Recently, I’ve seen a couple of new product websites that advertise new molded ice luges. The sites, lugez.com and icebooze.com, feature a couple of different approaches to small, inexpensive ice luges. Lugez has a variety of of available and upcoming molds (priced at about $25; a couple of which are rather risque) that are designed for one-time use. The Ice Booze product ($50--70), on the other hand, comes in one rather functional version, is more robust, and can be used over and over again, which accounts for its higher price. (Here’s a “review” of the Ice Booze mold)

    Both molding systems involve freezing water around plastic(?) tubes which are removed after the freezing process is finished, leaving tunnels in the ice that drinks are then poured through. Both companies also offer LED lighting systems to help make the luges a more visible attraction at the party. However, because they’re molded without water circulation, both systems produce cloudy ice. Carved luges, in contrast, are usually made from clear ice (see the photo above.)

    I haven’t tried either system, but if they work as advertised, these DIY luges might make for interesting alternatives to the standard ice block with cut channels (shot block) that now functions as an excuse to drink more than you ought to at laid back summertime parties.