Since when do we drink our refreshments ice-cold?

2026. 07. 30.

Ice is just as important an ingredient in a cocktail as alcohol or fresh fruit, yet it took centuries for it to become an indispensable staple. Below, we trace how ice made its way from ancient ice pits to today's cocktail glasses.

Ice in antiquity: Indian, Egyptian and Persian methods

According to one account, early Indian and Egyptian cultures were already able to produce ice. In Persia, meanwhile, the yakhchal, or ice pit, became widespread: an onion-shaped structure that extended deep underground and used airflow cleverly to store ice.

Ice in Europe: from the Romans to the French court

Centuries later, wealthy Romans and Greeks built houses filled with snow and ice, shipping the raw material in from the Alps. In 16th-century Italy, fascination with ice was reborn, and the French soon embraced it too – it quickly became associated with luxury and extravagance. Henry III of France, for example, often served ice and snow to his guests and chilled his wine with it.

The turning point in Anglo-Saxon drinking culture

The true shared history of ice and chilled drinks – cocktails included – unfolded in the Anglo-Saxon world. In the early years of the English Commonwealth, most drinks were served warm, since British drinking culture favored hot beverages. This belief held on for a long time even in the US, where summers are far hotter than on the British Isles, based on the idea that a hot drink makes you sweat, and sweat evaporating cools the body.

Frederic Tudor, the Ice King, and the birth of the ice trade

The turning point came in the mid-19th century thanks to Frederic Tudor, later known as the Ice King, who – according to legend – was inspired to start the ice business after a heavenly ice cream experience at a picnic. His first attempt failed, as most of the ice shipped to the Caribbean melted along the way. The solution turned out to be better packaging and insulation with sawdust, which let the ice survive the long journey.

That still didn't solve the whole problem, though: he also had to create demand for ice. This is where cocktails came in handy – Tudor began selling ice to wealthy families and the cafés that served them, and this is how the iced cocktail as we know it today was born.

The spread of the iced cocktail and Jerry Thomas's guide

Once people tasted a cold drink, they could no longer imagine it without ice. Wealthier customers were the first to develop the habit, and as Tudor's empire grew, ice gradually turned from a luxury into a necessity – and iced cocktails also gave the ice cream industry a boost.

Shortly before Tudor's death, in 1862, the famous bartender and mixologist Jerry Thomas published The Bartender's Guide, the first book to collect American cocktail recipes. Some of the drinks in it were made with fruit, some without, some with syrup, alcohol, or neither – but almost all of them shared one magic ingredient: ice.

Frequently asked questions about the icy history of cocktails

Who was Frederic Tudor, the Ice King?

Frederic Tudor built an ice trading empire in the mid-19th century: he solved the challenge of long-distance ice shipping, then created demand for chilled drinks among wealthy customers and through the cafés and cocktail bars that served them.

When was the first American cocktail book published?

Jerry Thomas published The Bartender's Guide in 1862, the first collection to systematically present American cocktail recipes – most of which included ice.

Why was it difficult to ship ice in the 19th century?

Most of the ice melted during long sea voyages. Frederic Tudor solved the problem with better packaging and sawdust insulation, which significantly reduced melting.

If this icy history has inspired you to make a few classic iced cocktails yourself, we recommend the Maxima ice cube maker, which lets you quickly produce large quantities of ice cubes (hollow cylinders, to be precise) for all kinds of drinks and cocktails.
If you prefer solid, cube-shaped ice, choose our Horecatech ice cube maker!