Berlinzo Premium Clear Ice Cube Maker Mold - 2 Large 2.1" Crystal Clear Ice Squares for Whiskey & Cocktails - Easy Release Ice Cube Mold - Storage Bag and Silicone Insert (Non-Electric)

The process is a little clunky, and it can sometimes be frustrating but with a little practice and patience, you get beautiful, crystal-clear ice cubes every time. I gave this ice cube maker 5 stars because it is relatively inexpensive for what you get, the materials are high quality with good fit and finish. The drawbacks (such as taking 30 hours to make only 2 ice cubes) are really a function of thermodynamics rather than the product itself. (See the end of this review for the TLDR "how it works".) I have been using this ice maker for around 18 months now and here is the process I use to get crystal-clear cubes every time: 1) Start by cleaning and drying all the parts. If any of the parts are wet when they go into the freezer, the unit can be extremely difficult to open up and can result in the corners of the ice cubes being chipped. Also, if you're refilling the ice maker after using it, make sure there is no residual ice chips or drops left in the mold. 2) Assemble the components. First, make sure the foam insulator is pushed all the way down into the plastic shell and then the plastic reservoir is pushed all the way down into the foam insulator. These parts all fit very nicely together and it will be apparent from the way the lips of each piece connect when they are properly assembled. Leaving a gap between any two of these pieces will result in substandard ice. 3) Fill the reservoir to the indicator mark. I use reverse-osmosis (RO) filtered water but I've also used tap water successfully. Use lukewarm water for best results. 4) Assemble the silicone ice mold and then slowly let it settle into the reservoir. Don't push the mold into the reservoir or you'll end up with incomplete or malformed ice cubes. A small amount of water should bubble up out of the 2 vent holes in the mold. Make sure the mold is completely settled into the reservoir before proceeding - again, the parts fit together nicely so it will be obvious when settling is complete. Use a towel to dry any standing water on top of the ice mold. 5) Use two hands to lift the entire assembly and place it upright in the freezer. Lift it by the side handles. Do not squeeze the assembly (by lifting it with one hand) or you'll end up with incomplete or malformed cubes. The goal here is to have no additional water bubble out of the vent holes as you put the assembly into the freezer. Leave the mould in the freezer for 30 hours. 6) Pull the silicone mold out of the reservoir, pull the two halves apart and gently remove the ice cubes. Cubes can be stored in the included silicone zip-lock bag (the bag holds 6 cubes) for several weeks. Cubes can be stored in regular freezer Ziploc bags for a couple of weeks but longer than that and they start to degrade. Use warm water to remove the ice in the bottom of the reservoir. Dry all the parts and you're ready to start again. How it works: the key to the process is the insulating layer on 4 sides plus the bottom of the mold. The mold orients the cubes with one corner up (the non-insulated side) which is exposed to the ambient air in the freezer. This orientation along with the insulation forces the water in the mould to freeze from the top down. As the water freezes, it pushes the entrained air (and any impurities) down into the reservoir, leaving crystal clear ice behind in each cube. (The reservoir holds about 3x as much water as needed to make the cubes. This extra space give the water with entrained air a place to go as the cubes freeze.) The insulating layer is a bit thin but using warm water in the mould ensures that the process proceeds properly. The whole assembly is kinda bulky and it would be quite a bit bulkier if the insulation was thicker so I think this is a good design trade-off.

The ice comes out completely clear if you go through the process very slowly and used high quality water. I boil my water, allow it to cool completely and then filter it in a Brita jug. You have to leave the ice sitting in the mold for 5-10minutes before attempting to remove it too.

I sort of kind of had my doubts based on experiences from other reviews left here. They were mixed. Some people had great success while others complained it sucked right out of the box. I followed the instructions exactly. Cleaned it well with soap and water first. Rinsed it well and then filled with warm water - not hot, not cold but warm. Froze it for over 24 hours and checked on it. It was so clear that I thought perhaps it hadn't frozen all the way through yet. I took it out and moved it around and didn't notice any air bubbles moving inside of the cube. I went ahead and removed the mold and then pushed the ice cubes out. They were solid and they were crystal clear. The eyes left inside of the bottom of the mold had not Frozen all the way through but even it was clear after the water drained out. This is a quality item and I'm very impressed with how my ice cubes turned out. My only wish is that it included additional silicone stamps for decorating the ice other than just the two that it came with. I highly recommend this and if there is a four-cube version, go for that one as well

I’m giving this product 5 stars because I LOVE it. Just keep in mind that these ARE large cubes. They’re ideal for thinner-walled glasses with a wide base. As for your standard whisky tumblers, I’ve only got one it’ll fit (and I’ve got a lot of variety of tumblers in my pub). Still: Amazing clear ice. I bought all of their ice products after this order.