ENTERTAINING OUTDOOR entertaining

A Cool Trick to Make your Own Cucumber Water or to Serve a Summer Punch

inserting a square vase for ice cubes into a jar

I saw that trick yesterday at the Fairmont San Francisco. I had to share it with you. It looks great on the cucumber water and the lemon water as shown here. But it would be even better for sangria, punch and any other summery cocktails.

The idea is that instead of putting the ice cubes directly in the drink, which will water down your drink on a hot day, you insert a tall square vase into a jar to separate the ice cubes from your beverage. A tall square vase is easy to find at your local florist shops.

Depending on the beverage, it may be appropriate to place an ice bucket with tongs next to the jar to fill the glasses with ice cubes before serving.

If you wish to make your own flavored water, check out my recipes:

+ Cucumber and Rosemary Water + Citrus and Apple Water
+ Spa cucumber water

Take a tasty cucumber, the fresher the better. Cucumber with smaller seeds delivers a more refined look.

September 26th, 2009 Update: Since this post, I learned that the manufacturer of these square canisters is Cal-Mil. Click here for more details.

  • KimVallee
    June 25, 2009 at 12:37

    A Cool Trick to Make your Own Cucumber Water or to Serve a Summer Punch http://bit.ly/XvN4Y

    This comment was originally posted on Twitter

  • margotaustin
    June 25, 2009 at 12:54

    Love this cool trick keep your drinks chillin’! RT KimVallee http://bit.ly/XvN4Y

    This comment was originally posted on Twitter

  • kim parrish
    August 29, 2009 at 17:01

    Could you please let us know where to get these containers shown above.We are looking for some just like this. Thankyou!

  • Joseph Hernandez
    September 4, 2009 at 00:34

    I am also looking for the containers in the picture.

  • Square Glass Beverage Dispensers by Cal-Mil | At Home with Kim Vallee
    September 9, 2009 at 23:49

    […] received several requests about the stylish square glass containers with the cucumber water that I shown you last June. I asked my friend Isabelle who works at Fairmont Hotels to find out […]

  • Mary Ellen
    September 27, 2009 at 18:34

    Where can I buy a Water Canister like this one?

  • At Home with Kim Vallee
    September 27, 2009 at 20:02

    Mary Ellen: Cal-Mil is the manufacturer of this canister.
    See http://atk.im/57 for more details.