Welcome to the world of craft cocktails! Gone are the days of dumping regular ice from your freezer into your favorite whiskey or bourbon. Your high-end liquors and beverages deserve something that matches the expertise and artistry that goes into making them. There's only one solution - crystal clear ice cubes to take this humble garnish to the next level.
In this Klaris clear ice maker review, I'll help you understand exactly what makes this machine so essential and why I think you'll love it!
Disclaimer: I received a free Klaris ice machine in exchange for this review. However, all the opinions below are my own and based on my real-life experiences. If you want to try this machine yourself, use code DANNY10 to save 10% on your order! Check it out here.
Although I'm best known for all my grilling and smoking recipes, I'm also a huge fan of high quality whiskeys and bourbons.
Normally, I enjoy them served over ice, but traditional ice cubes melt too quickly and water down an expensive Glenlivet or perfectly made Old Fashioned.
Think about it - ice is a key ingredient in many cocktails. If you're sipping a 20-year-old scotch that was made and cured with the highest care and attention to detail, why would you serve it with regular freezer ice you keep next to your frozen pizzas and corndogs?
The ice is an integral part of the sipping experience and large, clear cubes help keep the drink at the perfect temperature, avoid watering it down, and make a great drink extra special.
So what's the solution? Larger, longer-lasting ice cubes! We've all seen those fancy square ice cubes or ice spheres at high end craft cocktail bars and lounges, but if you want to drink at home, you either need to fuss with DIY contraptions or invest in a device that does the work for you.
Fortunately, the Klaris makes it easier than ever to make your own crystal-clear ice cubes at home. Honestly once you get started with clear ice, you won't want to bother with anything else!
What is the Klaris clear ice maker?
Klaris is one of the best home ice maker brands out there. They don't just make regular cubes or nugget ice - they make large, perfectly transparent ice cubes specifically for cocktails.
Instead of having to fuss with water temperature or molds, you can push a button on a stylish ice maker and grab a perfect cube at any time.
Let's be clear here - these cubes are see through. There is no cloudy ice, like the standard cubes from the ice compartment in your freezer.
They're the most perfectly symmetrical, transparent ice cubes ever and fit just right into your favorite cocktail glasses. (Prefer a different shape? They sell several different molds and tools to make crushed ice.)
The Klaris ice maker is able to achieve such perfect cubes of ice through a directional freezing method and active agitation, which makes the ice crystals freeze in one direction. This keeps the ice perfectly transparent as the water freezes.
So you end up with perfect little 2 inch cubes of crystal-clear ice that you can add to your favorite tumbler, iced coffee, and so much more.
How does the Klaris ice maker work?
It's pretty simple. There are only a couple of basic steps. You can also choose different sizes of molds, including Collins spears and more.
- First, you'll want to add the liners to the silicone ice molds, which helps get that crystal clarity.
- Then, fill with your water source (ideally distilled water) to the fill line.
- Place the molds in the device and press start.
The LCD screen will tell you exactly where it is in the freezing process, including how much time is left and when you can remove the cubes.
The whole process takes about 8-12 hours, which sounds like a long time, but is significantly shorter than most DIY methods, which can take up to 36 hours.
You are limited by the size of the molds, however. Since each one makes just 4 cubes, it can take a few days to make enough cubes for a big party. However, it's perfect for having a on hand for one or two people.
Once frozen, I like to remove the cubes from the mold and keep them in a spare mold in the freezer, then start the next batch.
What I love about this countertop ice maker
After spending quite a bit of time with the Klaris, this is what I like the most:
- Truly clear cubes - The ice cubes are beautiful, they are exactly what you're hoping to get from this product. Crystal clear perfection every time.
- Long-lasting - I've noticed that these ice cubes last longer in my drinks so I get usually get 2 to 3 bourbon pours out of one ice cube.
- Quiet & convenient size - The machine is quiet, and has a smaller footprint than I was expecting. It's small enough to stick on the kitchen counter or in your home bar.
- Great accessories - The accessories offered, like the cube trays, are awesome. They keep the cubes beautiful for storage as opposed to having to put them in a Ziploc bag.
Things to Consider
Although the Klaris is a very solid option and works wonderfully, there are always ways to improve, right?
As with most things in life, I'd like to have "more, quicker." If I had a magic wand and could have anything I wanted from this machine, it would be a larger one to be able to make 8-10 cubes perhaps at a time, or more.
This would mitigate the stress of having to plan ahead to make sure you have enough ice for a party.
It also requires some investment. Currently priced at $549, that's not a small price for most home cocktail enthusiasts, however this is a much more affordable option than some of the more premium products on the market, which typically cost over $1,000.
It's a great value for what you get and with proper care, it should last for years.
What You Need to Know Before You Buy a Clear Ice Maker
What kind of water do clear ice makers use?
Although you can use tap water, it's best to use distilled water. Regular tap water can have high concentration of minerals, which can lead to mineral build-up in the machine. To keep your ice maker running smoothly, use bottled distilled water or at least filtered water. Bottled water works well, too.
Is a Klaris ice maker worth the money?
Let's be honest here - these ice makers cost a pretty penny. They certainly are not an affordable or budget-level option and you'll need to have either some extra cash or a deep commitment to craft cocktails.
But, if you want to recreate the experience of a high-end bar, you need the right ice and this tool will do the job incredibly well. It's also an amazing conversation starter and literally everyone will ooh and aah over their perfect ice cubes!
DIY silicone molds are cheaper, but require a little more care and a lot more time. The next best option costs nearly twice as much as the Klaris, which is a huge jump in price.
Prefer to buy premade clear ice cubes? Plan to spend $2-3 per cube. It all adds up really quickly. In the long run, the Klaris ends up being a much more affordable option than most craft ice makers and is small enough to live on your counter.
If you're a home cocktail enthusiast who will use this device regularly and benefit from perfectly crystal clear ice cubes, then it makes total sense to invest.
Who would benefit from a Klaris ice maker?
This really is a specialty gift for a DIY distiller or home bartender who loves to host parties. If you often have people over, you'll find yourself using this device all the time.
It makes a wonderful birthday gift or retirement gift, too!
All in all, the Klaris is the best option for people who want a plug-and-play ice maker system.
I love that you get perfectly clear ice cubes and how hands-off it is. Once you press start, there's nothing else to do except move onto the next phases of party planning. What's not to love about that?
If you live for the perfect Old Fashioned or love making your guests feel right at home, Klaris is one of the best ice makers out there and works very similarly to some of the much more expensive options on the market. You really can't go wrong and I recommend it wholeheartedly.
Want to get the best price on your clear ice maker? Use code DANNY10 to save an additional 10% off your order!
Chris Gall says
Really liking the recipes and the product review on the cocktail cube ice maker!
Danny Dobrzenski says
Thank you! Are you thinking you're going to buy one? If so - make sure to use DANNY10 for your coupon code for 10% off