How much ice do you need to make a good drink?
This is a question that comes up fairly frequently. Either from new bartenders or just someone wanting to make a good drink. My general rule of thumb is to use more ice than you think is necessary. At the bar, I'll pack a glass with so much ice that it crests over the top. Once you add the liquids, the ice level drops substantially.
Many people think this is just the bar being cheap, because ice is cheaper than mixers, but this isn't necessarily the reason. Most liquor related drinks have a higher alcohol percentage than beer or wine, so if they aren't cold, they'll have that "hot" alcohol taste. More ice ensures the drink is very cold and also helps to dilute out some of the alcohol, via melting.
A drink with a few cubes can taste rather flaccid. It will be slightly warm and taste like mixer, not a great drink. So my advice is pack the glass full. If you are making a strained drink, pack the shaker 3/4's full with ice.
