I’m the gal who can’t host a party without going all out. There will be flowers, appetizers, candles, and music to match the theme. A drink spread is also mandatory: A build-your-own spritz bar, a tequila soda bar, or sometimes just a couple bottles of wine.
While my cocktail party gear reserve is well-stocked, for the longest time, I didn’t have a way to serve ice. Instead, my friends had to look into Outpost 31, a.k.a my freezer, a horror zone of spilled corn, freezer-burned meat, and mystery items in little plastic bags. It was uncomfortable. It was embarrassing. So finally, last Christmas, I bit the bullet and asked for this OXO insulated ice bucket. It totally upped my cocktail game.
Why You Need an Ice Bucket
Credit: Sur La Table
As I mentioned, I like having an interactive drink station for guests. It’s a great party trick to create a spread of spirits, syrups, juices, and garnishes, and let guests run wild with it. While various libations are essential, so is ice: You can’t have a spritz or a margarita—or even a stirred martini—without cold cubes. Enter the ice bucket: An easy, stylish way to let guests build the drink of their dreams without having to open the freezer.
While a classic, metal bucket will do the trick, I opted for this insulated option from OXO that keeps ice frozen for long, meandering hours. It comes with a tiny set of tongs so guests can fill their glass without getting chilly fingers. It also has a lid, so if you take the party outside, you won’t find a fly sitting on your ice. And the handle makes it easy to move around.
I have yet to formally test ice buckets, but I like the OXO: When filled, it keeps ice solid for a couple of hours, which is sufficient for a dinner party. It cleans up easily, too: Just empty any water, give it a rinse and scrub, and let it air dry.
And its uses go beyond making cocktails: You can stick a bottle of wine in it and obviously, use the ice to chill other drinks, like soda or seltzer. No longer do I have to rush over to the freezer in shame when a friend meanders into the kitchen to ice their water—the ice bucket saves the day.
Why We’re the Experts
- Grace Kelly is a senior editor at Serious Eats, where she’s been testing kitchen gear for over three years.
- She loves to host parties and organizes a monthly cookbook club.
