Who is Igor Rozenbylum? An accountant living in New York with a passion for spirits and ice. He's not from the cocktail industry, but his love for whiskey is evident in his hobby. With a Master’s degree in accounting and a jack of all trades mentality, Igor’s craftsmanship extends beyond just drinks. He used to make his own clothing for about a decade, starting in his college years and he hopes to revive this hobby soon, especially for his daughter! Just another facet of his multifaceted interests.

Can you tell us a little about your background and how you got started with blogging and mixology?

During the pandemic, with more time on my hands, I started to read and watch all things whiskey and spirits related, to get a better knowledge and understanding of what I already loved. I ended up opening an Instagram page for Whiskey, This moment was inspired by the photography page I already had. Photography began before my interests in spirits; My wife gifted me a camera a decade ago and the two hobbies ended up blending very well, as capturing ice in photos is challenging but something I love!!

What inspired you to focus on clear ice in your cocktail creations and where do you draw inspiration for your content?

Whiskey was the Catalyst. Everyone should drink how they like, but I believe quality is key for Whiskey. On a trip to Japan with my wife, we saw the meticulousness of bartenders and their ice-making skills. One memorable experience was at a bar in Kyoto at 5:00 p.m when they just opened up. The sound of the bartenders slicing and sawing away into a huge block of ice to make cubes was a real Kickstarter for me. Camper English's Ice Book was also a significant source of inspiration, As a photographer myself it was definitely eye candy since I know how hard it is to take such beautiful pictures of ice. The experience in Japan deeply inspired me, I've always been fascinated by clear ice and have used various molds before. Whiskey Wednesdays was another of the part of my journey, a fellow crafter, who I give a lot of credit to.I think watching his videos making diamond shapes planted the seed way before I had any interest in cocktails.I started to judge bars based on ice too. A good cocktail bar will avoid serving you a cocktail cloud ice.

Why Klaris? How did it change your process and how do people typically react to your ice creations?

I discovered it through Truffle on the rocks, one of your first collaborations I believe. After binge-watched his youtube channel, I decided to try it. Klaris is a worthwhile investment for those passionate about the craft. I even bought one as a birthday gift for a friend recently, even if someone casually enjoys it it wouldn't consider it a hobby - they'll grow to love it because of the quality of ice and the machine.
As a photography enthusiast, my goal is to capture what I have in mind and simply put it out there. While some people may critique things online, I try to take everything with a grain of salt. Everyone has different tastes, and I've grown to respect that. Online, people often react with fascination to the beauty and quick creations of the ice, especially when I use the ice stamps. While the comments and reactions are gratifying, they don't change how I think or react. And those who actually see the creation or a stamp in person are definitely as excited watching it as I am.

Do you plan out your cocktail recipes in advance, or do you prefer to experiment as you go?

I have some ideas I want to bring to life, like deconstructing a cocktail, if I haven't done that before or somebody hasn't thought of it yet. Some ideas just hit me and I need to try them right away. Mostly, I make a cocktail, snap a picture and use a specific background and prop if I want to go the extra mile. It's a process that takes 20 to 30 minutes but it's worth it!!

Can you share a story about what you've learned through your experience and how it's impacted you in general?

I've learned to appreciate the ephemeral essence and beauty of ice. Ice melts fast, but it's impact on a cocktail is significant. People often overlook the importance of ice until they understand the difference between cloudy and clear ice. Once enlightened, clear ice becomes an invisible yet a central part of the experience. The process is quick; you need to capture the picture fast before everything falls apart, but not necessarily in a bad way. Whether using an ice stamp or not, creating clear ice with anything feels like magic.

We were grateful to sit down with Igor, another amazing crafter of ours whose journey to becoming a master of clear ice art was an inspiring one to say the least. His dedication to quality, inspired by his experiences in Japan and influence of fellow crafters, has transformed his hobby into an art form. His passion for spirits and ice shows up repeatedly through his inspiring captures and we are grateful to experience it. Make sure to keep up with the rest of the profiles in this series and don't forget to sign up for our newsletter below to stay tuned with the latest updates on all things Klaris!!