Create Quick Cocktails with Herb & Lou’s Infused Cubes

Making mixed drinks requires at least three things: Liquor, mixer, and ice. Adding additional ingredients is sometimes necessary, and garnishes are nice, too. But you need at least the above three basic ingredients to bring a cocktail into fruition. There is one newer product that strives to make the cocktail mixing process simpler than before. It’s called Herb & Lou’s Infused Ice Cubes, a frozen cube that contains cocktail mixer, ready to serve.

Pour, Stir, or Shake

• The Cooper– Add Bourbon or Rye for a Blood Orange Old Fashioned
• The Seymour– Add Light or Dark Rum for a Daiquiri
• The Cecile– Add Tequila for a Margarita
• The Clyde– Add Vodka or Rum for a Peach Cosmopolitan

Each of the above four is packaged as a tray of 6 sealed cubes. Contained within each is approx. 0.85 ounces (25 ml) of alcohol- free mixer. To prepare, just place the tray in the freezer. When you’re ready to mix a drink, pop open a cube, add it to a shot of liquor, and then stir or shake until dissolved.

No Fuss Drink Mixing

As my friends and family know, I tend to stick to beer, but I am not immune from the occasional craving for a mixed cocktail. I admit, I was intrigued when I heard about the Herb & Lous Infused Ice Cubes concept. I couldn’t wait to give the idea a try, to see if it really lived up to the convenience hype.

I sampled two different Herb & Lous Infused Ice Cubes varieties: The Cooper and the Seymour. For the Cooper, I added bourbon and with the Seymour, I tried it with dark rum. The Cooper is supposed to create a Blood Orange Ginger Old Fashioned. The Seymour creates a Meyer Lemon Daiquiri with Bergamot, Chamomile & Vanilla.

To mix these drinks, the instructions call for one cube combined with a standard shot, which is 1.5 oz. (45 ml) of liquor. I tried this once and quickly changed the ratio because, since the cubes contain only 0.85 ounces, if you combine one for one, you are going to end up with an excessively strong beverage. Not only that, but a single cube and single shot makes for a very small serving. It is better to double or even triple the cubes, then combine with a shot or slightly more of liquor.

I spoke above about the need for three ingredients when you mix a drink. With Herb & Lous Infused Ice Cubes, you conceivably could eliminate the ice. Because they dissipate while frozen, they automatically cool your drink. I found, however, that I still like to have at least some ice. Maybe it’s simply what I have grown accustomed to, but the thought of an old- fashioned or other drink being served ice- free just doesn’t seem right to me. Another tip I can provide is with mixing. If you want to dissolve the cube more quickly, I recommend shaking. Stirring will work, but it takes longer.

As for the taste, of the two I sampled, I most definitely liked the Seymour better. The lemon daiquiri flavor is accented by spice from the bergamot and chamomile, then topped off with vanilla. It doesn’t taste like most daiquiris, but that’s okay. It’s different and interesting. The Cooper on the other hand, well, let’s just say it doesn’t taste at all like an authentic old fashioned. But unlike the Seymour, it doesn’t really taste like any mixed drink you would necessarily want to try again. I’m thinking that maybe some more experiments, with different bourbon and with different cube- to- liquor ratios, might make it work.

Cheers to Convenience

Herb & Lous Infused Ice Cubes are a novel idea. I like that I can pop open a couple of cubes, add liquor, shake well, pour into a glass, and serve. I don’t have to search my pantry for added spices, fruit flavorings, etc. Everything I need is already here, in these small cubes, ready for use.

You don’t necessarily need to add ice when you use Herb & Lous Infused Ice Cubes, but I added ice anyway. Part of the reason is that many mixed drinks just don’t seem right without ice. The other reason is that the added liquor warms up the mixer from the cubes to a higher temperature than I prefer. Added ice makes it cooler, and more refreshing.

I like the occasional mixed drink. And I like the concept of Herb & Lous Infused Ice Cubes. I’m not blown away by what I have tried, but I did like the Seymour, and I look forward to additional flavors down the road. It’s an interesting idea that will likely improve over time.