The art of sculpture - 3D ice sculpture - Ultimate Ice Sculpting

The art of sculpture - 3D ice sculpture - Ultimate Ice SculptingShow more

Japanese brewing and distilling company Suntory recently created some very intricate ice cubes, although they really shouldn't be called cubes. Instead, the frozen pieces are basically sculptures, produced by a 3D milling machine.

It appears as though dropping a square shaped, tiny block of ice into your whiskey is getting to be pretty old school. Japanese brewing and distilling company Suntory recently created some very intricate ice cubes, although they really shouldn't be called cubes.

Instead, the frozen pieces are basically sculptures, produced by a 3D milling machine. The undoubtedly awesome ice creations were produced as part of the company's 3D on the Rocks ad campaign.

Suntory fans were asked to submit their suggestions for potential miniature ice sculptures. A few noteworthy ideas that made it into production are an astronaut, and several iconic landmarks including the Statue of Liberty and Kyoto's Kinkakuji, a famed temple also referred to as the Golden Pavilion.

The method behind the whiskey sculptures is rather elaborate. All the masterpieces start as typical blocks of ice. Going by 3D modeling data that is entered into a computer system, the milling machine drills into the cube layer by layer and makes intricate cuts into the frozen piece until the desired end result is reached.

Depending on how you look at it, watching the delicate ice sculptures lose their form and melt away in your drink could be the best or worst part of the process.