MEGATech Showcase: Geek Up Your Drinks

For those of us in the Northern Hemisphere, summer is drawing to a close, while for those of you in the Southern Hemisphere are finally starting to see signs of spring. Either way, it’s time for parties, and with parties come drinks. It doesn’t matter if you’re indulging in an adult beverage or three, or if you’re sticking strictly to soft drinks, you still want them to be cold. Square or rectangular ice cubes are boring though, so here are several other options I suspect will make your little geek heart sing.

First up are some I’ve already ordered. Because how could I possibly resist Easter Island head statues floating in my sweet tea? This food-grade silicone tray makes nine little Mo‘ai, and the tray can be used for making candy or Jell-O instead of just plain ice if you’d rather. I suspect mine will get used for Jell-O shots more than once. Pick yours up for just $8.99 US (free shipping from China).

Source: 7 Gadgets

So you say you know someone who is cold-hearted? I’ve got just the ice mold for you! This silicone mold is dishwasher safe, and turns out an almost perfectly-shaped heart for your drink cooling pleasure. I’m sure there’s a play on words in here somewhere about melting your heart, but I’ll let you make up your own phrase. This one runs $9.99 US.

Source: Foolish Gadgets

Pretty sure I’ve featured these before, but they warrant a repeat. This is another silicone tray (as I’m pretty sure they all are), which gives you just four ice shapes. But what shapes they are! You get a Stormtrooper, Darth Vader, R2-D2, and C3PO. The tray itself measures 27 x 10 x 3.5cm H. (10¾” x 4″ x 1¼”), so you can tell the “cubes” are pretty sizeable… maybe these would be better used in a punch bowl rather than a glass. Whatever you decide, you’ll have to shell out $22.95 US for one.

Source: 7 Gadgets

Adding to your Star Wars collection: Ships! This tray also makes just four “cubes”, but these are shaped like an AT-AT Walker, Millennium Falcon, Imperial Destroyer and the Death Star. Same measurements as the characters tray at 27 x 10 x 3.5cm H. (10¾” x 4″ x 1¼”), this one costs $19.99 US.

Source: Geek Alerts

Perhaps you’ve gone over to the Dark Side. That would be regrettable, but I do hear they have cookies. They also have ice trays, as it turns out! Each of these makes six “cubes”, one of just Darth Vader and one of just a Stormtrooper. The trays are made of silicone, and can be used for making candy, Jell-O, ice…anything liquid that can be molded into a solid form, really. Cost is $22.98 US for one of each.

Source: 7 Gadgets

Moving on to something completely different… My sister has this fabulous outdoor living room complete with pool table, and I’m pretty sure she needs one of these for her bar. This looks just like a rack for pool balls, except it molds them into ten spheres of ice for keeping your drinks cold while you shoot. They’re even numbered! It’s been scientifically proven that round ice melts more slowly, thus watering your drink down less, and since this is only $13.99 US, you should probably get one.

Source: Geek Alerts

Speaking of ice spheres, how about this one! This pack of three spherical ice molds comes with a funnel for easy filling, as well as a canister to store them in. As I said above, spherical-shaped ice melts much more slowly, but it offers a greater surface area so it chills your drinks faster. They’re perfect, really. The set of three costs just $16.97 US.

Source: 7 Gadgets

This is quite possibly the coolest thing I’ve seen today (pun actually not intended). Suntory (the liquor company) teamed up with TBWA\Hakuhodo (a Japanese ad agency) to create some of the most amazing tiny 3D ice sculptures I’ve seen. Technically, these don’t belong here because they are not an ice mold you can buy. Rather, they are shapes meticulously carved out of ice, but they’re so darn neat I couldn’t resist. Check out the source article for more styles… I was drawn to the shark. I’m a big fan.

Source: Gizmodiva

These molds will have you saying, “Bombs away!” rather than “Bottoms up!” when you toast. Each tray makes six atomic bomb-shaped cubes, and each tray is made of silicone that can be used for ice, candy, or whatever you want. The very sad thing is they are temporarily out of stock, so I can’t tell you how much they cost or when there will be more available. I’m guessing about nine bucks, though.

Source: 7 Gadgets

This makes me giggle. Using this tray, you can make ice in the shapes of the Enterprise, the Vulcan salute and the Delta symbol. I’m glad they told me it was the Delta symbol… I’m not much of a Trekkie, so I thought it was a communication badge. Or is that what the Delta symbol is? Now I’m all confused. Well, whatever. This tray will cost you $11.90 US.

Source: Geek Alerts

You know how fabulous the first few sips of anything taste when your glass has just come out of the freezer and is covered in frost? Now you can make that wonderfulness last a bit longer with IceLiners. These are silicone molds that instead of putting ice in your drink, surround your drink with it. And you’re not limited to water. If you use juice or other mixers in your IceLiner, it changes the whole dynamic of the cocktail. Plus, they’re supposed to keep your drink at near-freezing for 30-45 minutes! IceLiners is a Kickstarter project, where a pledge of at least $25.00 US will get you either a rocks glass or martini glass with mold ($49.00 US gets you both). You’ve got a couple of weeks left to decide.

Source: Gizmag

These are fun! Although the stagehand in me wonders why you have nine bolts and only three nuts. I do like that there are three kinds of heads on the bolts, though, and it’s not like you’re actually building anything with them. Except maybe a cocktail; and after a few of those you’ll be trying to screw the nuts on the bolts and all your friends will point and laugh. But I digress. The nuts and bolts ice cube tray costs $15.71 US.

Source: Geek Alerts

I saved my favourite for last. I’ve always felt a connection to this painting, and quite often use it as my Facebook profile picture. This, of course, is The Scream by Edvard Munch, and now I can have it floating in my drinks. I’ve already ordered this one, too, by the way. Each tray makes 12 of the iconic figure’s head, and it ships from China (but with free shipping!). Cost is $8.99 US, and it’s anybody’s guess how long it’ll take to arrive.

Source: 7 Gadgets