Have you ever gone to a bar and ordered an old fashioned with, let’s call it “lackluster” ice? You know, the kind of ice that’s broken up into small pieces and cloudy. You take the first sip, and woof! The drink is so strong you have to put it down for a few minutes, but when you pick it back up the tiny pieces of ice have diluted your cocktail entirely. And now you’ve paid $15 for water with a side of whiskey. 

On our first anniversary, my husband and I took to the kitchen to make whiskey sours. But soon, we realized we didn’t just want to make your run of the mill cocktail, we wanted something special, something that tasted incredible down to the last drop. That’s when I began experimenting. After coming across the book Liquid Intelligence by Dave Arnold, I began to view how we craft drinks in an entirely new light. His scientific approach introduced me to the mind-blowing world of clear, pure ice. According to Arnold, “Making [proper cocktail] ice can be quite complicated, and modern bartenders spend a lot of their time trying to recreate a specific type of pure, clear ice that was the norm in the days before mechanical refrigeration.” 

Because of what I read in Arnold’s book, I discovered that ice is the key to creating the perfect cocktail. The density of a clear, large ice cube ensures that it will not dilute your drink, and keeps the taste as good as it was when it was first poured into your glass. In our kitchen, I began to craft my own clear ice—I tested different molds, temperatures, and timing to perfect my recipe. Then, I wanted it to be beautiful—the true anti-lackluster ice. I created a contraption to suspend flowers, fruit, and special designs into the clear ice to make our drinks not only delicious, but unique too. 

What began as a night at home with my husband, has turned into a passion and a business I am so excited to share with you. Cesc & Co offers hand-crafted cocktails to enjoy at home. Each special drink is made with fresh juices, homemade syrups, and poured over a beautifully-designed piece of clear ice to ensure incredible taste. From the classics, to new recipes, and infused ice that melts with intense flavor, Cesc & Co is going to completely evolve your drinking experience.