While thinking about enjoying a chilled drink, know that the devil is in the details. Be it a nice cocktail or just a plain whisky drink, the way you chill your drink can make a lot of difference. For years, people have been using ice cubes to chill their drinks, but ever since the launch of whiskey stones, many people have opted for them because of their style quotient. But which one is better for your drink? Well, let's find out without much ado.
Just like not everyone loves whiskey or gin or beer, choosing between whiskey stones and ice cubes can be a personal preference. So we have curated the pros and cons of the two, and we leave the ball in your court to decide what feels more like the best for your drink.
Ice cubes absorb a large amount of heat. This is due to their high heat capacity and melting phase change. It cools down your drink very significantly and quickly, which brings down the temperature by 8 to 9 degrees Celsius.
The fact that ice melts over time and then can dilute your drink because of water is a con of using ice cubes. It can actually alter or mellow down the bold flavours of your drink. This can be a concern when you are drinking premium, delicate, or even complex spirits.
Large spheres or ice cubes melt slowly, which might lead to a bit less dilution while the needed cooling effect is well maintained.
So basically, ice cubes are preferable if you are ok with your drink’s strong flavours being mellowed or softened while giving you the desired chilling effect.
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For people who do not know, whiskey stones or whiskey rocks are basically small reusable cubes made out of non-porous and natural materials. These include granite, soapstone, or stainless steel.
The whiskey stones can lower the temperature of the drink by 5-6 degrees Celsius, which might not be enough for people who like their drink properly chilled.
The biggest pro about using a whiskey stone is that they do not dilute or alter the flavor profile of the spirit. This makes it a go-to choice for people who do not wish for dilution, making it ideal for sipping on premium, delicate, and even complex spirits.
Whiskey stones freeze really quickly, which means they take only 20-30 minutes to chill as compared to the hours taken by ice cubes.
The drinks get warmer sooner after the cubes have absorbed all the initial heat.
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Basically, both whiskey stones and ice cubes have their own advantages and disadvantages. While whiskey stones preserve the strong flavour of the drink, ice cubes keep the drink chilled for a good time. Now, it's completely up to your personal preference whether you want to put ice cubes or whiskey stones in your drink. If you don’t want the flavours to dilute, try whiskey stones, and if you are ok with a little mellowed flavour but a chilled drink, opt for ice cubes.