Flavored Ice Cubes Are The Key To Jazzing Up Soda Cocktails

Who hasn't attended a party, sipping on your favorite iced soda cocktail or nonalcoholic drink? As you spend time circulating and chatting and being a good guest, you take a sip of your drink and instead of the cocktail you got, it now tastes like water with a faint memory of the fizzy mix you were enjoying. Really, is there anything worse than a flat soda cocktail?

The root of this problem is the ice in your glass. Although the ice cubes keep your drink cool, they are also melting the second they enter your drink. Over time, the ice melts little by little, its water content diluting the ingredients of your beverage. When you take your last sip, all the flavors have disappeared into the ether, watered down beyond recognition. However, with some easy prep work, you can keep your drink cool and save the flavor at the same time. How? By making flavored ice cubes that pair well with your drinks and keep them enjoyable longer in hot weather.

To make flavored ice cubes, start with ice cube trays. While you can use just about any sort of tray, flexible ones made of silicone are the easiest to get the cubes out of. Next, make the ice based on what you are using them for. For instance, you can make ice cubes with fruit juices to pair with fruity cocktails — think cubes of frozen lemonade in a strawberry mojito or watermelon juice for a hydrating sangria topped with some soda water or bubbly wine for extra fizz. 

While making flavored ice cubes is easy, there are several things to watch out for in order to produce solid cubes. First, do not add alcohol to the mix since alcohol does not freeze well (just try freezing a whole bottle of vodka), so adding alcohol to the ice cube mix will result in a slush. Second, avoid dissolving too many ingredients into the cube mix, as too many ingredients (such as heavy syrups) will also prevent the liquid from mixing. Lastly, if you find your ice cubes (especially coffee) are sticking to the mold, run them under some hot water to loosen them for an easier release.

If you want to really jazz things up, you can also try making flavored cubes by adding pieces of fruit and herbs into the mix. Simply place small pieces of fruit and herbs into the ice tray and fill them with hot water to make a clear crystal-like ice cube. The hot water will freeze faster (known as the Mpemba effect) and clearer than cold or room temperature water, so this is a good hack if you need to make ice fast.

Suitable fruits include small berries such as blueberries, sliced strawberries, small pieces of citrus fruits such as orange or lemon, and even cucumber rounds. Herbs like mint, rosemary, and basil provide the most flavor punch as the ice cube melts. Use these cubes for clear drinks, such as vodka soda, to give the cocktails a splash of color, or simply use them in glasses of sparkling water and let the melting cube flavor it with fruit essence.

If you are planning to use a large container for your guests to serve yourself, such as a watermelon keg, then forgo ice cubes entirely. Instead, cut up pieces of fruit and freeze them and use them directly to cool the cocktail. Frozen fruits –  grapes or peach slices — not only keep your fizzy drink cool, but they also become tasty cocktail-marinated snacks as they thaw.