India, May 17 -- When enjoying a finely made cocktail or sipping on premium whiskey, the little details make all the difference: the aroma of the ingredients added, the feel of the glass in one's hand.

One of the most-overlooked components? The ice.

I mean, it's just water, frozen: you might be thinking. What more is there to say? Well, regular ice is just water placed in a freezer and allowed to set. Which is why it is often clouded with air bubbles and trapped minerals. Clear ice is like a polished gemstone in one's glass, and it adds no tinge of mineral flavour to a drink.

I am not suggesting this is in any way an issue. It just interested me to see the differences - and I recently managed to make clear ice at home. So here's a bit ...