A new restaurant in Washington D.C. is taking the concept of "artisanal" to bizarre new heights by charging customers a buck for a single hand-cut rock ice cube to be added to their drink.
At Second State, the Pennsylvania-themed eatery opening on Tuesday, this unique charge has been listed on their cocktail menu as an optional upgrade. However, unlike generic bars that either absorb the cost or factor it into the overall price of the drink, Second State is upfront about charging for each ice cube. The ice cubes are made by Favourite Ice, a boutique ice company founded by local bartenders Owen Thomson and Joseph Ambrose.
The hand-cut rocks - which come in eight uniform corners to fit neatly into glasses like an iceberg - are claimed to offer a distinct advantage in cocktails. "It's worth it," says bar manager Phil Clark. When the ice cube is added, the resulting effect is "crystal clear" water with no residual mineral taste.
Not everyone shares this enthusiasm. The reaction of one commenter was blunt: "F*ck this times infinity." Nevertheless, Second State seems to be confident in its premium ice cubes, offering them as a way for customers to elevate their drinking experience - at least for an additional dollar.
At Second State, the Pennsylvania-themed eatery opening on Tuesday, this unique charge has been listed on their cocktail menu as an optional upgrade. However, unlike generic bars that either absorb the cost or factor it into the overall price of the drink, Second State is upfront about charging for each ice cube. The ice cubes are made by Favourite Ice, a boutique ice company founded by local bartenders Owen Thomson and Joseph Ambrose.
The hand-cut rocks - which come in eight uniform corners to fit neatly into glasses like an iceberg - are claimed to offer a distinct advantage in cocktails. "It's worth it," says bar manager Phil Clark. When the ice cube is added, the resulting effect is "crystal clear" water with no residual mineral taste.
Not everyone shares this enthusiasm. The reaction of one commenter was blunt: "F*ck this times infinity." Nevertheless, Second State seems to be confident in its premium ice cubes, offering them as a way for customers to elevate their drinking experience - at least for an additional dollar.
! Who needs fancy-pants mixers when you can just charge extra for a hand-cut rock ice cube? I mean, it's like they're trying to make the whole "artisanal" thing more literal 
. And hey, if customers are willing to shell out an extra buck for that crystal clear water effect, who am I to judge? It's all about personal taste, right? 
The reaction from that one commenter though... yeah, let's just say they're missing the point 
. Anyway, can't wait to try it out and see if it's worth the extra cash 
!
I mean, have you ever tried sipping a Pimm's Cup with regular ice? game over 
. but for real tho, that price point is like...$1 
what kinda magic is gonna happen when they add an extra buck to the bill, idk if I'd splurge on it tho 
they're basically selling u a novelty or something... i mean, if it really does make a difference in the taste of ur drink, that's one thing but if its just some fancy way to make u feel like ur drinking at a high end bar then im good. also, isnt it just gonna melt and ruin the whole vibe? 
. I get that some people might be into this artisanal thing, but $1 a pop is just crazy rich 
. And honestly, who really cares about having crystal clear water in their cocktail? It sounds like they're trying to make themselves sound fancy with those hand-cut rocks 
. At the end of the day, it's just ice... for a buck 
. Can you imagine the markup on a beer with a 'hand-cut' ice cube in it? That's like drinking water from a tap with a price tag 
.