If you’ve been following me for a while, you might know I’m a big fan of tiki cocktails and tropical libations. These aren’t your standard mixed drinks or “girly” drinks! The imbibing part of the tiki lifestyle is appreciating complex drinks made with high-quality ingredients. 

Tiki drink recipes have been concocted and perfected since the 1930s by bartenders who mixed the right combination of ingredients in proper vessels with island-inspired garnishes and accessories, vital for an eye-catching presentation. Every component of a well-crafted tiki drink is thoughtful and brings balance into harmony, resulting in an exciting taste and sensory experience. The lifestyle is all about escapism, after all. 

And, finally, the proper ice is a must. Regular ice simply won’t do!

Nugget ice, also known as pebble ice, pellet ice, or “the good ice,” is often the preferred ice for tiki cocktails. While some folks have come up with creative ways to crush ice, if you can get nugget ice, use it!

I had dreamed of getting a nugget ice maker for years. They are pricy and can be cost-prohibitive, but when you want to do something authentically, especially if you’re a connoisseur, you sometimes need to bite the bullet. This investment could save money in the long run, especially if one regularly makes tiki-inspired cocktails. Ahem.

Gratefully, I received the Gevi Nugget Ice Maker to sample and test. As an amateur home mixologist, it truly was a dream come true. I knew that it would make my tiki drinks even better!

When you order this nugget ice maker, it comes in a large box, well-packed with instructions. It’s hefty. The machine itself weighs nearly 40 pounds, after all. 

Let me get the obvious thing out of the way; this is not a small electric. This nugget ice maker is a small appliance of a larger size. You need to ensure that you have ample counter space to accommodate it. Ideally, not up against a wall, as you will need some space behind it for the hose.

Yes, there is a hose because eventually, you will need to drain any unused water. You can’t simply flip the machine over and pour out the water.

When you first get the nugget ice maker, you need to run it through two cleaning cycles, which is very easy. Plug it in. Fill inside with water (probably best to use filtered or distilled water, but not necessary) to the “fill line” and press the clean button. Once that is complete, the machine is ready to use right away. 

Fill inside with water to the “fill line,” put the ice bin/bucket inside, and hit the “on” button. It will then begin to make the ice. It takes about 20 minutes to start making the first nugget ice. But once it gets going, it starts to fill the ice bucket. It might take some time to fill the ice bucket your first time completely. Don’t be alarmed; it will work. Be patient.

The lovely thing is, it won’t ever overflow. When the bucket fills to a certain point (there is a sensor), it will stop making ice. 

We found ourselves taking a gallon Ziploc bag, filling it with ice, and putting it in the freezer. One cycle makes approximately two gallon Ziploc bags of nugget ice. This is wonderful because if I don’t use all the ice, I have it for future uses without using the nugget ice maker again for a little while.

I am so pleased with this nugget ice-making machine. Since we received it, we have easily made many batches of nugget ice, and my Mai Tai’s and other tiki drinks are better than ever! I’m so happy to have it and hope it fulfills my nugget ice needs for many years to come.

If you’re looking for a nugget ice maker, consider the Gevi Nugget Ice Maker!

The product was gifted for evaluation, opinions are my own as always.