Typically, if ice makes your drink cold, we’re good to go. But some bartenders will tell you that it’s arguably the most important element of creating a perfect cocktail. Whether for shaking, stirring, or the final product, clear rocks of ice will elevate a cocktail compared with standard ice made in your freezer.
The Klaris Clear Ice Maker simplifies the process of making craft ice in your own home. It makes four clear ice cubes, each 2 x 2 inches, in less than 12 hours. If that sounds ridiculous to you, then it’s probably not for you. But given how tedious and time-consuming making clear ice is otherwise, this is a great product for the home bartender.
Prior to using the Klaris, I would make large ice cubes, like ones for old-fashioneds, with silicone molds in the freezer. While they’re the proper size I’m going for, the problem is the ice comes out cloudy, not clear. I used to not care, but as I got more serious with my bartending, I wanted to use clear ice, primarily for the aesthetic it provides in a cocktail.
After using the Klaris for six months, it consistently makes cubes that come out the same exact size and with smooth edges. I opened the cover during the cycle a few times even when it says not to, and the ice still comes out the way it's supposed to; it just might take slightly longer—obviously not recommended, though.
Cool Engineering
The founder of Klaris, Chase Haider, is an engineer and a pioneer in the 3D printing space. The Klaris is a mostly stainless steel, partially plastic, 9 x 9 x 12 inch cube that sits with a solid grip on your counter. It’s electric and couldn’t be much simpler to use. There’s just one knob on the top cover that you turn to tell it if you want to start making your ice immediately or delay the start (up to eight hours), and to let it know if you want it to remain cold when it’s done (up to five hours).