Crushed Ice vs Ice Cubes: Which Is Best for Cocktails?
The ice in a drink isn't just there to make it cold – it controls how fast the drink chills and how much it dilutes. Choosing between crushed ice and cubes changes the drink.
Ice cubes: slower melt, less dilution
Cubes have less surface area, so they melt more slowly. Use them for:
- Spirit-forward drinks and highballs – G&T, rum and coke, whisky and soda
- Shaking and stirring cocktails before straining
- Soft drinks, iced tea and iced coffee
- Ice buckets and tubs for bottles
Crushed ice: fast chill, more dilution
Crushed ice chills almost instantly and dilutes the drink faster – perfect for drinks designed to be served very cold and long:
- Mojito, mint julep, bramble, caipirinha and tiki drinks
- Smoothies and slushy-style soft drinks
- Seafood, fruit and dessert displays
Bar tips
- Use dry, hard-frozen ice – wet ice dilutes drinks faster.
- Keep crushed ice in an insulated well or bucket and top it up often.
- Busy bars usually stock both: cubes for most serves, crushed ice for the signature cocktails.
Get both delivered
Nice Ice delivers 12kg bags of cube ice and crushed ice across London – £10 per bag, minimum 5 boxes, order by 5pm for next-day delivery, Monday to Saturday. Bars and restaurants can open a trade account for repeat deliveries.