All About Ice Buckets

Handmade, monogrammed, brushed, and more

The word bucket isn't exactly redolent of elegance and sophistication. Buckets have always been very utilitarian devices, but once they were associated with drinking and became ice buckets, they were transformed into decorative and beautiful items. Ice buckets are about creating a mood, and these are the styles with which to do so.

Handmade ice buckets

The phrase handmade ice bucket conjures a certain image: competence, worldliness, and quality, a rare and valuable alternative to mass production. A handmade ice bucket suggests craft and skill, an item possessed by an experienced epicure who thinks only the sensual life is worth living. At least this is what you tell your date when you haul your handmade ice bucket out of the kitchen.

Seriously though, handmade ice buckets are valued by those who believe in quality experiences. Your handmade ice bucket could be made of mouth-blown European glass or lovely Turkish crystal. And if the word handmade makes you think of childhood arts and crafts projects gone horrible awry, you can always refer to it as a hand-crafted ice bucket.

Monogrammed ice buckets

The monogrammed ice bucket is best suited as a gift, a classic way to commemorate a significant event in a friend's life. Monogrammed ice buckets are perennial gifts, ideally suited for annual celebrations of a particular date or experience, such as a wedding or birthday.

Monogrammed ice buckets can also mark a yearly recording of more idiosyncratic events, such as significant historical dates. A monogrammed ice bucket with the initials E.A.P. could be used to celebrate the birthday of Edgar Allan Poe, though a cask of amontillado might be more pertinent.

Brushed ice buckets

For a look that's modern and sleek, there is the brushed ice bucket. The term brushed refers to metal that has been abraded or brushed, giving it a fine-lined pattern that adds texture to its appearance. Brushed ice buckets are typically stainless steel, but also can feature gold and silver finishes.

A brushed ice bucket is going to provide a trendier, cooler background for your drinking experience compared to the warmer old-world appeal of a handmade ice bucket. If you're all about the congruity of your surroundings, you could even use a brushed ice bucket with some drinks and a handmade ice bucket with others.

Pewter ice buckets

Another alternative is pewter ice buckets. Pewter is a gray or silver-colored alloy of tin and copper that has been used for centuries. Pewter ice buckets will tend to have a more traditional and sturdy appearance. Not as dazzling as brushed ice buckets, the traditional appearance of pewter ice buckets makes them suitable for family gatherings and other events that emphasize a bond with the past.

Mini ice buckets

If portability is your concern, mini ice buckets are extremely handy to have around. Take a mini ice bucket on a weekend picnic, or use mini ice buckets for quick restocking of a backyard home bar.

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