Kuramoto Cube Ice Melbourne, Victoria

It's a slower product with a longer journey. A 48-hour freeze cycle beats a same-day one on density and clarity, and then the ice still has to travel from Kanazawa to Melbourne before it reaches your freezer. Against a machine, you're trading a low running cost for a cube you don't have to think about. The clarity is the same in the first case, and the fiftieth, and nobody on your team is spending the afternoon chipping ice by hand.

The difference mostly comes down to your glassware and your pour. Cube S (50 x 50 x 50mm) fits a standard rocks glass without crowding it. Cube M (50 x 50 x 65mm) holds its shape longer in a larger glass or with a heavier pour, which matters more for a slow whisky than a quick highball. If you're not sure, tell us what you're serving, and we'll tell you which one suits the drink.

The company isn't new. It's a family business that's been making ice in Kanazawa since 1923. What's new is Australian distribution, which only started in October 2023, so Melbourne bars have had it for under three years rather than decades. Trend or not, the bars that took it on early are still ordering it, and that's a better signal than anything we could tell you about it.

Yes. A monogram or short design can be carved into the vase alongside the bottle, which works well for weddings or a branded corporate table setting. Send through what you have in mind when you get in touch.

Yes. Both Cube M and Cube S take a logo, monogram or initials pressed into one face, and it doesn't change how the cube behaves in the glass. The stamp and the ice are two separate orders, so mention both when you enquire, and we'll line up the delivery for the same event.