TINANA Clear Ice Ball Maker, 2.5” Crystal Clear Ice Cube Tray Make 2 Large Sphere Ice Balls for Whiskey Cocktails & Bourbon, Gifts for Men

I researched multiple different ice ball makers on Amazon and decided on this one as the best model for the price. I have used it several times and it really works well. I just used regular room temperature tap water and was very pleased with the results. I did have to adjust the time required in the freezer. I tried 37 hours the first time and that was too short to get the balls completely frozen on the bottom. Turns out my freezer requires about 41 hours. The extra time is probably based on the settings I am using in my freezer. On the plus side, the slower freeze probably allows the ice balls to be more clear. Also takes a little practice to get the rubber mold out of the plastic sleeve but just work it back and forth from both sides and it will come out. Initially, I wasn't sure if I was better off getting the model that makes 2 or 4 ice balls. Based on how long it takes in my freezer, I am very happy with the unit that makes 4 ice balls. Overall, very nice product to use for yourself or give as a gift to someone who drinks whiskey/bourbon.

Very easy to use! Made perfect skulls the first time I used it. Left them in about 28 hours before I could get to them. Easy to remove, crystal clear skull ice cubes. Can’t wait to use one in my blood orange old fashioned.

The media could not be loaded. First, if you want really nice ice fast, this is not the tool you are looking for - and I highly doubt you will find a tool that does it fast. You will want to consider setting a reminder for this as I've found exactly 24-hours will yield beautiful ice, in my case, a rose sphere as it seemed the most fitting shape for the city I reside in.This is very easy to set up and despite the mixed reviews I've seen, I've had no issues removing the mold once the ice is ready. Pull up on one size to get it started, then lift both sides up slowly. It is easier if you let it sit for a few minutes after removal from the freezer. I've had no issues with storing a completed rose in an ice box for a few hours and it yielding an equally beautiful result as when it was fresh out of the mold. These melt very slowly, over time becoming a perfectly clear sphere.Overall, if you're considering making this an addition to a home bar, don't spend four months deciding like me and just go for it - so long as you are willing to take the care needed for best results. This makes beautiful ice, and I'm now strongly considering ordering another.

Works pretty well, need the timing just right. Can't leave the cubes in more than 26 hours or they start to get cloudy again. Inserts a difficult to remove. The end resulting ice cubes are fantastic though!

First off, I love this product - it is designed by folks that understand the physics of making clear ice. Yep, the silicon mold can be a bit difficult to remove, but only if you try to remove it immediately after pulling from the freezer. For those of us that still make clear ice in blocks with an insulated cooler understand that you really need to temper the ice before using it (or cutting it in the case of the cooler method). Tempering brings the outside of the ice closer to ambient temperature and prevents the ice from cracking when liquid is poured over it. For those that complain that their ice balls are cracking . . . ya have to temper it a bit . . . for those complaining about how hard the silicon mold is to remove . . . leave it outside of the freezer for a bit, let the ice "warm up" a bit and the mold will come out easier. Some of the reviews criticize that the instructions calls for a limited window to freeze and not to exceed that . . . again, some basic physics about ice . . . you do NOT want to have a solid block of ice under the mold, you want it to still have some water. If it freezes solid, the process puts tension on the ice and it is more prone to cracking even if you temper it. Lastly, this produce is well designed for its intended use. If you were expecting to just pour water into it and then have these clear ice balls come bouncing out of your freezer, you might reconsider your pursuit of being a home mixologist . . . the product is a tool and like any tool you need to understand how to use it for the best result instead of blaming the tool maker.

True to its advertisement, it does make perfect clear ice balls! Not a fan of the product design, a bit clunky and difficult to maneuver. It’s not easy to remove the silicon pieces from the mold. Also, not sure if I’m doing it wrong, but it uses a lot of water to make the ice balls, and I had to wait till the water melted so I could refill it, which makes the process a bit tedious.

Purchased based on reviews - was deciding between this one and another that's highly reviewed (the other is almost twice the price) and went with this one hoping it would do the job. 100% does. I have a cube ice set (another manufacturer) and it's pretty difficult to extract the cubes once frozen all the way through so I was sensitive to how easy it is to remove the forms once frozen. The forms are pretty snug in the freezing case, but the handles on top are really helpful to remove the frozen spheres. Some reviews mention the difficulty in removing them, but maybe because I've used others which are far more difficult to free the cube tray (usually involves running hot water around it to get it to melt enough to pop out and has a "lip" not actual handles you can wrap your fingers around) I'm sold on this one. Spheres are crystal clear - because that's how these things work and very smooth, except right where the molds come together - but for the price - this thing is a great buy.