Cocktail hour has changed forever! But in my house, it’s more basic than that– now we have a daily cocktail hour! I am obsessed with these infused cocktail ice cubes, to the point that I pack them when I travel so I can share them with my friends. What makes them even better is that my sister’s boyfriend invented them, so I’ve had a behind-the-scenes look at their creation and development over the years. They are finally here, and the best part is, they’re f-ing delicious.

These cubes are a genius idea. They contain everything you need for a perfectly-balanced cocktail, except for the liquor. Add your own, shake or stir, and you end up with a really fancy drink that doesn’t require any other ingredients or effort to make. And the flavors are really sophisticated. The Cooper (named after my doggy nephew) has blood orange and ginger. Mixed with bourbon, you get a unique take on an Old Fashioned. The Cecile is probably my favorite, and it goes with tequila. I’ll tell you more about it below. The Clyde makes a very herbal, crystal clear vodka drink that has hints of peach and sage. I keep the boxes in my freezer so individual cubes are always ready for their higher calling.

Oh Cecile, I love you. She tastes like watermelon, with hints of cucumber, honey, and thyme. I think the mixture goes best with reposado tequila, the aged golden kind. All together, this cocktail has the perfect amount of mild sweetness that makes for a very smooth, crave-worthy drink. I usually make a small, 1-shot cocktail, but let’s go big here.

Get your cocktail shaker, and pour in 2 shots of tequila. Take 2 infused cubes out of the freezer, and drop them in. Shake until the cubes melt and the shaker gets frosty (the cubes melt REALLY fast- all part of the genius), and pour your cocktail into a glass. That’s it. You’re done. Drink and repeat!

Keep an eye out for Herb & Lou’s near you (or online)!