This post may include affiliate links; for details, see our disclosure policy.
Want to make dry ice drinks and co*cktails that magically smoke and bubble? Here’s everything you need to know.
Dry ice is famous for its magical way of making drinks bubble and boil, releasing wispy tendrils of smoke into the room. There’s nothing more fun than holding a smoking co*cktail! How to recreate this effect at home? It’s perfectly safe to make dry ice co*cktails as long as you follow the safety and handling information below. Keep reading for more and some of our top dry ice drinks, perfect for Halloween or any occasion where you’re looking to impress.
Can you put dry ice in a drink?
Dry ice is the solid form of carbon dioxide. As it melts it turns into a gas, which makes the smoking effect. Here’s the thing: dry ice is so cold it can cause burns or frostbite. Is it even safe to use in drinks?
- Can you drink dry ice? No, do not swallow dry ice or touch it with bare skin. Dry ice is extremely cold (-109.3° F or -78.5° C) and touching it can cause frostbite or burns.
- Can you put dry ice in a drink? Dry ice is safe for using in co*cktails, as long as you avoid swallowing and use gloves and tongs during handling. A 1-inch chunk will settle to the bottom of drinks and co*cktails and disappear in about 5 minutes. You can sip the top of the drink, or for maximum safety wait until the dry ice disappears completely from the glass.
- What about for kids? If you’re making a drink for kids like Halloween Punch, serve it in a punch bowl and ladle out servings without dry ice cubes.
Where to buy dry ice for drinks
You can buy dry ice at most major grocery stores, which you might not realize until you’re looking for it! It’s sold in blocks and stored in a special cooler. Look towards the front of the store near the regular ice cooler. Here’s astore finder to help find a store near you.
How to store dry ice
Once you’ve grabbed your dry ice, here are a few notes on how to store it:
- Buy the dry ice 1 to 2 hours before you plan to serve the drinks. Dry ice does not last in the freezer or refrigerator, so you’ll need to use it as quick as possible.
- Once you get it home, place the plastic bag of dry ice in a cooler with the top off. Ventilation is key for dry ice, due to the carbon dioxide gas that is constantly released as it “melts”. Do not store it in a tightly sealed container to minimize risk of explosion.
- Keep away from pets and children. Curious kids may try to touch the dry ice, so store it out of sight until you’re ready to use. Instruct children not to touch the dry ice without gloves.
How to prepare dry ice for using in co*cktails
To use dry ice in co*cktails, you’ll need to break small chunks off of the block. Do this immediately before serving your dry ice drinks. To do it safely, follow these instructions:
- Right before serving, drop the plastic bag on the ground a few times to make large chunks.This is an easy way to start to break it up without touching it.
- With goggles and gloves on, break it into small chunks with a screwdriver or ice pick.The ideal size for single co*cktails is 1/2-inch to 1-inch chunks: heavy enough to sink in the drink but small enough to disappear after a few minutes. The ideal size for a punch bowl is using 2 4-inch to 5-inch pieces.
- Wrap the chunks in a towel and place them in a cooler with the top off until serving.Do not store dry ice in the freezer.
And now…the top dry ice drinks and co*cktails!
Dry Ice Punch
Here’s a dry ice drink that’s over-the-top fun:Dry Ice Punch! This vibrant red cauldron magically bubbles and boils, releasing tendrils of smoke all over the room. If that’s not impressive, we’re not sure what is! On its own it’s a fruity punch for kids, but turn it into an alcoholic punch by adding aged rum. Use it for Halloween or anytime you want a fun smoking punch bowl.
Ingredients:Cranberry juice, apple juice or cider, ginger ale, aged rum (optional)
Witches Brew
Looking for an impressive neon dry ice co*cktail? Try the Witches Brew! Its neon green color might look menacing. But take a sip and it’s bright and sweet tart, with flavors of melon and citrus. Adding dry ice makes the brew bubble and boil, with a magic smoke that wisps into the air!
Ingredients:Midori melon liqueur, Cointreau, lemon juice
Love Potion (aka Vampire's Kiss)
Another great dry ice drink that works for any occasion: Love Potion aka Vampire’s Kiss! This bright red drink is simply a berry-flavored vodka martini: you can use it as a sinister Halloween co*cktail or a fun love-focused signature drink! Give it a sip and it’s sweet tart with a fruity berry finish. Dress it up with a red sugar rim and a chunk of dry ice: it bubbles and boils with a constant stream of smoke!
Ingredients:Vodka, Chambord black raspberry liqueur, cranberry juice, lemon juice, grenadine
How to make drinks smoke without dry ice
Can you make drinks smoke without dry ice? Yes, but it uses a completely different technology: a smoking gun. Here’s how smoked co*cktails are different from dry ice drinks:
- Smoked co*cktails are infused with a smoky flavor, while dry ice is flavorless.
- A smoking gun makes a small amount of smoke which immediately dissipates, whereas dry ice constantly bubbles and smokes for 5 minutes. It also requires smoking each co*cktail separately, whereas dry ice cubes can simply be placed in each glass at the same time.
- On the other hand, a smoking gun has none of the potential safety issues or special handling that dry ice requires.
- Ready to try a smoked co*cktail? Go to our Smoked Old Fashioned.
How to Make Dry Ice Drinks & co*cktails!
5 Stars4 Stars3 Stars2 Stars1 Star
5 from 2 reviews
- Author: Sonja Overhiser
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 5 minutes
- Yield: 1 drink
Description
Want to make dry ice drinks and co*cktails that magically smoke and bubble? Here’s everything you need to know.
Ingredients
- Witches Brew
- Love Potion, aka Vampire’s Kiss
- Halloween Punch
- Any favorite co*cktail recipe
- Dry ice
Instructions
- Make the drink: Go to the Witches Brew, Vampire’s Kiss, or Halloween Punch recipes, or simply make your favorite co*cktail (here are some great co*cktail ideas).
- Break the dry ice into chunks: Do this as close to the time you’ll be serving the drinks as possible, though you can buy the dry ice a few hours in advance. Start by dropping the plastic bag with the dry ice on the ground several times to allow it break into large chunks. Remember never to touch the dry ice with your bare hands! Put on goggles and gloves. Use a chisel to break the dry ice into smaller pieces using a screwdriver or ice pick. The ideal size for single drinks is 1/2-inch to 1-inch chunks that are large enough to sink to the bottom of the drink, but small enough to disappear in a few minutes. The ideal size for a punch bowl is two 4-inch to 5-inch chunks to drop into the punch bowl. Wrap the small chunks in a towel and place them in a cooler with the top off until you’re ready to serve the drinks. Do not place the dry ice in the freezer.
- Add the dry ice: Using tongs (do not touch the dry ice!), add a 1-inch chunk of dry ice to the glass or the larger chunks to the punch bowl, which will sink to the bottom and immediately make a smoking effect. The ice cube will disappear in about 5 minutes in a single drink, or 5 to 10 minutes in a punch bowl. Do not drink the dry ice! Wait until the cube disappears before enjoying your drink (or you can take sips with the dry ice in the bottom). Ladle out punch servings without dry ice chunks for kids. Review the dry ice safety and handling instructions in the article above for more!
- Category: Drink
- Method: Shaken
- Cuisine: co*cktails
- Diet: Vegan
Published on / Last updated on
Categorized In:
- Recipes
About the authors
Sonja & Alex
Hi, we’re Alex and Sonja Overhiser, married cookbook authors, food bloggers, and recipe developers. We founded A Couple Cooks to share fresh, seasonal recipes and the joy of cooking! Our recipes are made by two real people and work every time.
About Us
Cookbook
