Freezing and Using Whiskey Stones
Place your stones on a dish in the freezer for at least 4 hours. If they came in a velvet bag, feel free to leave them in there. Otherwise, place your stones on a small dish in the freezer and leave them be for at least 4 hours (or longer). If the stones aren’t frozen enough, they won’t have enough chilling power to cool down your drink. Whiskey stones can be made out of many different materials, including steel, soapstone, and obsidian. If you find that you’re picking up a freezer burn taste when you use your stones, try sealing them in a plastic bag before putting them in the freezer.
Place 3 or 4 stones in the bottom of each glass. If you have square-shaped stones, you can fit 3 or 4 in your cup. If you have large spheres, you’ll only need 1 per glass. Put the stones into your cup before you pour your alcohol. Whiskey stones won’t affect the flavor of your drink, so you can use them in anything you’d like.
Pour your drink and wait 1 to 2 minutes for the liquid to chill. Whiskey stones take a few minutes to transfer their coldness to your drink. Before sipping, take a few minutes to admire the look and feel of your drink so your whiskey stones have a chance to work their magic. Whiskey stones cool down your drink without diluting it with water, which is their main benefit. However, the coldness doesn't last quite as long as ice does—after about 25 minutes, your drink will probably be back to room temperature.
Cleaning and Storing Whiskey Stones
Wash the whiskey stones by hand with dish soap and warm water. After each use, take your whiskey stones over to the sink and rinse them off. Use warm water and a few drops of dish soap to scrub them down and remove the alcohol taste. Whiskey stones made of actual rock can absorb a slight alcohol flavor over time, so it’s important to wash them off after you use them. If you have stainless steel or granite whiskey stones, you can run them through the dishwasher instead.
Rinse the stones thoroughly. Use warm water to rinse the stones off all over until your water runs clear. If you leave soap on your stones, you could be drinking dish soap the next time you pop them in your drink. Try to rinse your stones for at least 1 minute to make sure they’re good to go.
Put the stones on a clean towel and let them air-dry completely. Spread out a dish towel on your counter and set your stones out to air dry. Leave them there for at least 1 day to make sure they’re actually dry, since some stones can absorb moisture.
Shine soapstone whiskey stones with mineral oil if they get dull. Put a few drops of mineral oil on a cloth and then wipe the stones down with it. Rub off the excess mineral oil with a towel, then wash your stones with soap and water before using them again. You don’t need to use mineral oil every time you wash your whiskey stones, just whenever you notice they’re looking dull.
Store the stones in their case or keep them in the freezer. If your stones came in a velvet bag or a wooden case, you can set them back in it until you’d like to use them again. If you know you want to use your stones again in the future, go ahead and pop them back in the freezer so they stay cold.
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