Buying guide
Clear Ice Kit
Updated How we research
Make crystal-clear cocktail ice at home with the molds and makers pros rely on. The page is split into four sections (Crystal-Clear Blocks; Big Ice Spheres; Shaped Cubes; Keep It Cold), followed by every pick ranked by our score so you can compare them in one place.
The short version
We compared 16 picks. Our scores range from 6.5 to 8.6 out of 10.
- Best overall:Ticent Ice Cube Trays (Set of 2) Silicone Sphere & Large Square Molds. Highest overall score in this guide at 8.6/10.
- Also great value:Ice Bucket with Lid, Scoop, Tongs and Strainer, Insulated 3 Liter. Value score of 9/10, overall 8.4/10.
- Solid build:EUHOMY 2'' Clear Ice Cube Maker Countertop with APP, 110 Pcs Daily Cubes. Build and materials score of 8/10, overall 8.2/10.
- Feature-rich:EUHOMY Ice Cube Maker Machine Countertop, 45Lbs/Day, 24Pcs in 13 Mins. Features score of 8/10, overall 8.2/10.
Scores are our editorial assessment, not customer ratings. How we score
Crystal-Clear Blocks
- EUHOMY 2'' Clear Ice Cube Maker Countertop with APP, 110 Pcs Daily CubesOur score8.2/10
- EUHOMY Ice Cube Maker Machine Countertop, 45Lbs/Day, 24Pcs in 13 MinsOur score8.2/10
- VEVOR Commercial Ice Maker Machine, 120 lbs/24H Ice Production, 19-33 lbs Storage Bin, 45 Cubes per Cycle, Stainless Steel Under Counter & Freestanding Ice Maker with LED Display, Self-CleaningOur score7.5/10
- Newair Silver Countertop Ice Maker Machine, Cubes in Under 15 MinutesOur score6.9/10
Big Ice Spheres
- The Original Whiskey Ball Duo Set with 2 Rock GlassesOur score8.0/10
- Pack of 2 Monogram Whiskey Ice Ball Maker Mold - Premium Silicone Sphere Mold A to Z letter Engraved - Ideal for Crafting Old Fashioned Cocktails - Easy Release & No Leak Design - ‘S’ letterOur score7.9/10
- Silicone Ice Ball Molds for Whiskey, Set of 4 Round Makers with LidsOur score7.8/10
- The Original Whiskey Ball 1-Pack Premium Silicone Sphere MoldOur score7.0/10
Shaped Cubes
- Ticent Ice Cube Trays (Set of 2) Silicone Sphere & Large Square MoldsOur score8.6/10
- KitchFort® Large Silicone Ice Cube Tray (2-Pack) - 2" Big Ice Mold with Lid | Easy Release, Cocktail, Whiskey Ice Cubes Mold - Food Grade - Ice Cube Trays for Freezer - Stackable Silicone Ice TrayOur score7.9/10
- Vinkoe Kitchen Silicone Ice Cube Trays Large for Whisky, Collins Ice Cube Mold Tray Also Used for Butter Mold, 2 CountOur score7.9/10
- Cylinder Ice Cube Tray for 30-40oz Tumbler, 3 Pcs with Lid and BinOur score6.5/10
Keep It Cold
- Ice Bucket with Lid, Scoop, Tongs and Strainer, Insulated 3 LiterOur score8.4/10
- PROTEIXA Insulated Ice Bucket with Lid, Tongs & Strainer, 3 LiterOur score8.2/10
- ChefBee 3L Double-Wall Stainless Steel Ice Bucket with Lid & Tongs | Long Lasting Insulation, Keeps Ice Chilled, For Champagne Wine Cocktails, Ideal for Parties Home Bar & Freezer UseOur score7.8/10
- Sipoyen 3L Gold Ice Bucket with Lid & Tong, Double Wall Wine ChillerOur score7.6/10
All 16 picks, ranked by our score
Every product from the sections above, listed once. Sort by the criterion you care about most, or tick up to three to compare.
#1Ticent's set of 2 silicone ice trays with one sphere mold and one large square mold for whiskey and cocktails.
Fit for the job 9/10 · Features and specs 8/10 · Build and materials 8/10 · Value 9/10
- + Sphere and square molds give two ice shapes in one purchase
- + Silicone releases ice easily without cracking cubes
- + Large ice melts slowly for less dilution in spirit drinks
- - Makes a limited number of cubes per freeze
- - Silicone can absorb freezer odors over time
#2An insulated 3 liter ice bucket with lid, scoop, tongs and strainer for keeping cocktail ice ready at parties.
Fit for the job 9/10 · Features and specs 8/10 · Build and materials 7/10 · Value 9/10
- + Strainer keeps melted water away from the ice
- + Scoop and tongs are included for hygienic serving
- + 3 liter capacity handles a good-sized party
- - Check insulation performance before buying if all-day ice retention matters
- - Several accessories to wash and keep track of
#3EUHOMY's countertop machine makes 2 inch crystal clear cubes for spirits, two every 45 minutes in Crystal Mode or faster in Rapid Mode, with app control. It is a premium-priced pick for whiskey and cocktail ice.
Fit for the job 9/10 · Features and specs 9/10 · Build and materials 8/10 · Value 6/10
- + Makes large 2 x 2 x 1.9 inch clear cubes of about 0.25 lbs each, the format used for old fashioneds and neat pours
- + Two modes: Crystal Mode for 2 dense clear cubes every 45 minutes, or Rapid Mode for ice in about 27 minutes
- + Phone app, color display, timer and a one-touch 15 minute self-cleaning cycle, running at a listed 45 dB
- - Costs far more than standard countertop clear ice makers, so it only makes sense if you want big cubes
- - Crystal Mode tops out at about 64 cubes per day and storage holds 2.4 lbs, too little for a large party
#4EUHOMY's countertop ice maker produces 24 crystal-clear cubes every 10 to 20 minutes, up to 45 lbs per day, with adjustable cube thickness and no water line needed. A strong all-round choice for home bars.
Fit for the job 9/10 · Features and specs 8/10 · Build and materials 7/10 · Value 8/10
- + Up to 45 lbs of clear cube ice per day, 24 cubes per cycle, enough for parties and regular cocktail nights
- + Adjustable ice thickness: thinner cubes chill drinks fast, thicker cubes melt slower in cocktails and whiskey
- + Fills by hand or from a water bottle, with an 8-hour timer, one-touch self-cleaning and a listed 45 dB noise level
- - Makes small standard cubes, not the 2 inch blocks used for old fashioneds and spirit-forward drinks
- - At 9.9 x 14.2 x 14.6 inches it claims a real share of counter space in a small home bar
#5PROTEIXA's insulated ice bucket with lid, tongs and strainer at 3 liter, a complete party ice setup.
Fit for the job 9/10 · Features and specs 8/10 · Build and materials 7/10 · Value 8/10
- + Strainer insert lifts ice above meltwater
- + 3 liter capacity covers most home parties
- + Lid and tongs keep serving clean and cold
- - Newer brand with limited reputation in barware
- - Insulated build is bulkier than simple buckets
#6The Original Whiskey Ball duo set with 2 rock glasses, a giftable bundle of sphere molds and glassware.
Fit for the job 8/10 · Features and specs 8/10 · Build and materials 8/10 · Value 8/10
- + Rock glasses included for a complete whiskey gift
- + Sphere molds produce slow-melting ice balls
- + Recognized brand in the ice sphere category
- - Only two molds and two glasses in the bundle
- - Glasses may be simpler than standalone premium tumblers
#7The Original Whiskey Ball monogram two-pack of silicone sphere molds with a no-leak seal and a water-fill line.
Fit for the job 9/10 · Features and specs 7/10 · Build and materials 8/10 · Value 7/10
- + Same brand as the molds it replaces, sold as a pack of 2
- + No-leak seal and a water-fill line make filling more consistent
- + Translucent design lets you see the water level while filling
- - Monogram letter engraving is a personalization choice that adds nothing to function
- - Priced higher than generic two-pack sphere molds
#8KitchFort two-pack of large silicone ice trays making 2 inch cubes, with lids, for slow-melting ice in whiskey and cocktails.
Fit for the job 9/10 · Features and specs 7/10 · Build and materials 7/10 · Value 8/10
- + Two trays with lids, a close match to the original 2-pack of 2 inch molds
- + Food-grade, BPA-free silicone is described as freezer friendly
- + Separate cavities and a flexible twist-and-push release for 2 inch cubes
- - Trays are flexible silicone, so fill them carefully when carrying to the freezer
- - Cubes are not clear, since this is a standard mold rather than a directional freezer
#9Vinkoe silicone ice tray making tall rectangular Collins cubes, four cubes per tray at about 5.24 by 1.22 by 1.22 inches.
Fit for the job 9/10 · Features and specs 7/10 · Build and materials 7/10 · Value 8/10
- + Tall 5.24 inch cubes sized for Collins and highball glasses
- + Listing describes heavy duty construction for the trays
- + Slow-melting large cubes keep drinks cold with less dilution
- - Four cubes per tray, so a party needs several batches or more trays
- - Listing is a single tray, while the original came as a 2-tray pack
#10A set of 4 silicone ice ball molds with lids for whiskey, making round spheres for rocks drinks.
Fit for the job 8/10 · Features and specs 7/10 · Build and materials 7/10 · Value 9/10
- + 4 molds make enough spheres for small gatherings
- + Lids help keep spheres round and free of freezer crumbs
- + Silicone releases spheres without cracking
- - Check the sphere size against your whiskey glasses before ordering
- - Fill with water and check for leaks before the first proper freeze
#11ChefBee 3 liter double-wall stainless steel ice bucket with a lid and tongs, a larger and budget-friendly step up from a 1.2 L bucket.
Fit for the job 8/10 · Features and specs 7/10 · Build and materials 7/10 · Value 9/10
- + 3 liter capacity holds enough ice for several drinks without refilling
- + Double-wall vacuum insulation described as helping keep ice frozen
- + Stainless steel body with an airtight lid and tongs included
- - Much larger than the 1.2 L bucket it replaces, so it takes more table space
- - Insulation claims come from the listing, so duration is not specified
#12Sipoyen 3 liter double-wall stainless steel ice bucket in gold with a lid and tongs, for the bar top or party table.
Fit for the job 8/10 · Features and specs 7/10 · Build and materials 7/10 · Value 8/10
- + 3 liter capacity, close to the 3 quart size it replaces
- + Double-wall stainless steel design aimed at keeping ice longer
- + Lid and tongs are included in the listing
- - Gold finish can show fingerprints and is a style choice, not a function
- - Listing offers little detail on how long the insulation lasts
#13VEVOR commercial ice maker rated for up to 120 lbs of ice a day with a 19 to 33 lb storage bin, a step up in output for a busy home bar.
Fit for the job 7/10 · Features and specs 8/10 · Build and materials 7/10 · Value 8/10
- + Listing states up to 120 lbs of ice per day, or over 6000 cubes, enough for a large party
- + Lists a first batch in about 10 minutes, so ice is ready soon after you start it
- + Storage bin holds 19 to 33 lbs, which cuts down on constant refilling during service
- - Commercial machine with a bigger footprint than a small countertop clear-ice maker
- - Listing talks about cube count and speed, not fully clear ice, so check cube style first
#14The Original Whiskey Ball 1-pack premium silicone sphere mold, a single mold for trying large ice spheres.
Fit for the job 7/10 · Features and specs 6/10 · Build and materials 8/10 · Value 7/10
- + Low-cost way to test ice spheres before buying more
- + Premium silicone mold is easy to fill, freeze and peel open
- + Single sphere is perfect for one nightly drink
- - Single mold makes only one sphere per freeze
- - Cloudy spheres without a clear ice method
#15Newair's silver countertop ice maker machine producing cubes in under 15 minutes for quick drink prep.
Fit for the job 6/10 · Features and specs 7/10 · Build and materials 7/10 · Value 8/10
- + Makes cubes in under 15 minutes for fast party ice
- + Countertop design needs no plumbing, just water poured into the tank
- + Silver finish suits most kitchens and blends with steel appliances
- - Bullet-style countertop cubes are not clear ice
- - Check the daily output rating before buying for larger gatherings
#16A 3-piece cylinder ice cube tray set with lid and bin, sized for 30-40oz tumblers rather than cocktail glasses.
Fit for the job 5/10 · Features and specs 7/10 · Build and materials 7/10 · Value 8/10
- + Cylinder shape slides easily into tall tumblers
- + Lid and storage bin keep ice fresh in the freezer
- + 3 trays make a steady supply for everyday drinks
- - Designed for large tumblers, not rocks or coupe glasses
- - Cylinder ice is less suited to classic cocktail presentation
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Cocktail Gear Hub curates picks for US shoppers. Scores are our editorial assessment. We may earn a commission from links on this page.