CAN YOU JOIN ME FOR COCKTAILS TODAY? Good. Because I’m serving vodka that I’ve encased in a frozen block of flowers and twigs. This isn’t a new trick (it was used by Martha Stewart and others in the early 1990s). But it’s a fun thing to do, and the results are always spectacular:
To start, grab an empty, 1/2-gallon juice or milk carton…
And cut off the section above the carton’s shoulder.
Next, grab a (750 ml) bottle of vodka out of your file cabinet, and remove its label.
Tip: If the label won’t come off easily, use a hair blower to melt the glue.
Place the bottle in the carton.
Can you excuse me for a moment? An important email has arrived.
Dear Kevin: I seem to be out of vodka. Can I use this method with wine? Please do not publish this email. Sincerely, Carrie Nation
Dear Carrie – I can’t recommend wine for this trick. Why? Because the water in wine will expand when frozen, and potentially cause the bottle to shatter. Vodka, on the other hand, won’t freeze solidly (or at all). Thus it is safe to use. And don’t worry — I’ll never publish your email.
Now head outside and clip some evergreen twigs and colorful flowers.
This morning, I clipped the following bits and pieces from my garden:
Hemlock…
Yew…
Boxwood…
Pinkish-blue zinnias…
Goldenrod…
Rosebuds…
Coreopsis (the result of last January’s winter-sowing efforts)…
Budleja…
Calibrachoa…
Zonal geranium (Pelargonium), which I grow for winter-blooms…
Torenia ‘Summer Wave’…
Deep pink phlox…
And blue ageratum.
Stuff the clipped greens and flowers between the bottle and the walls of the carton…
Then add water to within one 1/2-inch of the carton’s rim.
Freeze the works until solid — 4 to 8 hours.
Of course, the vodka itself won’t freeze, because of its high alcohol-content.
Immediately before serving, peel away the carton.
Ta-da!
For today’s party, I set this floral fabulousness on a folded cloth napkin, and atop a silver tray. Around the tray are cranberry-colored cordial glasses that I found at a tag sale in Queens, NY.
Tip: When pouring ice-encased vodka, always use a napkin. The napkin will prevent the bottle from slipping out of your hand.
Folks, this iced-vodka is easy to do.
And it’s elegant to serve.
Cheers!
Don’t miss anything at A Garden for the House…sign up for Kevin’s weekly updates.
Need some appetizers to accompany iced vodka? I recommend these:
Angelic Zucchini Fritters
Pailettes
Bacon-Wrapped Grissini
Karen says
Nice! At first glance I thought this was some kind of vodka infusion which I just did with some of the peaches from my front yard tree. I will keep this in mind for a beautiful way to serve it when it is ready.
Kevin Lee Jacobs says
Karen – Peach-infused vodka — delicious!
CityGirlCountryBloke says
This. Is. AWESOME!! When I finally have a party at my house, I am so doing this. LOVE IT!!!
Erin Brady says
Love it. When I do this, I use distiller water, it won’t be cloudy and is super clear!
Erin Brady says
*distilled water
Kevin Lee Jacobs says
Erin – I’ll try that.
Sherri says
To do this for wine, place an EMPTY wine bottle inside your milk carton, follow the rest of the directions. Once frozen, add chilled white wine or rose to the wine bottle. Salud!
regi says
I love your sense of style, but more your sense of constant quirky humor….yea don’t worry carrie
myrtle miller says
What can be used that doesn’t contain alcohol?
PattyM says
LOVE!!!!!!!!
Jenn V says
Better watch out- the next knock on your door could be Carrie wielding a hatchet. Hide the vodka!!! I used to do this to serve homemade ice cream out of. Vodka is better!. Unless you combine the two with Kahlua for frozen white russians. Mmm…..
Cary says
Carrie Nation, indeed :)! You are adorable, dear boy. Sally forth!
Yvonne Finne says
I am thinking about using this idea with Kahlua or Bailey’s for an Oyster Roast in November and putting evergreen leaves, white camellias mixed with coffee beans. I think it will work if the water is slushy to hold the beans in place. What do you think?
Dennis R says
Kevin, what’s the melting ETA factor? in other words, do we have to slug the vodka down before the casing liquifies like the Wicked Witch of the West? (only i would think up a question like that, huh?)
Janice in Black Creek, BC says
Christmas cocktails, with holly and berries and evergreen twigs and cranberries. neat –seasonal variations. Empty bottle idea is good too Sherri, Anything could go in it. Premixed cocktails, or eggnog, Myrtle Miller, you could use Orange juice , lemonade–spiked or Not or Gingerale. The frozen container is the Thing!
Mary says
What about rum? I’m not much of a vodka drinker. I like the idea of the empty wine bottle but it might make the wine too cold.
Mary says
Kevin, what time are drinks? You didn’t mention that.
Casey Cavasher says
After the block has been sitting on the serving cloth and tray for 1/2 hour or so, doesn’t it start to weep/melt? How do you pour the vodka tastefully — just by grabbing hold of the frozen block in a non-mitten covered hand even when ho it may have started to melt a little?
Kevin Lee Jacobs says
Hi Casey – Like any ice-sculpture, the block will eventually melt. But I’ve had the one pictured above for 3 days! I bring it out during the cocktail hour, and then return it to the freezer (where it sits on a small plate). As described in the step-by-step instructions above, I wrap a folded cloth napkin around the ice when pouring. The cloth protects the hand, and keeps the block from slipping.
Maggie Harvey-V says
Hello Kevin,
Another fun hostess thing to do. Been doing it for years, depending
on holiday or event. I have lots of flowering herbs that also look
pretty this way. Also done it in an ice mold ring floating on top of
bowl of punch.
Keep up the good ideas/work.
Shawnee says
Wow!Kevin!! three days–that’s amazing!!
However Kevin, my husband who has previously had the great misfortune of shattering(and thus shamefully wasting) a full bottle white wine when it slipped from the freezer wine cooler wants to know if there is any risk of the vodka bottle (dare I suggest a nice gin) slipping out of its encasement, say on day four? Please advise and thank you.
Pam says
I’m allergic to all alcohol. Any other suggestions to put inside?
Kirstie says
Very pretty! What other liquor types would be safe to do this with?
Barbara Penland says
To serve wine this way I fill an empty wine bottle(large)with water and placeit in a round plastic bucket and place the greenery and flowers packed tightly around the bottle.Ipour distilled water to fill the bucket and freeze. .The bottle will come out easily with just a small amount of very warmwaterpoured overit. Invert bucket and pour warm water over it.Turn flrozen flower basket onto a round tray and place a lovely white wine inside.Wine willstay chilled and baxket will stay beautiful for at least two hours. I make severalof these atChristmas and they are usually the hit of the party
AmyO says
You always have the best and craftiest ideas! I so enjoy your posts and recommend your blog to my friends. Your readers are also very clever with their suggestions too!
Pat says
You are the best! I am definitely making this for a yet-to-be named special occasion, such as Wednesday.
Naomi Shelton says
How pretty! And ingenius. Definitely looks like it would be fun to try. I think it would be fun to do with the empty wine bottle filled after the block is frozen. Because I prefer wine to liquor. Thanks for the great idea.
Joan Phillips says
Kevin, this will be a great way to serve my homemade Lemoncello and my Raspberry Liqueur.
Both are made with Clear springs. The Lemon Liqueur I keep in the freezer.
Thanks for all your good advice and ideas.
Addie B in FL says
Hi, Kevin – I love your website and all your quirky ideas. Today I have a question about houseplants that I hope you can answer. The tips of my long-leafed plants are going brown; I haveI have one (don’t know the name) that has dry brown places even on the sides of the leaves. Do you know what causes this?
Many thanks!
Addie
Kevin Lee Jacobs says
Hi Addie B in FL – Improper watering, a dry atmosphere, and spider mites are three things which can cause the browning of leaf tips and edges. You’ll find more details — and possible cures — in this (Pulitzer Prize-worthy!) article: Seven Ways to Beautiful Houseplants.
Addie B in FL says
Thank you so much for that, Kevin – I’ll check it out -:))
Susan L. Espersen says
Ooooh, I must use this for my little home wedding reception on Black Friday! They may expect this 62 year old bride to be a fuddy duddy, but they don’t know that i have a secret weapon. KEVIN!