Intro.
There’s ice buckets, and there’s high end ice buckets. Specific events require special treatment, and for those on the lookout for a unique gift, the right ice bucket may be the perfect solution.
You’re not just after any old ice bucket, you need a product that speaks volumes and turns heads. So I’ve listed a selection of the best high end ice buckets I’ve sourced for this year.
1) Classic Monogram Black Personalized Insulated Ice Bucket from HWB
When a unique experience is required when chilling your favorite tipple, a personalized, insulated ice bucket will do the trick. Ideal for cooling your beer or wine, it can also be used specifically as an ice storage container when adding ice to cocktails.
You can choose the monogram that you desire making it an ideal personalized gift. The ice bucket measures 7 ¾” x 7 ¾” and can hold up to 3 quarts.
Includes
- Double walled insulation to keep ice frozen longer
- Classic monogram of your choosing
- Ice bucket measures 7 ¾” x 7 ¾”, holds 3 quarts
- Ideal gift idea
We found this over at Home Wet Bar here.
2) Personalized Engraved Stainless Steel Wine Bucket
Some ice buckets are designed to hold ice. The Waterford Opulence Ice Bucket appears to have been designed to make the ice feel slightly inadequate.
Crafted from lead-free crystal, this gorgeous piece takes inspiration from traditional Irish basket weaving, with intricate cuts that create a striking woven effect. When the light hits it, the crystal practically puts on its own little bar show.
At 18.7cm high and 18cm wide, it’s substantial enough to make an impression without completely taking over the bar. The matching crystal tongs are a particularly nice touch, because apparently even your ice deserves five-star treatment, and helped make the list of the Best High End Ice Buckets.
Of course, this isn’t the ice bucket you buy because your current plastic tub has suddenly stopped functioning. It’s Waterford. The Australian price is currently around $849, so it’s fair to say you’re paying for considerably more than somewhere to chuck a few cubes.
But that’s really the point. The Opulence is as much bar decor as it is practical barware. Fill it with ice during a cocktail party and you’ve got a conversation piece. Leave it sitting empty and it still looks like it has somewhere important to be.
Verdict: Beautiful, luxurious and completely unapologetic. If your home bar has expensive tastes, this is the ice bucket that tells the rest of the room who’s in charge.
We found this over at Reserve Bar here.
3) Stunning Black Ice Bucket & Tongs
Some ice buckets keep your drinks cold. This one makes the ice feel like it has finally made it in life.
The Waterford Lismore Black Ice Bucket is definitely not the sort of barware you hide in the corner and hope nobody notices. With its striking black crystal finish and unmistakable Lismore cut pattern, this is a seriously elegant addition to a home bar. In fact, it may be the fanciest thing in your freezer’s immediate vicinity.
The classic Lismore design gives the bucket plenty of sparkle, while the dark finish adds a modern twist to Waterford’s traditional crystal styling. It also comes with matching tongs, because reaching into a luxury high end ice bucket with your bare hands is probably frowned upon somewhere in Ireland.
Beyond looking impressive, it’s a practical way to keep ice close at hand when you’re entertaining. Whether you’re serving whisky on the rocks, mixing cocktails or simply trying to keep everyone’s drinks chilled, having an ice bucket beside the bar saves repeated trips to the freezer.
Of course, you could buy a perfectly ordinary ice bucket for considerably less money. But where’s the fun in that? The Waterford Lismore Black is for the home bartender who believes even the ice deserves to arrive in style.
Fill it with ice, grab the tongs and let the drinks begin. Just don’t be surprised if your guests compliment the bucket before they compliment your cocktails.
We found this over at Reserve Bar here.
4) Ice Bucket with Lid Spoon & Drainage
Some ice buckets quietly sit on the bar waiting for a few cubes to be thrown their way. This 3L Stainless Steel high end Ice Bucket looks like it has been hired to take ice management very seriously.
With a 3-liter capacity, this is a useful size for a home bar, dinner party or backyard gathering without requiring its own postcode. The stainless-steel construction gives it a smart, polished appearance, while the mirror finish means it looks considerably more expensive than your average container of frozen water. In all honesty, this one is cheap. GARVEE also gives it three-layer vacuum insulation, designed to help keep the ice cold for longer.
The lid is a particularly welcome feature. It helps keep the cold in and unwanted party debris out—which is important when you’ve reached the stage of the evening where nobody can remember which glass belongs to whom. There’s also an included ice spoon for serving, plus drainage to make emptying the bucket considerably less messy.
At around 7.5 by 7.1 inches, it’s compact enough to sit neatly on a bar or table without becoming the centerpiece of the room. In other words, it knows its role: keep the ice cold, look good and stay out of the way.
Verdict: Stylish, practical and nicely compact. It’s proof that even something as humble as an ice bucket can turn up to the party wearing a tuxedo.
We found this over at Garvee here.
5) Monogramed Glass Ice Bucket
Somewhere between a humble bowl of ice and a ridiculously fancy hotel bar sits the Monogrammed Chill Glass Ice Bucket. And frankly, your home bar deserves the upgrade.
Made from clear glass, this compact ice bucket has a clean, sophisticated look that makes it considerably more presentable than the plastic container you’ve probably been using since 2007. It holds up to 33 ounces of ice and comes with a handy handle and metal tongs, so you can actually serve your guests without performing the traditional “grab the ice with your bare hands and pretend nobody noticed” routine.
The personalized monogram is the real party trick, adding a custom touch that makes this high end glass ice bucket particularly appealing as a gift for whiskey lovers, cocktail enthusiasts or anyone building a respectable home bar. It also has enough versatility to hold chilled garnishes, cherries or citrus when you’re feeling adventurous.
At just 4.8 x 3.54 x 5.24 inches, the Calvera won’t hog precious bar real estate either. It’s stylish, practical and just fancy enough to make your mates wonder when you became a proper adult.
Verdict: A great-looking personalized ice bucket that brings a touch of class to your home bar without taking itself too seriously.
We found this over at Home Wet Bar here.
6) Fire Pit & Ice Bucket
Some patio tables hold drinks. Some hold snacks. The GARVEE 56-Inch Propane Fire Pit Table apparently looked at both jobs and thought, “Why not add a roaring fire?”
With a hefty 50,000 BTU output, this is less backyard ornament and more outdoor social headquarters. The generous 56-inch tabletop gives everyone somewhere to park their drinks, while the removable lid lets you transform the fire pit into a conventional table when the flames are taking the night off.
The wind guard is a welcome addition, helping protect the flame when Mother Nature decides to join the party. Decorative fire glass adds a bit of sparkle, while the included waterproof cover helps protect the whole setup when the weather inevitably turns from “perfect evening” to “who invited the rain?”
At around 100 pounds, this isn’t something you’ll casually drag around the patio whenever you fancy a change of scenery. But that’s hardly surprising. This is a substantial piece of outdoor furniture, not a portable campfire with delusions of grandeur.
The real attraction is its versatility. Fire pit when you want warmth and atmosphere, table when you need somewhere for the cheese platter. That’s multitasking worthy of a place in any serious backyard entertaining setup.
Verdict: Big, warm and seriously good-looking. Just remember: it may be called a table, but nobody should be putting their margarita directly beside the flames.
We found this over at Garvee here.
7) Ice Chest Cooler Trolley
If your idea of an ice bucket is something you casually plonk on the bar, this Rolling Ice Chest Cooler Cart may be taking things a little too seriously. This stainless-steel beast is less “ice bucket” and more “mobile headquarters for keeping the party hydrated.”
With a generous 44.8-quart capacity, there’s enough room for a serious mountain of ice and plenty of bottles and cans. VEVOR says it can hold enough ice for roughly 178 eight-ounce drinks, which should keep even the thirstiest backyard gathering comfortably chilled. The three-layer insulation is designed to keep things cold for more than 24 hours, without requiring electricity.
The rolling design is where this cooler really earns its party credentials. Wheels make it considerably easier to relocate your precious cargo, while the sliding lid keeps the ice covered and the built-in shelf gives you somewhere to stash drinks or bar essentials. There’s also a drainage system for getting rid of all that inevitable melted ice.
At around 54 pounds before you add a single cube, this isn’t exactly something you’ll want to carry upstairs. But park it beside the patio bar and suddenly you’re the most popular person at the party. While certainly different to the others, it make our list of the best high end ice buckets.
Verdict: Big, sturdy, mobile and seriously cool. Just don’t let anyone mistake it for a shopping trolley.
We found it at Vevor here.
