Ice luge

File:IceBar.JPG in Rochester, Minnesota]]

An ice luge, martini luge, or shooter-block is a type of ice sculpture made from a large block of ice that has a narrow channel carved through where liquid is poured,{{cite book |title=Ice Sculpting the Modern Way|last=Garlough |first=Robert |author2=Finch, Randy C. |author3=Maxfield, Derek |year=2004 |publisher=Cengage Learning |isbn=1401804055 |page=129 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_45Ri3LMOpsC&dq=ice+luge&pg=PA129 |access-date=3 March 2013}} such as liquor products. Some are professionally produced from sculpturing or from molds, and some are homemade. Ice luges are sometimes offered in ice bars, and have also been used for serving oysters. Ice luges have also been described as a type of drinking game.{{cite book |title=Between the Sheets and Under the Table: The Ultimate Guide to Adult Games |last=Martirano |first=Ron |year=2007 |publisher=Sterling Publishing Company |isbn=978-1402746840 |pages=31–32 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=KFdTt0RqzmQC&dq=ice+luge%2C+party&pg=PA31 |access-date=3 March 2013}}{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5F-YNZRv-VMC&dq=ice+luge&pg=PA543 | title=Ice luge | publisher=The Routledge Dictionary of Modern American Slang and Unconventional English | year=2009 | isbn=9780415371827 | access-date=March 2, 2013}}

Etymology

The Routledge Dictionary of Modern American Slang and Unconventional English defines Ice luge as "a block of ice used in a drinking game in which a shot of vodka, tequila, or other alcoholic drink is poured down the ice into the drinker's mouth."

Composition and production

An ice luge can be carved from a block of ice or cast from a mold.{{cite book |title=87 Ways to Throw a Killer Party |last=Daly |first=Melissa |year=2011 |publisher=Houghton Mifflin Harcourt |isbn=978-0547687278 |pages=114–115 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8DodaPJRO4IC&dq=ice+luge%2C+drinking&pg=PA114 |access-date=3 March 2013}} Some designs incorporate the use of a tube that exists within an ice sculpture. Companies that create ice sculptures may purvey ice luges,{{cite web|title=Vodka & Ice Luges|url=http://www.glacialart.com/ice-galleries/vodka-ice-luges/|website=www.glacialart.com|publisher=Glacial Art|access-date=2016-03-23}} and some ice companies also create and sell custom designs.{{cite book |title=Talk with Your Mouth Full: The Hearty Boys Cookbook |last=Smith |first=Dan |year=2011 |publisher=Agate Publishing |isbn=978-1572846821 |page=[https://archive.org/details/isbn_9781572841239/page/41 41] |url=https://archive.org/details/isbn_9781572841239 |url-access=registration |quote=ice luge, martini. |access-date=3 March 2013}} Ice luges can also be homemade, and molds are available to consumers for doing so.

Uses

Typically liquor, such as vodka,{{cite book |title=40 Degrees East: An Anatomy of Vodka |last=Ermochkine |first=Nicholas |author2=Iglikowski, Peter |year=2004 |publisher=Nova Publishers |isbn=1590335945 |page=37 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=uWB2ZyTO7_sC&dq=ice+luge%2C+vodka&pg=PA37 |access-date=3 March 2013}} is poured into a channel at the top of the luge and dispensed at the bottom of the channel, either into the mouth of a participant or a glass. There is a possibility that vodka may be diluted with water when ice luges are used (along with other beverages). Martinis and champagne are also sometimes chilled and served using ice luges.{{cite book |title=The Pocket Idiot's Guide to Being the Father of the Bride, 2nd Edition |last=Lata Rung |first=Jennifer |year=2006 |publisher=Penguin |isbn=1592574726 |page=52 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ex8uSRwzhBkC&dq=ice+luge%2C+drinking&pg=PA52 |access-date=3 March 2013}}{{cite web | url=http://www.keepmecurrent.com/tri_town_weekly/news/flavors-of-freeport-offers-town-s-tastiest/article_0fc8e886-7546-11e2-924d-001a4bcf887a.html | title=Flavors of Freeport offers town's tastiest | publisher=Tri-Town Weekly (Freeport, Maine) | date=February 12, 2013 | access-date=March 2, 2013 | author=Stilphen, Matthew | archive-url=https://archive.today/20130411052151/http://www.keepmecurrent.com/tri_town_weekly/news/flavors-of-freeport-offers-town-s-tastiest/article_0fc8e886-7546-11e2-924d-001a4bcf887a.html | archive-date=April 11, 2013 | url-status=dead }}{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=rQ8AAAAAMBAJ&dq=ice+luge%2C+martini&pg=PA102 | title=The Best that Money can Buy | publisher=Atlanta Magazine | date=October 2006 | access-date=March 3, 2013 | page=102}} They're sometimes utilized in ice bars, which are drinking establishments made primarily of ice.{{cite web | url=http://www.pressherald.com/life/ice-bars-very-cool-and-hip_2013-02-15.html | title=Ice bars become cool way to enjoy Maine winters | publisher=Maine Sunday Telegram | date=February 15, 2013 | access-date=March 2, 2013 | author=Keyes, Bob}} Ice luges have also been used for the consumption of oysters.{{cite book |title=A Geography of Oysters: The Connoisseur's Guide to Oyster Eating in North America |last=Jacobsen |first=Jacobsen |year=2010 |publisher=Bloomsbury Publishing USA |isbn=978-1596918146 |page=(unlisted) |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=p2LN5tYfVTwC&dq=ice+sculpture,+luge&pg=PT149 |access-date=3 March 2013}}

Gallery

File:Ice luge iss 2003 1468.jpg|Party goers drinking from ice luges (2003)

File:Ice luge iss 2002 1133.jpg|Jägermeister being poured down ice luges (2002)

File:Ice luge iss 2006 3444.jpg|Absolut Vodka being served through ice luges (2006)

File:Vodka ice luge.jpg|alt=Ice Luge sculpture created by Techne Ice|Ice luge sculpture by Techne Ice. [Source](https://techneice.com/party-ice-luges/)

Ice luge

Etymology

Composition and production

Uses

Gallery

See also

References

Further reading