Anyone who has made cocktails will tell you that a great cocktail is in the details. One detail you don’t want to overlook? The perfect ice cubes. So, isn’t a great idea to get a countertop nugget ice maker?
Cocktails are a refreshing and flavorful way to cool down on a hot day and are perfect for serving up to guests. However, you need the right ice for your cocktails.
Nugget ice, ice that is in a soft chewable pellet form, is the perfect, fresh ice for a wide variety of cocktails. It spreads evenly through the drink, giving a quick uniform chill. It can be chewed as the drink level lowers and has amazing flavor.
10 Suggested Cocktails For Countertop Ice Makers
If you recently purchased a countertop or portable countertop ice maker for home use, then you’re well on your way to serving up the best cocktails in the neighborhood. Let us give you some great suggestions to get the sipping started.
1. A Classic Minty Mojito
There is a reason that Mojitos are a popular drink from coast to coast. The blend of lime, mint leaves, light rum, sugar, and sparkling water is both refreshing and versatile.
The only thing that can improve this classic cocktail is small, soft ice in place of traditional clunky ice cubes – and you can make those cubes with the best nugget ice machine.
2. Blackberry Bramble
Brambles come in several flavors but blackberry is a definite stand-out. Brambles were one of the first drinks that were regularly served with ice.
Nugget ice in a bramble gives it a smooth sip and great flavor. Portable ice makers can make your Blackberry Bramble a reality. Brambles are made with creme de mure liqueur, dry gin, simple syrup, lemon juice, ice, and some fresh black berries.
3. A Copper-Cup Moscow Mule
Moscow Mules are the perfect drink for breaking in your countertop nugget ice maker. Made in an iconic copper mug (but we won’t tattle if you only have a traditional cocktail glass), small ice makes this drink enjoyable from first taste to last drop.
Moscow mules require only three main ingredients – vodka, lime juice, and ginger beer. A lime wedge for garnish is never a bad idea. Flavorings can easily be added such as strawberry in the summer or cranberry around the holidays.
No matter the season or flavor, you might want to break out your portable ice maker for this recipe.
4. Cherry Limeade
Large ice melts as soon as it is taken out of the ice tray or ice basket. However,nugget ice can be quite versatile making them a perfect addition to a cherry limeade cocktail. This is a great drink to make for mixed crowds who may or may not want a virgin cocktail.
Mix up the base ingredients of Limeade and juice from a Maraschino cherry container in bulk and then let your guests choose whether or not they would like an ounce or two of vodka mixed in.
Using ice from a portable ice machine is the traditional and very best way to keep this drink cool.
5. The Rum Swizzle
Is any summer really complete without a little rum? As you can guess, a rum swizzle features both dark and gold rum stirred together with grenadine, pineapple juice, orange juice, and bitters.
This drink has a lot of strong flavors in one cup. Using small ice is a must-do in a rum swizzle because the tiny evenly dispersed pellets break up the flavors and make for a well balanced drink.
Other forms of ice create pockets of unevenly spread ingredients that bring down the quality of the drink. So, bust out your countertop nugget ice maker and your favorite rum and get to mixing!
6. Brunch’s Best Screwdriver
Screwdrivers are popular because they require very few ingredients, have great flavor, and make the perfect addition to special occasion brunches. Served in highball (tall) cocktail glass filled first with ice, you start with 1.5 oz of vodka and top with fresh orange juice.
Nugget ice is a perfect fit in tall, narrow highball glasses and won’t slosh heavily around the way larger cubes would while sipping.
If you prefer a morning drink with fizz, a mimosa is an easy step up. Simply mix a drink that is one part champagne and one part orange juice!
7. Strawberry Margaritas
While many people drink margaritas frozen, some days a good pour over the rocks is the perfect change-up. Ice cubes created from the best nugget ice maker will keep this drink evenly cool.
For the best strawberry margarita use freshly muddled strawberries and lime juice mixed with your favorite tequila, some agave nectar, and orange liqueur. Tradition calls for a salted rim but we like to go with sugar every now and then.
It’s the perfect recipe for breaking out your countertop nugget ice machine.
8. Watermelon and Herb Cooler
Watermelon and herbs might not be the first thing you picture when you hear the word cocktail but after you make this drink, your mindset will be forever changed.
First, mix together ½ watermelon cubed, a few sprigs of mint and basil, 2 juiced limes, and a pinch of kosher salt in a blender.
Then, fill a cocktail glass of your choosing with nugget ice. The ice fills in the cup well and gives the cocktail a frozen drink vibe while still being easy to sip. Pour in one cup of your herbed watermelon and mix with 1.5 ounces of vodka.
Stir and sip. Garnish with a small wedge of watermelon and some fresh basil if you want to complete the look.
9. Mai-Tai Tropical Cocktail
One of the best parts of having a countertop nugget ice maker is that it produces chewable ice very quickly. That means you can serve up drinks all afternoon and evening long. You’ll be thankful for that after you realize one Mai-Tai is never enough.
To make a Mai-Tai you will need 2 oz. rum (we prefer light rum but you can use dark), ½ oz. Orange Curacao, ½ oz. grenadine, 2 oz orange juice, and 2 oz pineapple juice.
Start by pouring grenadine into your glass of choice (bonus points for tiki-mugs!), then add your ice to the halfway point. Then layer the rest of the drink with orange juice, pineapple juice, Orange Curacao, and rum. Enjoy the beauty before stirring and drinking.
10. Lemon Rosemary Gin Fizz
We wanted to leave you on the most refreshing note possible and a Lemon Rosemary Gin Fizz over ice to keep things chilled is exactly that.
A mix of gin, rosemary infused simple syrup, fresh lemon juice, and club soda create a fizzy drink that stays crisp even on summer’s hottest days.
Nugget ice sits well in this drink without melting too quickly and diluting any of the flavor or fizz. So, grab your portable nugget ice maker for this recipe.
Go Ahead, Whip Up Yummy Cocktails with Your Countertop Nugget Ice Maker!
We now give you complete permission to turn on your best nugget ice maker and get to taste testing each of these delicious cocktails. Your ice maker will have no problem keeping up and your friends will be happy to help you decide which cocktail reigns supreme. Enjoy!