Before the spirits, before the garnish, before the first pour, there is ice.
It is the most understated element in mixology, yet the one that quietly determines everything. Ice dictates temperature, texture, dilution and rhythm, preserving aromas while revealing new layers of flavour. It is both science and sculpture, an exercise in precision that transforms a cocktail into an experience. In this respect, mixology shares its purest essence with The I.C.E. St. Moritz, where ice is never simply a surface but the stage on which beauty, performance and elegance converge.
For the second consecutive year, The I.C.E. leaves the frozen lake of St. Moritz to make a striking appearance at Como Lake Cocktail Week, bringing an unmistakable alpine spirit to the Grand Opening at Villa d’Este. Following the first Ice Delivery of 2025, the journey continues south, carrying with it the values that define the event: craftsmanship, timeless style and the pleasure of the unexpected.
There is a natural affinity between the world of fine cocktails and that of The I.C.E. Both celebrate mastery through detail. Both elevate technical excellence into an emotional experience. And both understand that true luxury is rarely loud; it resides in the invisible precision behind every flawless performance.
Like the drivers who dance across the frozen lake in extraordinary collector cars, the finest bartenders perform with quiet confidence. Their movements appear effortless, yet every gesture is measured, every ingredient considered, every block of crystal-clear ice chosen with intention. What reaches the guest is not simply a drink, but the culmination of countless details brought into perfect balance.
Ice, after all, is never passive. It shapes the architecture of a cocktail as surely as snow and frost shape the landscape of an Alpine winter. Its clarity reflects quality; its density determines dilution; its purity allows every ingredient to speak with remarkable precision. In both worlds, excellence begins long before the audience arrives. It is crafted patiently, refined meticulously, and revealed only when the moment is exactly right.
That philosophy now finds a new setting on the shores of Lake Como, where mountain elegance meets Mediterranean light. Here, the traditional rituals of the aperitivo are reimagined through the unmistakable lens of The I.C.E., creating an experience that feels both unexpected and entirely natural. The spectacle unfolds not on snow, but on water, with an exclusive après-waterski moment enjoyed car-side against one of Italy’s most iconic landscapes.
It is a meeting of seemingly opposite worlds, winter and summer, alpine cool and lakeside warmth, performance and leisure, united by a shared appreciation for craftsmanship, beauty and impeccable taste.
As floating automotive masterpieces glide across the lake and cocktails are prepared with the same devotion reserved for works of art, guests are invited to embrace a different kind of luxury: one that is immersive rather than ostentatious, playful yet exquisitely refined.
Spot a floating beauty on Lake Como, step into the atmosphere of The I.C.E. Club, and discover a moment where ice is no longer just an ingredient or an element of the landscape. It becomes the protagonist of an experience, one that lingers long after the last sip and the final wake has disappeared into the water.
