Ask a Bartender: What’s With All the Ice?
Pam Martin, GoLocal Ask A Bartender Columnist
Ask a Bartender: What’s With All the Ice?
There are many reasons besides the obvious rationale—temperature. Expert mixologists have numerous explanations for why ice is necessary in your drink. Some go as far as arguing that it is the most important ingredient. The science behind it stems from the dimension of the ice and how fast it melts, to the purity and flavor of the water used to make the ice.
Aside from the science of it all, most people, particularly in the summer, like to enjoy a cold beverage. It’s rare that someone says “Mmm, I would love a room temperature Mai Tai right now!” So when a customer comes to the bar and orders a mixed drink, we add ice so that is even more enjoyable. Adding ice to your drink is not a trick bartenders use to give you less liquor. The average liquor pour is 1.5-2 ounces depending on recipe and establishment. This doesn’t change when we add ice. Many clever patrons think that they have cracked the code so they will specify no ice in their order. That’s fine. It doesn’t mean you are going to get a glass filled to the brim with liquor. It just means you are going to get a glass that isn’t filled, but has the same amount of liquor and other ingredients, and is luke warm. Oh, and it means the barbacks can wait a little longer before they have to push through the crowd with a bucket of fresh ice. So at least someone is making out well in that situation.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTIn all seriousness, there is a long history behind ice, which actually has Massachusetts roots. In the eighteenth century, having ice at home was a luxury, and required a lot of upkeep. Only the most elite could afford to offer their guests ice. In that day ice in your cocktail would not have been scoffed at. Frederic Tudor, of the famous Boston-based Tudor family, built a business around shipping ice all over the world, becoming known as the “Ice King”. There is your dash of history for the weekend. Now you can enjoy an ice cold beverage.
15 Places to Find the Best Summer Cocktails in Providence
The Grange
166 Broadway
Providence, RI 02903
Federal Hill
(401) 831-0600
Read more here
Mon 8:00 am - 12:00 am
Tue 8:00 am - 12:00 am
Wed 8:00 am - 12:00 am
Thu 8:00 am - 12:00 am
Fri 8:00 am - 1:00 am
Sat 8:00 am - 1:00 am
Sun 8:00 am - 10:00 pm
Photo courtesy of The Grange website
The Dorrance
60 Dorrance St
Providence, RI 02903
(401) 521-6000
Read more here
Mon Closed
Tue 5:00 pm - 11:00 pm
Wed 5:00 pm - 11:00 pm
Thu 5:00 pm - 11:00 pm
Fri 5:00 pm - 2:00 am
Sat 5:00 pm - 2:00 am
Sun
Photo credit: Vito Lantz
Eddy
95 Eddy St
Providence, RI 02903
(401) 831-3339
Read more here
Mon 4:00 pm - 12:00 am
Tue 4:00 pm - 12:00 am
Wed 4:00 pm - 12:00 am
Thu 4:00 pm - 12:00 am
Fri 4:00 pm - 1:00 am
Sat 4:00 pm - 1:00 am
Sun 4:00 pm - 12:00 am
Photo credit: Priscilla S. (Yelp)
Local 121
121 Washington St
Providence, RI 02903
(401) 274-2121
Read more here
Mon 5:00 pm - 1:00 am
Tue 12:00 pm - 1:00 am
Wed 12:00 pm - 1:00 am
Thu 12:00 pm - 1:00 am
Fri 12:00 pm - 2:00 am
Sat 10:00 am - 2:00 am
Sun 10:00 am - 1:00 am
Photo credit: Alma C. (Yelp)
The Avery
18 Luongo Memorial Sq
Providence, RI 02903
Federal Hill
Read more here
Mon 4:00 pm - 12:00 am
Tue 4:00 pm - 12:00 am
Wed 4:00 pm - 12:00 am
Thu 4:00 pm - 12:00 am
Fri 4:00 pm - 12:00 am
Sat 5:00 pm - 12:00 am
Sun 5:00 pm - 12:00 am
Photo credit: Kel S. (Yelp)
Lili Marlene's
422 Atwells Ave
Providence, RI 02909
Federal Hill
(401) 751-4996
Read more here
Mon 4:00 pm - 1:00 am
Tue 4:00 pm - 1:00 am
Wed 4:00 pm - 1:00 am
Thu 4:00 pm - 1:00 am
Fri 4:00 pm - 2:00 am Open now
Sat 4:00 pm - 2:00 am
Sun 4:00 pm - 1:00 am
Photo credit: Alicia K. (Yelp)
Cook and Brown Public House
959 Hope St
Providence, RI 02906
(401) 273-7275
Read more here
Mon Closed
Tue 5:30 pm - 10:00 pm
Wed 5:30 pm - 10:00 pm
Thu 5:30 pm - 10:00 pm
Fri 5:30 pm - 10:00 pm
Sat 10:00 am - 2:00 pm
5:30 pm - 10:00 pm
Sun 10:00 am - 2:00 pm
5:30 pm - 10:00 pm
Photo courtesy of Cook and Brown Public House Facebook page
Parkside Rotisserie and Bar
76 S Main St
Providence, RI 02903
College Hill
(401) 331-0003
Read more here
Mon 11:30 am - 10:00 pm
Tue 11:30 am - 10:00 pm
Wed 11:30 am - 10:00 pm
Thu 11:30 am - 10:00 pm
Fri 11:30 am - 11:00 pm
Sat 5:00 pm - 11:00 pm
Sun 4:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Photo courtesy of Parkside Rotisserie and Bar Facebook page
Public Kitchen at The Renaissance Hotel
120 Francis St
Providence, RI 02903
Downtown
(401) 919-5050
Read more here
Mon 7:00 am - 12:30 am
Tue 7:00 am - 12:30 am
Wed 7:00 am - 12:30 am
Thu 7:00 am - 12:30 am
Fri 7:00 am - 1:00 am
Sat 7:00 am - 1:00 am
Sun 7:00 am - 11:30 pm
Photo courtesy of Public Kitchen website
birch
200 Washington St
Providence, RI 02903
(401) 272-3105
Read more here
Mon 5:00 pm - 10:00 pm
Tue Closed
Wed Closed
Thu 5:00 pm - 10:00 pm
Fri 5:00 pm - 10:00 pm
Sat 5:00 pm - 10:00 pm
Sun 5:00 pm - 10:00 pm
Photo credit: Chris R. (Yelp)
Red Stripe
465 Angell St
Providence, RI 02906
Fox Point
(401) 437-6950
Read more here
Mon 11:30 am - 10:00 pm
Tue 11:30 am - 10:00 pm
Wed 11:30 am - 10:00 pm
Thu 11:30 am - 10:00 pm
Fri 11:30 am - 11:00 pm
Sat 11:30 am - 11:00 pm
Sun 10:00 am - 10:00 pm
Photo credit: Sara H. (Yelp)
Circe Restaurant + Bar
50 Weybosset St
Providence, RI 02903
DownCity
(401) 437-8991
Read more here
Mon 11:00 am - 1:00 am
Tue 11:00 am - 1:00 am
Wed 11:00 am - 1:00 am
Thu 11:00 am - 1:00 am
Fri 11:00 am - 2:00 am
Sat 4:00 pm - 2:00 am
Sun 10:00 am - 12:00 am
Photo credit: Hilary H. (Yelp)
Aspire
311 Westminster St
Providence, RI 02903
DownCity
(401) 521-3333
Read more here
Mon 6:30 am - 12:00 am
Tue 6:30 am - 12:00 am
Wed 6:30 am - 12:00 am
Thu 6:30 am - 12:00 am
Fri 6:30 am - 12:00 am
Sat 7:00 am - 12:00 am
Sun 7:00 am - 12:00 am
Photo courtesy of Aspire website
north
3 Luongo Memorial Sq
Providence, RI 02909
Federal Hill
(401) 421-1100
Read more here
Mon 5:30 pm - 12:00 am
Tue 5:30 pm - 12:00 am
Wed 5:30 pm - 12:00 am
Thu 5:30 pm - 12:00 am
Fri 5:30 pm - 12:00 am
Sat 5:30 pm - 12:00 am
Sun 5:30 pm - 12:00 am
Photo credit: Alma C. (Yelp)
Loie Fulller's
1455 Westminster St
Providence, RI 02909
Federal Hill
(401) 273-4375
Read more here
Mon 5:00 pm - 10:30 pm
Tue 5:00 pm - 10:30 pm
Wed 5:00 pm - 10:30 pm
Thu 5:00 pm - 10:30 pm
Fri 5:00 pm - 12:00 am
Sat 5:00 pm - 12:00 am
Sun 10:00 am - 2:00 pm
5:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Photo credit: Kel S. (Yelp)
