Vt. stone cutter markets reusable ‘ice cubes’

Published 7:22 pm Saturday, April 21, 2012

The Vermont Marble, Slate, and Soapstone Company in Castleton, Vt., is turning its scrap into what it describes as “recycled ice cubes.”

President Paul Thompson says leftover soapstone is cut into three-quarter inch cubes marketed as a reusable alternative to ice. He said that the ice cubes placed in a freezer won’t absorb flavors, are dishwasher safe and won’t water down a drink.

Last year, the company sold 500,000 of them, but not everyone is convinced it’s the way to go.

Cocktail specialist Nathaniel White-Joyal at Burlington’s Bluebird Tavern says regular ice cubes made from water are still the way to go.