I can't wait to buy premium hydrogen when fuel cell cars become more popular
The Rise of the $8 Ice Cube
41–50 of 166 posts
Re: The Rise of the $8 Ice Cube
#42Earlier quoted context omitted.
Gold plated cables actually serve a purpose, although the average consumer does not have a need for them. In a studio environment, where cables are frequently plugged and unplugged, the gold plating protects the contacting surfaces, extending their lives.
I'm not an expert, and absolutely willing to be proven incorrect here. But I thought that gold was a better conductor, and that's why they're better for audio cables (less resistance). Surely the fact that gold is a soft metal would be a reason to not use it for reasons of 'extending lives'?
According to https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Resistivity#Resistivity_of_var..., copper has a lower resistance per meter than gold.
Gold, however, is much more resistant to oxidation.
Re: The Rise of the $8 Ice Cube
#43If you put ice in Macallan 18, you suck. Sorry for the light epithet, but it deserves worse. and as I read more: "Gläce states that the cubes are ideal for high-end cocktails -- those that employ splashes of $38,000-per-bottle liquors, and must not be diluted or contaminated by mere tap ice." ... ICE NUMBS YOUR TASTE BUDS. Fancy water or not. edit: Downvoted to -1? I'll double down. If you are going to drink a nice s…
I put Macallan 18 in my ice. That's right. ;-P
Re: The Rise of the $8 Ice Cube
#44Earlier quoted context omitted.
Gold plated cables actually serve a purpose, although the average consumer does not have a need for them. In a studio environment, where cables are frequently plugged and unplugged, the gold plating protects the contacting surfaces, extending their lives.
I'm not an expert, and absolutely willing to be proven incorrect here. But I thought that gold was a better conductor, and that's why they're better for audio cables (less resistance). Surely the fact that gold is a soft metal would be a reason to not use it for reasons of 'extending lives'?
Silver > Copper > Gold > Aluminum for conductivity. Gold is used as plating for anti-corrosion/tarnishing and wear, as the other user pointed out. It can be pressed extremely thin and still act as a good coating, so it's not really all that expensive.
Re: The Rise of the $8 Ice Cube
#45My wife's cousin is a chef and knows his guy: http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/youngandhungry/2013.... He bartends by day, and sells artisan ice to restaurants by night. It looks pretty and melts slower than regular ice cubes.
BTW: If you're in D.C., check out Range (mentioned in the above article; serves artisan ice in drinks).
Re: The Rise of the $8 Ice Cube
#46Related: http://thesweethome.com/reviews/the-best-ice-cube-tray/
*I am not the author and am no way affiliated ... just read it a while back and found it relevant/interesting.
Re: The Rise of the $8 Ice Cube
#47This is, of course, ridiculous. Still, there's logic to it: find some mass-market component that is used in a luxury service, and provide a high-end alternative. The kind of idio^H^H^H^Hcustomers who want luxury certainly don't want it contaminiated by something from Walmart, regardless of the actual quality. It's the same reason as for those gold-plated cables for audiophiles.
Gold plated cables actually serve a purpose, although the average consumer does not have a need for them. In a studio environment, where cables are frequently plugged and unplugged, the gold plating protects the contacting surfaces, extending their lives.
I don't think that's true. The connector's plating isn't going to make it more durable, that has a lot more to do with the materials and design of the connector. Gold plating's biggest benefit is that it won't corrode like other cheaper materials. Conductivity is good too, so you get both.
Re: The Rise of the $8 Ice Cube
#48As stupid as this sounds, there is actually a difference between these ice cubes and the standard variety. And that's the appearance.
Just look:
http://www.glaceice.net/uploads/3/9/6/9/3969825/3969289_orig...
Because there's no air bubbles, the ice is perfectly clear. That's not a trivial fact. Humans innately like clear stuff! Just think how unappealing cloudy water is in comparison to clear water. The only exceptions arise from cases where we've learnt from experience that cloudiness is good (e.g. cloudy looking cider has more flavour)
What this means, is that without considering price, almost any person would rather use one of these ice cubes over a normal ice cube. So the potential market is measured in billions of people. Even if (for example) only 0.01% of the population would ever consider spending $325 for 50 ice cubes, that 0.01% is guaranteed to want these ice cubes.
It seems stupid, but it's actually brilliant. The weakness with this sort of model is that it's very easy for competitors to dominate the market. Gläce has established the demand and made ice sexy, but they have no hold on their customers. Someone could come in and sell a perfect ice maker for $200 and crush the pre-made high end ice market completely.
Re: The Rise of the $8 Ice Cube
#49If you put ice in Macallan 18, you suck. Sorry for the light epithet, but it deserves worse. and as I read more: "Gläce states that the cubes are ideal for high-end cocktails -- those that employ splashes of $38,000-per-bottle liquors, and must not be diluted or contaminated by mere tap ice." ... ICE NUMBS YOUR TASTE BUDS. Fancy water or not. edit: Downvoted to -1? I'll double down. If you are going to drink a nice s…
Heaven forbid someone enjoy a product in the manner of their choosing.
To each their own. I'll still call them a Philistine as if they'd ordered Kobe filet well-done. There's a perfectly serviceable Macallan 12 if someone wants to ice it. I can have a polite discussion about spring water for cask strength bottles, but the 12 & 18 are both diluted to just over 80 proof already.
Look, you are just not going to fully appreciate a fine whisky that way. This is chemistry & biology, not only me being an ass.
edit: and as an olive branch, I probably wouldn't have been as strident if we were talking standard (ie, free) ice instead of some $8 monstrosity.
Re: The Rise of the $8 Ice Cube
#50Sometimes dilution & cooling liquor is appropriate. For those learning to refine their taste buds, a shot approaching 100 proof is too concentrated to appreciate - but adding a little water and chilling make it much easier to savor. I have to pipe up about this because a few months back I had the delightful experience of savoring 1911 apple vodka poured over rare fresh Georgia snow (something a tap water ice cube just doesn't replicate properly).
Yeah, an $8 ice cube is rather nuts, but if you are going to chill & thin an otherwise fine expensive liquor, taking effort to use good water and careful freezing (avoiding "freezer burn") is worthwhile. Or wait for a good snowfall.