Ice Pick
An ice pick is a steel spike, 7 to 10cm long in the ones we use and 15cm on Urban Bar’s own heavy pick, set in a wooden or plastic handle, used to split a block of ice into cubes, spears and chunks. With it you can cut your own large cubes for a Rusty Nail or a Black Russian, each built over one big cube in a short glass.
About the Ice Pick
A Pick Splits Ice Along a Line You Choose
A block of ice breaks where it is weakest. Strike it hard and it finds its own flaws, and you get uneven pieces and a scatter of chips.
A scored groove gives the break a path to follow. Light taps along the groove send a crack through the block, usually in one clean split.
Temper the Block Before You Cut
Ice straight from a freezer at about minus 18°C is brittle and under strain from freezing. Leave it on the side for a few minutes until the white frost on the surface turns glassy.
Tempered ice takes a clean break, and a cube cut from it is less prone to cracking in the glass when the spirit goes in.
Score, Tap, Then Trim
Rest the block on a folded towel on a board. Draw the point along your line until there is a shallow groove, then tap along it from one end to the other. Cut slabs first, then cubes, sized to sit in a rocks glass under a French Connection or a Rusty Nail with room to stir it for 15 to 20 seconds.
An ice pick against other ways to break ice
Single-point ice pick
- Best for
- Splitting blocks into cubes and spears
- Control
- High
- Notes
- Needs a towel and a steady hand
Pronged ice pick
- Best for
- Breaking a block into rough chunks
- Control
- Low
- Notes
- Fast; cannot follow a line
Serrated knife and mallet
- Best for
- Slabs and cubes from a small block
- Control
- Medium
- Notes
- Slower; the same care needed
Lewis bag and mallet
- Best for
- Crushed ice
- Control
- Not for shaping
- Notes
- Canvas soaks up meltwater
| Tool | Best for | Control | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single-point ice pick | Splitting blocks into cubes and spears | High | Needs a towel and a steady hand |
| Pronged ice pick | Breaking a block into rough chunks | Low | Fast; cannot follow a line |
| Serrated knife and mallet | Slabs and cubes from a small block | Medium | Slower; the same care needed |
| Lewis bag and mallet | Crushed ice | Not for shaping | Canvas soaks up meltwater |
Keep Your Hands Out of the Way
Most cuts from an ice pick come from the point skidding off wet ice. Keep the hand that holds the block behind the line of the point, work slowly, and wear a cut-resistant glove if you have one.
When you have finished, dry the spike, cover the point, and store it where nobody reaches into a drawer and finds it. Move the cut cubes with ice tongs rather than fingers, so they stay clear.
Using the Ice Pick
Usage
Cutting a clear slab from a directional mould, or a tub of water frozen overnight, into large cubes for rocks drinks. The French Connection, the Black Russian and the Rusty Nail are each built over one large cube. Rest the block on a folded towel, score a line, then tap along it.
Pro Tip
Look at the block before you touch it. Clear ice splits cleanly along a scored line, but a cloudy patch or an old crack will take the break instead, so plan each cut to run through clear ice.
Professional Tips
- Let the block stand for a few minutes until its surface turns glassy.
- Score a shallow groove first, then tap along it with light strokes.
- Keep the hand that holds the ice behind the line of the point.
- Cover the point with a cork or sheath before it goes in a drawer.
Alternatives
Budget Alternative
A serrated bread knife: saw a shallow groove, set the blade in it and tap the spine with a wooden mallet. Slower than a pick, and it needs the same care.
Premium Option
A forged single-point pick with a weighted handle. The weight does more of the work, so each tap needs less force; the technique is the same.
Specifications
Material
Steel spike with a wooden, plastic or rubber handle
Capacity
Not applicable; the spike is 7 to 10cm long in the ones we use and 15cm on Urban Bar’s own heavy pick
Details
Single point for scoring and shaping; pronged versions break ice into rough chunks; a cork or sheath covers the point
More to explore
Common Questions
What is an ice pick used for in a bar?
How do I split ice without shattering it?
Is a single point or a three-prong pick better?
Is an ice pick dangerous?
What size should I cut cubes for a rocks glass?
Can I use an ice pick on ice from a tray?
How do you make a block of ice to cut?
Sources.
Correct as of 18 October 2026.
- Urban Bar, “Heavy Single Spike Ice Pick 24cm” (single steel spike 15cm long).
Made with the Ice Pick
Used In These Cocktails
Related Equipment
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Guide by Jerry Can Spirits · Updated 18 October 2026