Now that we've had a bit of time to play around with the ice maker supplied to us by Air N Water, we've taken some time to put together our thoughts. We were impressed overall with the device and its output, and we were glad we were given a chance to play with it. It has a ton of features, is extremely easy to use, and put out ice like it was its job (which it is, we suppose). The AI-210W costs around $200 - and is currently selling for $190 on the Air N Water product page.
Upsides:
Quick & Easy Setup: We plugged this thing in, poured in some water, and had viable cocktail ice in less than 10 minutes.
Fast Output: We had more ice than we knew what to do with after the first batch. Of course, we ran much more than one batch, because we don't know when to say when - we didn't make it to the advertised 35 pounds, but we gave it a run.
Portability: This thing isn't pocket-sized, but it's relatively light and easy to move around, with comfortable handles on each side.
Easy to Clean: When we were done churning out ice, we just drained the water reservoir, wiped out the inside with a cloth, and put it in storage.
Things to Think About
Noisy: This thing makes some noise - it rattled the items on our countertop while grinding away during the creation process, and the sound of ice dropping can be jarring. It's not shockingly loud - it's not like you didn't know you would be making ice - but you won't want to run this thing in the baby's room during nap time.
Counter Space: The machine is big - that's part of the game we suppose when you're getting the throughput this thing does. Don't expect to tuck this away in a corner - you'll have to get it out to run it, and put it away we're guessing, or set it up somewhere outside the kitchen.
All in all we feel the machine works great, and so far it has met all our needs. If you're someone who has a home bar (or has other icy needs) we see this as a good investment, especially if you're sick of running to the corner store for bags of ice.
Check out a video showing all the features of the AI 210 after the jump.
We've been on pins and needles waiting for our new ice maker to arrive, and it's finally been delivered. The folks at Air & Water sent us a NewAir AI-210W, a self-cleaning ice maker with an 18 hour timer. We're still in the midst of reading the operator's manual, so we'll let the Air & Ice folks tell you more about our model with a clipping from their product page:
The convenient NewAir AI-210W offers more features than most ice makers on the market, which makes it one of the best in its class. This portable ice maker features a convenient timer that allows you to choose exactly when the unit turns on or off. And with its quick 7-13 minute operating cycle, the AI-210W is able to deliver up to 35 pounds of ice per day!
You'll be the first ones to know when we get the review up; until then, check out all the ice makers available from Air & Water to see if one suits your fancy.
See what we did there? With the title? They're bullet-shaped ice cubes and we said "make killer drinks." We slay us. OH! We did it again! Hilarity!
This ice cube tray is perfect for those days when you're mixing guns with liquor (always a good idea) or maybe when you just want to send a stern message to someone. They're your trays - it's up to you really.
Take your beer from pee warm to an icy cold 33 degrees Farenheit in just four minutes (for cans - a bit slower for bottles) with the Cooper Rapid Blitz Chiller. There's really not that much more to say about the thing is there? No. So get your ass down to Bed, Bath & Beyond to pick one up for forty bucks!
(Or you can get it through Amazon if you're down with the 1-2 month wait time, but seriously...what part of RAPID did you not understand?)
EdgeStar KC2000 Kegerator on Sale at Kegerators.com
We've been on the lookout for a kegerator lately for the Liquor Snob offices (even we have to take a break from the hard stuff sometimes...plus we're sick of wading through the bottles), and we just stumbled across a deal we might not be able to refuse. Kegerators.com is offering the EdgeStar KC2000 kegerator which usually retails for close to $700, for $449 with free shipping through May 9.
In order to get the sale price and free shipping, just enter the promo code BACKINBLACK when you place your order. A quick search found the same kegerator for a few bucks cheaper at Amazon, but with no free shipping, so this looks like a pretty damned good deal.
We're also including a YouTube video runthrough of this particular kegerator's features so you can get a feel for whether it will work for you, after the jump. (Just don't blame us when Drowning Pool starts playing through your speakers when you start the vid).
We have to admit, when we first heard about Gummy Shot Glasses, we weren't completely sold. They sounded weird and awkward, and had way too much potential for getting us sticky. Then we realized we originally felt that way about some of our favorite things in the world...one in particular.
What changed our minds? Behold the power of AutoTune, Old Crow, sugar and gelatin:
Gummy shot glasses come in sets of six (either 2 each of blue raspberry, red cherry, and orange, or lemon, lime, and cola); you can get them at Vat 19.
Do you live in a house that is chock-a-block with empty kegs, but short on seating space? Sounds like a nice problem to have, but if so the Keg Stool might be the answer to your prayers. Keg Stool is a DIY kit that lets you add a seat and footrest to any empty keg, giving style and panache to your kitchen island, home bar, or formal dining area.
They offer two products - a partial kit where you supply your own keg for a hundred bucks, or you can pay an extra hundred for a full-blown kit where they supply the keg. Not for nothing, but as your Internet attorneys we suggest you drain the keg yourself before slapping a chair on it...y'know, for the sense of accomplishment.
We realize that not everyone is into the rustic look, but for everyone who gags at the sight of a wagon wheel coffee table, there's somebody who thinks it's badass. We fall squarely into the latter category, and would love nothing more than to jam booze bottles through big chunks of wood and leave them scattered around our living and work spaces.
Bamboo Tiki Bar: Here's Looking at You, Tax Rebate
Every year, around tax time, we start looking for something ridiculously expensive to spend our theoretical refund on. It's good fun, and it's a nice way to procrastinate actually doing our taxes. This year, we've decided the Liquor Snob offices absolutely NEED an outdoor tiki bar.
With summer coming, we have a feeling we wouldn't even come inside to sleep - just cover ourselves with those palm leaves and let the rum take care of everything else. C'mon, Uncle Sam...we've been good this year.
We know there are all kinds of bitters out there to use in our cocktails, but we have to say we're sort of used to using Angostura. For those who don't pay attention, Angostura is the bitters you commonly get at your local bar in your cocktails...pretty much all of them. We've complained about this before, but we can't seem to buy them anywhere.
Why the shortage? The official sources we can track down say the plant has closed down temporarily, but we heard a rumor that the employees are on strike. Bitter bitters workers? Say it ain't so, and just bring us back our Angostura before we have to fly to Trinidad to get 'em...though that doesn't sound so bad either with all the snow we're getting in VT.
[UPDATE: According to the commenters below, Angostura is back in production and we should be seeing it soon. Phew! It might even be possible that you've already got access to it again if you don't live out in the sticks like us. All we can say is...get to mixin'!]
'Tis the season for holiday parties, and we've been on the lookout for something to replace the traditional punch bowl at our seasonal fiestas. While the bowl looks cool enough, people tend to spill with our ladle, and we just want something a bit more visually striking. Our solution? The Chantilly beverage dispenser - it has a smaller footprint on the table, has a pour spigot to let people easily fill their cups with cheer, and it holds two gallons of grog. What more could we ask for, really?
Our enrollment in the Bar Smarts Wired course has gotten us thinking a lot more about the parts of a drink that we usually didn't pay much attention to. An example? The garnish. We historically thought of garnish as something to toss on the cocktail napkin so it doesn't get in the way of your drinking. But we're starting to see that the garnish can be the unsung hero of a drink, adding flavors and excitement to a cocktail, or at least a little zazz.
Our Bar Smarts kit came with a good channel knife, but of course, being the Snobs we are, we want more. We gravitated toward Wusthof, a brand we trust and have had good experiences with, which includes a channel knife, zester, double-edge peeler, butter curler, melon baller, and corer. We know it's pretty expensive, but hey, it comes in a sweet carrying case so you can feel like a real chef when you whip it out.
Our friends down at our favorite local bar, the Three Penny Taproom, have shown us they're about more than just great beer - they know their spirits too. That's why we were excited when they showed us a new line of bitters they'd found out about - Urban Moonshine. Located just north of us in Burlington, VT, Urban Moonshine is all about making organic bitters and tonics for digestive health and other benefits. We were especially into this one line from their website (bolding ours):
Now, whether you enjoy them as an apertif, digestif, or as a remedy to settle an upset stomach, calm a hangover or gently cleanse the liver, bitters are back!
That's right they're back - and these particular ones come in original, citrus, and maple. Check out Treehugger for a nice little write-up and a cocktail recipe to get you started.
We only have to drive a half hour to get them. You, however, can use the majesty of the Interwebs and buy them at the Urban Moonshine website.
Mini Angled Measuring Cups: Jigger What? Jigger Who?
You'd be surprised how useful these little angled measuring cups are when you're making cocktails - your liquids are easier to see, for one thing. It's also nice to have a few lying around, which is why we got the three pack of plastic ones. These bad boys hold up to a quarter cup and are marked at 1/4, 1/2, 1, 1 1/2, and 2 ounces. They also come in Stainless Steel if you're going for the durability and jigger feel, but we like the visibility we get from the plastic. Just be sure to wash them quickly and thoroughly so they don't pick up any flavors, though we haven't had any problems with that.
NewAir AI-210W Countertop Ice Maker Review
Now that we've had a bit of time to play around with the ice maker supplied to us by 
Continue reading: 
See what we did there? With the title? They're bullet-shaped ice cubes and we said "make killer drinks." We slay us. OH! We did it again! Hilarity!
Take your beer from pee warm to an icy cold 33 degrees Farenheit in just four minutes (for cans - a bit slower for bottles) with the Cooper Rapid Blitz Chiller. There's really not that much more to say about the thing is there? No. So get your ass down to 
We've been on the lookout for a kegerator lately for the Liquor Snob offices (even we have to take a break from the hard stuff sometimes...plus we're sick of wading through the bottles), and we just stumbled across a deal we might not be able to refuse. Kegerators.com is offering the EdgeStar KC2000 kegerator which usually retails for close to $700, for $449 with free shipping through May 9. 
We have to admit, when we first heard about 
Do you live in a house that is chock-a-block with empty kegs, but short on seating space? Sounds like a nice problem to have, but if so the 
We realize that not everyone is into the rustic look, but for everyone who gags at the sight of a wagon wheel coffee table, there's somebody who thinks it's badass. We fall squarely into the latter category, and would love nothing more than to jam booze bottles through big chunks of wood and leave them scattered around our living and work spaces. 
Every year, around tax time, we start looking for something ridiculously expensive to spend our theoretical refund on. It's good fun, and it's a nice way to procrastinate actually doing our taxes. This year, we've decided the Liquor Snob offices absolutely NEED an outdoor tiki bar. 
We know there are all kinds of bitters out there to use in our cocktails, but we have to say we're sort of used to using 
'Tis the season for holiday parties, and we've been on the lookout for something to replace the traditional punch bowl at our seasonal fiestas. While the bowl looks cool enough, people tend to spill with our ladle, and we just want something a bit more visually striking. Our solution? The Chantilly beverage dispenser - it has a smaller footprint on the table, has a pour spigot to let people easily fill their cups with cheer, and it holds two gallons of grog. What more could we ask for, really?
Our enrollment in the 
Our friends down at our favorite local bar, the 
You'd be surprised how useful these little angled measuring cups are when you're making cocktails - your liquids are easier to see, for one thing. It's also nice to have a few lying around, which is why we got the three pack of plastic ones. These bad boys hold up to a quarter cup and are marked at 1/4, 1/2, 1, 1 1/2, and 2 ounces. They also come in 
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