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How to make a decorative ice ring for punch

A punch bowl is a great idea for any get-together, be it a big birthday celebration, Christmas festivities or an outdoor dinner party. The fruity flavours of the punch are a guaranteed crowd-pleaser, especially when guests can serve themselves holiday drinks. Plus, a colourful punch bowl can make an attractive centrepiece as part of any themed décor.

The only downside? Punch bowls are notoriously difficult to keep chilled. Whilst you can drop in some ice cubes, they dilute the punch as they melt, and nobody likes a lukewarm, watered-down cocktail.

Fortunately, there is a creative yet easy solution. Meet the ice ring! Placed inside the punch bowl the ice ring is much larger than individual ice cubes and therefore stays frozen for longer. This means that it can effectively cool the liquid without adding lots of water in the process. And better than that is that ice rings can be packed full of fresh fruits, herbs and edible flowers which can add flavour and make your punch bowl look even more inviting.

Our straightforward steps explain how to make a decorative ice ring for punch at home. Once it’s made, we have some great whisky cocktail recipes that will give you inspiration on what to fill your punch bowl with.

Choosing the right mould

Just about any vessel you can fill can be used as an ice mould, so you can really choose any size or style. However, for an ice ring, a Bundt or ring pan is one of the easiest and least expensive choices. There are still plenty of types as well. You can opt for a smooth-sided one if you want the contents of the ice ring to be the focal point or go for a pan with fluted or grooved sides that will make the ice ring an interesting shape.

Most Bundt and ring pans are made from metal, so releasing the finished ice ring is easy once it’s frozen but you can also get silicone varieties which make demoulding even simpler.

You’ll also need to be careful when choosing the size of the mould; you don’t want to go too big and then find it won’t fit in the punch bowl or too small so that it looks a bit lonely and unimpressive.

Filling the mould

This is the fun part. When filling the mould you can let your artistic side run wild, using an array of edible additions in a variety of colours, sizes, textures and shapes.

You can select fruits that complement that flavour of the punch, or simply use up whatever you already have in the fridge. If your punch is full of tropical flavours then chunks of juicy pineapple, slices of kiwi and slithers of mango might be perfect. Or, if you are prepping for a December shindig where your punch is based on much-loved Christmas drinks, then clementines, cinnamon sticks and cranberries are ideal.

Once you’ve added your decorative elements to the pan, it’s time to fill it with liquid. Whilst you can just add water for pure ice, it can be a good idea to incorporate a juice or blend of juices that are either included in the punch recipe or will complement its flavours. This will reduce the risk of the punch becoming watered down once the ice ring is added to the bowl.

Freezing your ice ring

When it comes to freezing your ice ring, you need to make sure that you create a solid, flat surface for the filled vessel to sit on. Try to avoid sitting it on other items in the freezer.

As you place it into the freezer, do so slowly. Any jerky movements could ruin all your hard work by causing spillages or your carefully placed fruits to move around. If it’s easier, you can place your tin onto a tray or a shallow dish with handles.

Due to the volume of liquid, your ice ring will take several hours to freeze so make sure you prepare it in plenty of time for your event. Creating it the day before and leaving it in the freezer overnight is ideal.

Demoulding your ice ring

Once you’re confident that your ice ring is frozen solid, it’s time to take it out of the freezer and demould it. Remove it from the freezer, being careful not to twist it as you do so as this could lead to the ring cracking.

If you used a metal pan, dip the bottom of it in warm water for a few seconds before tipping it upside down onto a large plate. Tap on the bottom of the pan gently to release the ice ring. If you used a silicone mould, place it upside down onto a plate and then delicately peel the mould back to reveal the ice ring.

Ice ring inspiration

Sangria punch

Sangria is a classic punch drink but the addition of The Glenlivet Founders Reserve smooth scotch whisky in this recipe gives it an exciting twist. For a complimentary ice ring, use fresh wheels of citrus fruits such as lemon and orange, crisp apple slices and handfuls of plump blueberries.

COCKTAIL RECIPE
FOR
1
SERVE

INGREDIENTS

ml oz
Ingredients Unit
The Glenlivet Founder’s Reserve
30 ml
Lemon Juice
10 ml
Cinnamon Black Tea Syrup
10 ml
Red Wine
60 ml
Lemon & Orange Wheels (for Garnish)

METHOD

  1. Combine all ingredients within punch bowl.
  2. Add ice and stir to combine.
  3. Garnish with lemon and orange wheels for a seasonal touch.

Fresco cocktail

This is the perfect summer serve, packed full of refreshing watermelon and tropical notes from The Glenlivet Caribbean Reserve. Mirror the flavours of the punch in the ice ring with chunks of watermelon and sprigs of mint. You can even pop in a few strawberries for good measure.

Punch Fresco

COCKTAIL RECIPE
FOR
1
SERVE

INGREDIENTS

ml oz
Ingredients Unit
The Glenlivet Caribbean Reserve
75 ml
Watermelon Chunks
4
Watermelon Juice (Alternative to Watermelon Chunks)
75 ml
Sugar Cane or Agave
1 tsp
Tajin (for Garnish)

METHOD

  1. Muddle all ingredients.
  2. Add ice.
  3. Garnish with mint and watermelon slice.
  4. Optional garnish: Rim of Tajin.

Whisky punch

This punch combines the sweet and fruity flavours of The Glenlivet 14-year scotch with citrus and spices, including warming ginger. Use lemon and orange wedges, cinnamon sticks and calendula flowers for a striking pop of colour.

COCKTAIL RECIPE
FOR
1
SERVE

INGREDIENTS

ml oz
Ingredients Unit
The Glenlivet 14 Year Old Whisky
3 Parts
Orange Juice
1 Part
Lemon Juice
1 Part
Maple Syrup
1 Part
Ginger Ale
1 Part
Angostura Bitters
48 Dashes
Lemons, Oranges and Cinnamon (for Garnish)

METHOD

  1. Combine all ingredients in a punch bowl with ice.
  2. Garnish with lemon wheels, orange half wheels, and grated cinnamon and cinnamon sticks.

Now you know how to make an ice ring for punch, you just need to invite your friends over to show off what you’ve learnt. Be sure to check out our guide to hosting a brunch party if you’re planning a daytime get-together and take a look at our celebratory cocktails.