New Maker: Chisel & Shaker

I came across a great article about Chisel & Shaker making clear cocktail ice in Virginia. I've added them to the Makers page. Check out their article in the Daily Press.

It all started when Jones became engrossed with finding ways to make and cut clear ice cubes in-house while working at Fin Seafood in Port Warwick along with Fin mixologist Robert Gregory and bartender Katie Keane.
“It was all about trying to take our cocktail program to the next level,” Matt Jones said.
Clear ice is made in a controlled manner with filtered, pure water so the ice doesn’t contain fogginess or impurities, Jones said. It’s much different than folks using ice molds in their freezers at home, he said.
Chisel and Shaker was able to acquire specific equipment with freezer plates that can make 300-pound clear ice blocks that can be cut down into cubes or used for ice sculpting after it’s tempered.
The clear cocktail ice cubes and spheres are more dense and take longer to melt, preventing significant dilution of a cocktail and keeping drinks colder longer, Jones said. The ice also is less likely to crack and break.
“You put the drink over the ice and the ice disappears,” said Keane, who helps make ice spheres at the shop. “It’s really cool.”

I agree. "It's really cool." Read more!
​You can check em' out on Instagram too!

It never gets old...Come along way since hand carving burner ice with the person who inspired me to do any of this to begin with @bobbyjoegregs11 Miss those days sometimes but then look at that Ice! What I need now is a glass and some premium local spirits. For that there can be only one. Here’s my favorite cocktail at the moment. Clear Ice/ @ironcladdistillery Bourbon/ garnish with mouth..done. . . #clearice #cocktailice #craftcocktails #newportnewsevents #newportnewsva #newportnews #coastalvirginia #newportnewsbusiness

A post shared by Matt Jones (@chiselandshaker) on Dec 10, 2017 at 2:29pm PST