Do you want to impress your dinner guests with an extraordinary cocktail experience? Do you
value cold whiskey that isn’t watered down? If you said yes to either (or both) of these questions,
the Monogram Forge Heated Ice Press could be the perfect addition to your kitchen or bar.
The Forge takes 3-inch ice cubes and transforms them into flawless ice spheres in less than
a minute. This product is the epitome of luxury in the world of elegant ice,
but is it really worth the $1500 price tag?
Today, we're delving deep into the Forge's capabilities, exploring both its highlights and
potential drawbacks to help you determine if it merits a spot at your home bar or next gathering.
Hi, I’m Joelle with Designer Appliances,
New York and New Jersey’s premier appliance showroom. Purchasing appliances is a big
undertaking, and we’re here to help make the experience as smooth and easy as possible.
While standard ice has its merits for soft drinks, it falls short when used in cocktails.
And while sphere ice IS achievable with silicone molds and hand-carving,
there’s a lot of mess and frustration involved. Meet the Monogram Forge,
an ice-shaping tool like no other that uses a combination of heat and weight to
delicately melt away ice, creating a perfect, diamond-like sphere at its core, every time.
Monogram has been making waves in the kitchen appliance space with
their elevated design and superior quality, and the Forge is no exception to the rule.
Here’s why we are absolutely obsessed with the Forge and the insanely beautiful ice it creates.
One: The presentation of a drink using one of these crystal-clear ice spheres is unrivaled.
Imagine the look on your guests’ faces when you transform an unassuming 3-inch ice cube into a
glistening, glass-like sphere. Even better? You can make the experience interactive by
inviting your guests to press their own ice! It’s incredibly easy to do and mesmerizing to
watch. Paired with an expertly-mixed cocktail or even just whiskey, the Forge is sure to
add that “shock” factor your guests will be talking about long after the party is over.
Two: your drinks won’t get watered down. Spheres are scientifically proven to be the
slowest-melting shape of ice, due to their optimal surface area to volume ratio. Using 1 large sphere
takes that one step further, ensuring your drink stays cold without losing its flavor or strength.
This also means that just one ice cube could be used for more than one drink while largely
maintaining its size. Not a drink enthusiast yourself? The Forge makes for a fantastic,
high-end gift. There’s no better way to surprise the whiskey-lover in your
life than with the ultimate bar companion. Three: the process couldn’t be easier. The
Monogram Forge makes creating these impressive ice spheres as simple as it could possibly be:
start by turning on the unit so it can preheat. Meanwhile, take the ice cubes out of the freezer
so that they’re ready to be pressed (this will prevent them from cracking). After 8-10 minutes
of preheating, simply put an ice cube on its base, lower the top and watch the magic happen.
The outside of the cube melts away, and in 30-40 seconds, you’re left with a glistening ice sphere,
ready to add some serious glam to any liquor, cocktail or mocktail. The Forge comes with a
pair of specialty ice tongs to help you carefully transfer your ice to a glass without creating a
single imperfection. There’s no need to reheat the press between cubes, so you can make up
to 9 spheres before having to empty the drip pan. That means you can focus on your guests,
or more importantly, enjoying your drink while effortlessly making picture-perfect ice!
Example drinks and drink presentation: So what kind of cocktails can you make with
the Forge? While there are so many different drinks that benefit from the unique size,
shape and look of this ice, we’ve narrowed it down to some of our absolute favorites.
Whiskey and the Forge’s sphere ice are a match made in heaven. A true whiskey lover looks
forward to the complex flavor profile of their favorite whiskey or bourbon, without it being
diluted by melting ice, and so these slow-melting spheres are the perfect fit. Pour right over the
ice and you’ll notice that the whiskey cascades down the sphere and into the glass rather than
splashing over the edges of a typical cube. Is there a better presentation than that?
Other drinks that we love with the special ice include a paloma,
amaretto sour, and blue margarita. Each of these is already pretty unique-looking,
but are drastically elevated by the addition of the stunning spheres- plus, they’re delicious!
As you can see, there are so many reasons to love
this symbol of luxury- now we'll let you in on a few points to consider
before you splurge on the Forge. One: The Forge does not make ice.
It is simply pressing an existing ice cube into the perfect sphere shape. While there
is an included ice mold to make the 3 by 3-inch ice cubes in your own freezer, home
freezing doesn’t result in perfectly-clear ice. If the glass-like clarity is what you’re after,
you’ll need to special order the cubes from an ice distributor like kentuckystraightice.com, who
has partnered with Monogram for the release of the Forge. You’ll receive a coupon for one free round
of ice with the purchase of a Forge, but future orders will set you back a few dollars per cube.
Two: It’s large and heavy. The Forge relies on weight as one of the main ways that it carefully
crafts the ice spheres without any cracking or chipping. Because of that, the Forge itself is
a heavy appliance, weighing in at about 15 pounds. Once the Forge is set-up, it could
be difficult to move, making it something you would probably leave on the counter all the time.
Three: It’s difficult to customize the ice. The internet is chock-full of ways to elevate
your ice game with different shapes, infusions, herbs, flowers, and even fruit. Due to the nature
of the ice-pressing process, it’s difficult to make the ice spheres out of anything that isn’t
a pure liquid. Trying to suspend ingredients in the ice would require them to be perfectly
centered in the sphere, so that they don’t get “melted off” with the rest of the cube.
So is the Monogram Forge worth the investment? If you’re passionate about creating impressive
cocktails that maintain their flavor, all with minimal effort and maximized visual effect,
the Monogram Forge is a great way to elevate your cocktail game in a show-stopping way.
Want to try out the Monogram Forge yourself? Visit one of our showrooms
in Bedminster or Montclair NJ where you can press your own cube, on us,
as well as see the vast line-up of brands we have on display. Right now,
Monogram is running a special where you have the option to add the Forge for free with the purchase
of another appliance. So who knows, you might get inspired to do a full kitchen or bar remodel.
If you have any additional thoughts or questions, we’d love to hear from you! Drop us a comment
below or email us at the link, and we’ll be sure to get back to you as soon as possible.
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