Disco Cube Cocktails: 100+ Innovative Recipes for Artful Ice and Drinks

By Leslie Kirchhoff

Wow drinkers everywhere with this ’70s-inspired book based on the magical properties of ice from decorative to taste-transforming cubes—playlists included.
 
With 100+ recipes for artful ice and the drinks that go with them, home bartenders can learn new icy creations to elevate any classic drink, infuse new flavor into a sipper as the ice melts, or impress friends at a party with a frosty punch bowl.
 
While traveling as a DJ, Leslie Kirchhoff fell in love with the art of craft cocktails, but noticed one thing was missing: inventive ice. Taking it upon herself to create something truly unique, she started Disco Cubes as a passion project to explore the art of ice. Now you can do the same at home with recipes that offer more than just a classic cube.
 
In this not-so-classic cocktail book, there are one-ingredient cubes to elevate any drink, infused ice to add flavor to simple cocktails, and perfect pairings where ice and drink come together to make a concoction that you (and your guests) won’t forget. Plus, you’ll find playlists at the beginning of each chapter, to set the mood for any occasion.
 
Recipes include innovative sips such as: 

• Rose Cubes in a White Negroni
• Jalapeño ice for an evolving margarita
• A Golden Bloody Mary that shifts from sweet to savory as the ice melts 
• The Walter Gibbons with a Red Onion Raft
• White peach spheres for a cool take on a classic Bellini 

A great gift for cocktail and bartending enthusiasts, home cocktail makers and entertainers, drink-nerds who love cocktail history, and anyone who enjoys experimentation.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Open Road Integrated Media
• Release date: Apr 7, 2020
• ISBN: 9781452181639

Book preview

Dedicated to my mom and dad, for always encouraging me to pursue my passions, even when they’re made of ice.

And of course, to Drew—none of this would exist without you.

Copyright © 2020 by Leslie Kirchhoff.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form without written permission from the publisher.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data:

Names: Kirchhoff, Leslie, author.

Title: Disco cube cocktails : 100+ innovative recipes for artful ice and drinks / Leslie Kirchhoff.

Description: San Francisco : Chronicle Books, [2020]

Identifiers: LCCN 2019010027 |

ISBN 9781452180816 (hardcover : alk. paper);

ISBN 9781452181639 (epub, mobi)

Subjects: LCSH: Cocktails. | Ice.

Classification: LCC TX951 .K435 2020 | DDC 641.87/4—dc23

LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2019010027

Design by Vanessa Dina.

Typesetting by Frank Brayton.

Chronicle books and gifts are available at special quantity discounts to corporations, professional associations, literacy programs, and other organizations. For details and discount information, please contact our premiums department at [e-mail] or at 1-800-759-0190.

Chronicle Books LLC

680 Second Street

San Francisco, California 94107

www.chroniclebooks.com

Angostura is a registered trademark of Angostura International Limited; Black Cow is a registered trademark of Pure Milk Vodka Ltd; Campari is a registered trademark of Davide Campari - Milano S.p.A.; Carpano Antica Formula is a registered trademark of Fratelli Branca Distillerie S.R.L LLC.; Carpano Dry is a registered trademark of Fratelli Branca Distillerie S.R.L. LLC; Chareau is a registered trademark of Charron Favreau LLC; Chartreuse is a registered trademark of Chartreuse; Clamato is a registered trademark of Mott’s LLP; Cointreau is a registered trademark of Cointreau société par actions simplifiée; Death & Co is a registered trademark of Death & Co Proprietors, LLC; Doctor Bird is a registered trademark of Two James Spirits LLC; Dolin is a registered trademark of Dolin Company; Domaine de Canton is a registered trademark of Heaven Hill Distilleries, Inc.; Fee Brothers is a registered trademark of Fee Brothers, Inc.; Galliano is a registered trademark of Galliano B.V.; Hendricks Gin is a registered trademark of William Grant & Sons Irish Brands LTD; Indochine is a registered trademark of South China Sea Restaurant Company, Inc.; Italicus is a registered trademark of Italicus LTD; Kahlúa is a registered trademark of The Absolut Company; La Gritona is a registered trademark of La Gritona LLC; Lot 40 is a registered trademark of Corby Spirit and Wine Limited; Luxardo Maraschino is a registered trademark of Girolamo Luxardo s.p.a; Miller High Life is a registered trademark of MillerCoors LLC; Modelo is a registered trademark of Cervecería Modelo De México, S. De R.L. De C.V.; NutriBullet is a registered trademark of Capbran Holdings, LLC; Paradise Garage is a registered trademark of Gay Men’s Health Crisis, Inc.; Peychaud is a registered trademark of Sazerac Brands, LLC; Sacred Bond is a registered trademark of Heaven Hill Distilleries, INC.; Scrappy Bitters is a registered trademark of Scrappy Bitters LLC; Small Hand Food is a registered trademark of The Still Room, LLC; St. Germain is a registered trademark of Bacardi & Company; Studio 54 is a registered trademark of MGM Resorts International; Tajin is a registered trademark of Golosinas De Mexico, S.A. de C.V.; Tapatio is a registered trademark of Tapatio Foods, LLC; Tempus Fugit is a registered trademark of Tempus Fugit, LLC; Topo Chico is a registered trademark of The Coca-Cola Company CORP; Tovolo is a registered trademark of ICI-USA LLC; True Cubes is a registered trademark of Crystal Cubes, LLC; Uncle Val’s is a registered trademark of 3 Badge Beverage CORP; W&P (Peak) is a registered trademark of Very Great Inc.; Wintersmiths is a registered trademark of Wintersmiths, LLC.

CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION 10

1

The Basics 12

Everything you need to prepare for your ice-making adventures

Music 14

PLAYLIST 01: SUNSET 15

Ice Factoids 16

Some General Ice Advice 19

FREEZER SPACE 19

FREEZING TIME 19

STORAGE 19

Clear Ice 101 20

CLEAR ICE MOLDS 21

TEMPERING CLEAR ICE 21

Flavored Ice 101 23

STANDARD CUBE TRAYS 23

FILLING MOLDS & TRAYS 23

Polishing Cubes 24

CUBES 24

SPHERES 25

Tools & Equipment 27

EQUIPMENT MUST-HAVES 27

BAR SPOON 27

BLENDER 27

CHINOIS STRAINER 27

CITRUS JUICER 27

COCKTAIL SHAKER 27

CUBE MOLDS & TRAYS 27

FINE-MESH SIEVE 27

HAWTHORNE STRAINER 27

JIGGER 27

JULEP STRAINER 28

MIXING GLASS 28

MUDDLER 28

SHEET PANS 28

IDEAL EXTRAS 28

CULINARY SYRINGE & PIPETTES 28

JUICER 28

MICROFIBER POLISHING CLOTH 28

TONGS OR ICE SCOOP 28

VEGETABLE PEELER 28

Glassware 31

OLD-FASHIONED OR DOUBLE OLD-FASHIONED 31

HIGHBALL OR COLLINS GLASS 31

COUPE, NICK AND NORA GLASS 31

RED WINE GLASS 31

Bartending Techniques 32

STIRRING 33

SHAKING 33

DOUBLE STRAINING 33

DRY SHAKING 33

SWIZZLING 33

MUDDLING 33

Simple Syrups 35

BASIC SIMPLE SYRUP 35

INFUSED SIMPLE SYRUPS 36

2

Easy Does It 38

One-ingredient ice

PLAYLIST 02: START THE NIGHT RIGHT 41

Herbs – Herbal Spears 43

Frankie Knuckles + Basil Flower Spears 44

Larry Levan + Lavender Spears 44

Take Your Thyme (Do It Right) + Thyme Spears 45

Edible Flowers – Floral Spheres 47

Negroni + Floral Spheres 48

White Negroni + Rose Cubes 49

Coffee – Coffee Cubes 51

The Russian Lady + Coffee Cubes 52

The Dutch + Espresso Cubes 52

ESPRESSO CUBES 52

Rising Sun + Coffee Cubes and Orange Cubes 53

BROWN-BUTTER-WASHED BOURBON 53

COCONUT MILK CUBES 54

Indochine Iced Coffee + Coffee Cubes 55

The Minnie + Espresso Cubes and Coconut Milk Cubes 55

Wine, Beer & Champagne – Wine or Champagne Cubes, Beer Cubes 57

Ford Valentine + Red Wine Cubes 58

La Piscine + Champagne Cubes 58

Night on Disco Mountain + Beer Cubes and Lime Cubes 61

The Michelada + Beer Cubes and Lime Cubes 62

The Panaché + Beer Cubes and Lemon Cubes 62

Juice – Pineapple Cubes 65

Grace Under Fire + Pineapple Cubes 67

Spring Affair + Celery Cubes 69

CELERY CUBES 69

The Sanctuary + Cucumber Coins 71

CUCUMBER COINS 71

Citrus – Lemon Cubes, Lime Cubes, Orange Cubes, Grapefruit Cubes 73

Funkadelic + Grapefruit Cubes 74

Yellow Train + Lemon Cubes and Lime Cubes 74

Moon Boots + Orange Cubes 75

3

Self-Contained 76

Disco Cubes that have all the flavors you need—just add your favorite spirit

PLAYLIST 03: TURN IT UP 79

Harry’s Bellini + Bellini Balls 81

WHITE PEACH NECTAR 81

BELLINI BALLS 81

Love to Love You Baby + Blood Orange Balls 82

BLOOD ORANGE BALLS 82

La Régine + Old-Fashioned Cubes 85

OLD-FASHIONED CUBES 85

Soul Makossa + Tangerine Turmeric Cubes 86

TANGERINE TURMERIC CUBES 86

Dancer + Grapefruit Hibiscus Cubes