ago I had a cocktail party. And if there’s one thing your cocktail party is incomplete without, it is definitely the drinks!
You can’t also have a cocktail party without ice. I mean what most people are looking to see. People, myself included, find it fascinating when the bartender begins mixing his signature drinks.
Now, before I started the party, I was conflicted on which ice to go for between the nugget ice or just the regular ice cubes.
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Although I ended up using both of them for my cocktail party, I still got a lot of questions on which one was best to use, which prompted me to write this blog.
For me, nugget ice cubes are way better for cocktails than the regular ice cubes. And it can be used for any kind of cocktail. But it is better when preparing blended frozen fruit cocktails, nugget ice can be used. The refreshing beverage will pair wonderfully with the light and fluffy ice cubes.
What is nugget ice?
Other names for nugget ice include “Pellet,” “Chewy,” “Sonic,” and “The Good,” depending on what best describes it.
Nugget ice initially has an appearance that is quite similar to smashed ice. However, a closer inspection reveals that, while crushed ice is not in small “nuggets” but nugget ice is. That’s because nugget ice is formed from flaking ice that has been compacted into tiny “nuggets” (or pellets, or pebbles), as opposed to crushed ice, which is made from huge cubes that have been crushed.
A lot of people love nugget ice because it is so easy to chew on. I found a group of sonic ice lovers on Facebook, just incase it interests you to join as well.
There is a lot of air in the ice “pellets.” It is crunchy and chewable thanks to these air spaces, which also let your drink seep within the cube. This helps boost their appeal to ice-eaters but also increases the surface area of the ice that comes into contact with the beverage, causing it to melt considerably more quickly than a cube would. However, nugget ice melts more slowly than crushed ice because it has a smaller surface area due to being compressed into little “cubes’ ‘ than smashed ice. (you can get more information on nugget ice is popular here)
What is a regular ice cube?
The most popular ice cube varieties are these normal cubes. They’ve undoubtedly been delicious in sodas and tea, among other things. These are typically utilized in professional settings, commercial kitchens, or in the majority of dining venues.
They work well in a business atmosphere. The larger cubes have a sturdy construction, and a 100% ice-to-water ratio is excellent for effective cooling if you manage a restaurant. It typically measures 1 1/8″ x 1 1/8″ x 7/8″ and melts more slowly than other kinds of ice.
Why you should use nugget ice for cocktails
- If you frequently serve Juleps and cocktails you should definitely use nugget ice. There is no Mint Julep like a nugget Ice Julep, fans of Sonic Ice assure me. The drink becomes even more chilly and refreshing as a result of the ice absorbing it.
- because it’s hot! And also in cases of extreme heat. Serving cocktails with nugget ice will help keep your customers cool on a hot summer day. Crunching on nugget ice is reportedly quite cooling.
- A lot of people love nugget ice. Sonic ice has a cult-like following, so it’s feasible that having a reputation for serving nugget ice could be a great promotion for your business.
After my cocktail party, I figured out that most people were more interested in taking the nugget ice cocktails than the ones that contained regular ice. And to be honest, i really can’t say that i didn’t see it coming, because i did.
On a personal level, if I attended a party that served both types of iced cocktails, I would definitely go for the one with nugget ice. So it’s kind of understandable why people wanted more of the nugget ice.
Do bartenders make use of nugget ice?
Different cocktails call for different kinds of ice. Use the right kind of ice if you want to savor and taste the true flavor of a beverage. Similar to how they employ various ice varieties, bartenders are skilled at bringing out the true flavor of each cocktail they prepare.
When preparing various beverages, bartenders primarily employ nugget or pellet ice, regular ice cubes, ice balls, Collin spears, crushed ice, and giant ice cubes.
RELATED: Nugget Ice vs Crushed Ice [Including Differences, Pros & Cons]
So yes, I can strongly say that bartenders also use nugget ice. In fact, I’m certain people make special requests for the kind of ice they want in their drinks.
What does nugget ice look like?
Nugget ice has a grubby appearance since it is composed of flaking ice that has been frozen together so it cannot be classified as clear ice. Due to the air bubbles inside, it is small, light, and airy, and it is simple to chew.
In contrast, clear ice is simply pure water that has been frozen. It is transparent and devoid of any type of cloudiness, as the name would imply. It takes longer to melt because it is larger as well.
Final words
I hope that this article has helped you to make a better decision on which ice to choose between nugget ice and the regular ice cubes for your cocktails.
This doesn’t deny the fact that there may be people out there who prefer to use the regular ice cubes for their cocktails than using nugget ice or any ice for that matter. At this point it all comes down to preference.
But if you’re having a really hard time making a decision, you can try both first before picking one.
cheers!
