7 Best Whiskey Ice Ball Makers in 2023: Make Perfect Ice Balls

best whiskey ice ball maker

In this article, we rank the top seven whiskey ice ball makers so you can pick your favorite if you’re looking to up your cocktail game.

  • Best Overall: Tovolo Sphere Ice Molds
  • Best Budget: Glacio Large Sphere Ice Mold Tray
  • Best Silicone: Chillz Extreme Ice Ball Molds
  • Best Tray: W&P Peak Silicone Sphere Ice Tray
  • Best Unconventional Design: Shaped 3D Skull Ice Mold Tray
  • Most Colorful: Bizz Ice Sphere Molds
  • Best for Whiskey: Arctic Chill 2.5 Inch Sphere Ice Mold

Tovolo’s Sphere Ice Mold is the best ice ball maker for cocktails at home. Each set includes two separate molds that can be used separately to create two large ice balls.

In the last ten years, ice balls have become increasingly popular and have developed into a creative and original way to design your favorite cocktails. Whiskey won’t dilute or change its complex flavors if an ice ball is placed inside of it for at least 60 minutes.

The seven top whiskey ice ball makers that our team has ever tried are listed in this article.

Best Whiskey Ice Ball Makers

Find out which one might work best for you by continuing to read.

Best Overall: Tovolo Sphere Ice Molds

Tovolo Sphere Ice Molds

Pros

  • Durable and food-grade construction
  • Stackable
  • Dishwasher-safe

Cons

  • Ice balls can be hard to remove
  • Have to be careful with setting it level on the wire freezer shelf

The Tovolo Sphere Ice Molds, one of the best-rated ice ball molds on the market, has a straightforward design that produces flawless, transparent ice balls that resemble crystal balls in appearance. All you have to do is fill the plastic molds, put on the lid, and you’ll have perfectly shaped 2.5″ balls in hours.

It includes two ice ball molds made of sturdy, dishwasher-safe, BPA-free plastic. By locking into the silicone lip, the lid creates a seal. These lids also enable stacking in the freezer or other storage locations. To ensure proper ice ball formation, just make sure to fill the water container all the way to the line.

Despite the fact that this set includes two molds, you’ll probably need to purchase a few more to ensure a sufficient supply of ice balls. Party cocktails, ice-cold coffee (a favorite use), and traditional drinks taste great in these molds.

Best Budget: Glacio Large Sphere Ice Mold Tray

Glacio Large Sphere Ice Mold Tray

Pros 

  • Affordable
  • BPA-free

Cons 

  • Calcium build-up is possible (but you can clean it with vinegar and water)

“I have had personal experience with a brand called Glacio, and can attest to its functionality,” says Deke Dunne, manager of Allegory’s bar at the Eaton Hotel in Washington, D.C.

The perfect sphere shape ensures slow melting and less dilution of your drink. One tray makes four 2.5-inch spheres, which is sufficient for a round of drinks with a few friends.

Best Silicone: Chillz Extreme Ice Ball Molds

Chillz Extreme Ice Ball Molds

Pros 

  • BPA-free silicone
  • Easy to wash

Cons 

  • Might make cloudy ice

Personally, I like to use individual ice molds, such as Chillz Extreme Ice Ball Mold The way I prefer to freeze them is to support them in a cooler. If the cooler is big enough, I can fit up to six ice molds. You can achieve flawless directional freezing all the way through by drilling a hole at the end of the mold where there isn’t one already. 

The BPA-free silicone used to create this set of four sleek black ice molds allows for repeated use without cracking. These can also produce 2.5-inch spheres, which are perfect for an Old Fashioned or rocks glass.

Best Tray: W&P Peak Silicone Sphere Ice Tray

W&P Peak Silicone Sphere Ice Tray

Pros 

  • Dishwasher safe
  • Easy to use

Cons 

  • Might be hard to stack – covering the top hole can affect the quality of the ice

With this mold from W&P Peak, a consumer favorite, you can create four perfectly rounded ice spheres that pop out of the tray for use and are simple to store.

Improve your cocktail skills. To produce lovely ice spheres with a pop of flavor and color, try blending herbs like mint or edible flowers into the water before freezing.

Best Unconventional Design: Shaped 3D Skull Ice Mold Tray

Shaped 3D Skull Ice Mold Tray

Pros

  • Durable construction
  • Makes unique ice shape
  • Stackable
  • Dishwasher-safe

Cons

  • It’s hard to get the 3D skull perfectly

This ice mold tray’s distinctive ice balls (skulls), but that much is obvious, are what initially drew me to it. Look into the Shaped 3D Skull Ice Mold Tray if you want to give your mocktails a spooky twist. When I host a Halloween party or even a Tiki-themed event, I envision freezing a number of these 3D ice skulls.

In addition to its distinctive design, the silicone foot is another aspect of this ice mold tray that I value. With no need to worry about water spilling, you can stack them in the freezer on top of another set of ice molds.

It doesn’t have a sphere, but it still keeps your drinks cold like a regular ice ball. 2 x 2.36 inches is how big the ice is. The material used to construct this tray with four ice molds is top-notch and robust. It is BPA-free, leak-proof, and dishwasher-safe. Also, a great gift is this ice cube tray!

Most Colorful: Bizz Ice Sphere Molds

Bizz Ice Sphere Molds

Pros

  • Durable and dishwasher-safe
  • Colorful design
  • Leakproof

Cons

  • Ice balls can be difficult to remove from the molds

The Bizz Ice Sphere Molds’ vibrant colors stand out among the sea of available options because the majority of ice ball molds are black or grey. These vibrant silicone molds are made without BPA and are dishwasher-safe. This set comes in four 2.5″ ice ball molds ideal for whiskey, tequila, and your favorite aperitif-style mocktails.

These circular ice molds have a top that makes it simple to fill the holes without creating a mess. The molds are constructed with a leak-proof material that expands as water freezes. You’ll be able to do things like mix various liquids or even create delectable treats for kids thanks to this.

Best for Whiskey: Arctic Chill 2.5 Inch Sphere Ice Mold

Arctic Chill 2.5 Inch Sphere Ice Mold

Pros 

  • Keeps odors out of the ice
  • Doesn’t take up much space

Cons 

  • Each mold only makes two cubes
  • Slightly more expensive than other brands

These ice molds from Arctic Chill are a good option if you want to chill your whiskey without overly diluting it or changing the flavor. Each set produces two 2.5-inch perfectly spherical cubes that melt slowly, keeping your dram cold without ever losing flavor.

You can stock up on a few of these in your freezer for your upcoming gathering because they are simple to clean after use and don’t take up much room. Pro-tip: watch out not to fill these trays with too much water. As water freezes over time, allow space for expansion.

How to Choose An Ice Ball Maker?

A few considerations should be made when picking an ice ball maker. Start by deciding how many ice balls you can make at once. Small ice ball makers are sufficient if you only need a few for your home bar.

However, you’ll need a larger model that can handle more volume if you intend to use them for parties or other big gatherings. When choosing an ice ball maker, you need to consider a few factors:

Material

Stainless steel, plastic, and silicone are all acceptable materials for ice trays. These materials might be combined in some ice trays. Steel is sturdy, but it can’t be formed into a perfect circle. You might have trouble getting the ice balls off because it’s a hard material.

Being flexible, silicone is the material that melts ice the simplest. If you intend to use it to freeze juice or flavored ice balls, the drawback is that it can retain odor. After using them, I advise you to wash them right away.

On the other hand, over time, plastic ice molds may crack. In comparison to silicone molds, they don’t retain odor as badly. With plastic molds, you might find it difficult to remove the ice balls.

The majority of the sphere ice makers on my list are constructed from silicone, plastic, or a combination of the two. They are all dishwasher-safe and free of BPA, making them safe to use.

Size and Capacity

best whiskey ice ball maker

Many homes lack sufficient freezer space or don’t have a designated area for ice ball molds and trays. Some ice ball makers are sold individually, while others come in trays. I advise getting stackable molds if you don’t have enough room in your freezer to do so.

Another important factor to take into account is capacity. A larger piece of ice might take longer to completely freeze, so keep that in mind. Smaller trays allow you to quickly freeze the water but produce smaller ice cubes. You can consider how long your molds will need to be frozen. But it might not be as effective if you don’t have more trays.

Here, there is a clear trade-off. The ice balls may melt more quickly if you opt for smaller trays and ice cubes. When choosing the capacity, you should take your drinking habits into account as well as how frequently you plan to use sphere ice.

Design

Standard sphere ice makers come in a variety of shapes and looks. Although they use a few molds, they continue to use the tray style. However, due to their various colors and patterns, those features are primarily found in decorative ice ball molds.

For instance, the Shaped 3D Skull Ice Mold Tray produces four ice balls with a distinctive and eerie shapes. With its vibrant silicone molds, the Bizz Ice Sphere Molds might make you think of a pool ball. Make sure the design you choose is robust.

Added Features

Ice ball makers may appear to be simple devices that only need to be filled, but there are a number of things to keep in mind if you want to create spheres that are precisely shaped. Naturally, every ice tray and mold is different. But, here are some more features that these iceball makers may have:

best whiskey ice ball maker
  • Stability
  • Is It Leakproof?
  • Shape
  • Trays
  • Funnels

Storage

The individual, stackable ice ball molds use vertical spaces for storage. However, filling and stacking individual molds requires more work than doing so with trays.

Ice can be produced in greater quantities while filling tray-style molds that produce many ice balls. If you want to put ice in your cooler, they are a more practical choice than separate molds.

However, given that you won’t keep ice ball molds in the freezer constantly, make sure you have enough storage space for them when they aren’t in use.

How Do You Make An Ice Ball?

Making ice balls is possible in a few different ways. In order to create perfect ice spheres, you can use an ice ball maker, or a kitchen tool. Additionally, you can create ice balls at home with the aid of a mold.

The best way to make ice balls is to use an ice ball maker, which is what we suggest doing. Ice ball makers are specially made to make perfect ice spheres, and they’re very simple to use.

Conclusion: Make Ice Balls at Home!

You can make ice balls at home by selecting from the options above that you like.

  • Best Overall: Tovolo Sphere Ice Molds
  • Best Budget: Glacio Large Sphere Ice Mold Tray
  • Best Silicone: Chillz Extreme Ice Ball Molds
  • Best Tray: W&P Peak Silicone Sphere Ice Tray
  • Best Unconventional Design: Shaped 3D Skull Ice Mold Tray
  • Most Colorful: Bizz Ice Sphere Molds
  • Best for Whiskey: Arctic Chill 2.5 Inch Sphere Ice Mold

The Tovolo Sphere Ice Molds are our go-to ice ball maker because of their straightforward, portable design and dependability. Additionally, it can be stacked, so if you only have a small amount of storage space, it won’t take up much room.

FAQs

Are Ice Balls Good for Whiskey?

Blocks and spheres are both good choices for drinking chilled whiskey. Because they have low surface areas and high thermal mass, they melt more slowly, requiring less dilution to maintain a constant temperature.

What Size Ice Ball for Whiskey?

Generally, spheres that are about 2 inches in diameter are good for use in drinks or a glass of whiskey. This gives your beverage just the right amount of surface area to melt slowly without dilution.

How Long Do Whiskey Ice Balls Take to Freeze?

The ice ball cracks because the outside freezes before the inside freezes and expands. Increase the freezer’s temperature, wrap the tray in a towel, or place the ice tray inside of a container to prevent melting. Ice balls could take up to 18 hours to freeze.

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