There are benefits to tasting whiskey and bourbon at room temperature. However, when we’re lounging around, especially during the summer, we prefer a cold and refreshing drink. Any whiskey pro knows it’s best to avoid standard ice cubes from your fridge, as they dilute pretty quickly watering down your bourbon faster than you bargained for.
That’s why we’ve embarked on a quest to find the best ways to keep your favorite dram of bourbon chilly, without excessive dilution. What does that entail? A lot of product testing and a lot of drinking. It was rough, but we grabbed a few bottles from our stash, grabbed a few snacks, and took one for the team to see which gadgets were the best for keeping your bourbon ice-cold. Here’s what we found.
Cooler Than Cool Smoked Whiskey Glasses
We’ve seen cups like these before, but more often than not, the gel inside doesn’t stay cold, and they can split in the freezer due to being overfilled. These Cooler Than Cool Smoked Whiskey Glasses blow those out of the water. The gel stays cold for a long time, and you can store them in the freezer for extended periods with zero problems. They gently chill your whiskey without adding any ice to the equation, and because they’re made of BPA-free plastic, they’re fantastic for sitting by the pool or in the backyard. There is some condensation, but we didn’t mind it, just be sure to use a coaster when sitting inside.
Cooler Than Cool Glacier Whiskey Glasses
These Cooler Than Cool Glacier Whiskey Glasses use the same technology as the Cooler Than Cool Smoked Whiskey Glasses but are made of real glass instead of BPA-free plastic. They worked just as well and would be great for someone who doesn’t love the feel of drinking whiskey out of a plastic cup. These also produce some condensation, but a coaster solved that for us.
Drinks Rocks Geometric Shapes
These drinks rocks are more than just pretty a group of pretty faces. These Geometric Drinks Rocks are made of marble and soapstone, which are naturally chilly materials, meaning they are a step ahead in keeping your bourbon cold. They also are like a sculpture in your glass, making them an excellent gift for someone who cares about their drink’s aesthetics.
The Iceberg Insulated Tumbler
It might be sold as a wine tumbler, but this Iceberg Insulated Tumbler was a sleeper hit in our tests. It keeps cold drinks cold for a long time with its double-walled, vacuum-insulated construction. Pair it with a big ice cube or one of the drinks rocks from this list, and you’re set.
Stainless Steel Whiskey Sphere
For the traditionalists out there, this Stainless Steel Whiskey Sphere keeps things simple and effective in its chilling prowess. They get extra cold when stored in the freezer for a few hours and chill down your bourbon without diluting.
Professional Ice Cube Tray With Lid
If you’re going to use ice in your bourbon (a little dilution can be nice!), you need to make sure you’re using a quality ice cube tray. This professional-grade ice cube tray makes six, 2-inch cubes, which are just big enough for enjoying whiskey or even spirit-forward cocktails. We liked that this tray comes with a lid, which helps keep weird smells from your freezer out of the ice. We found the cubes from this tray worked well with the Iceberg tumbler and stayed cold for a long time.
