Disco Cubes
Leslie Kirchhoff is the founder and creator behind Disco Cubes, an experimental creative studio that's half photo + video production and half luxury ice cube creation. In our latest edition of Cultivating Conversations we spoke to Leslie about her world of ice, creativity, and cocktails as she continues to innovate within this frosty medium.
WHAT WAS THE INSPIRATION BEHIND DISCO CUBES?
It started as an exploration of ice, and served as somewhat of an escape from my professional photography work.
“I imagined Disco Cubes hailing from this warm-toned dream world.”
And, I wanted to make an alternate reality that I could create within the boundaries of. I was ready for something that could be an outlet for all of my interests, and something that could grow and change along with me.
WHEN DID YOU REALIZE THAT ICE COULD BE MORE THAN A PASSION PROJECT AND COULD TURN INTO A TRUE PROFESSION?
I don't know really how or when it clicked, but at some point I realized that I wasn't seeing much ice cube innovation–I felt I’d found a gap in the market.
“the ice cube was this blank canvas that was begging to be turned into a work of art.”
I was super lucky to have been to some really incredible parties over the years, through DJing and working for Vogue, so I think that glimpse into the inner workings of the event scene made me pretty confident that if I created it, there would be a market for it.
HAVE YOU ALWAYS BEEN INTERESTED IN ICE?
Not specifically ice, but I have always been fascinated with objects suspended inside something else…I have one very old memory of a fish frozen in the clear ice of a lake back home in Wisconsin, and pressing my face down to the surface to admire how surreal it was.
“I never considered ice a medium until starting Disco Cubes.”
HOW DID YOUR WORK WITH ICE EVOLVE OVER TIME?
It all started out more scientific and less artistic, while I worked on nailing down my process and getting to know ice as a subject and a medium. I still am constantly learning and observing, but now feel much more in control of it, and aware of why things might happen the way they do. Ice can be very unpredictable, which can also be the fun and beautiful part of it, if you wrangle it in the right way.
YOU SHARED A FUN INSTAGRAM STORY SERIES ON ICE BUCKETS AND THEIR RELATIVE MERITS. CAN WE EXPECT TO SEE YOU DIVE MORE INTO THE ACCESSORIES OF ICE IN THE FUTURE?
Absolutely—I love all things ice-related, and hope to get back on the road and analyzing ice buckets again very soon!
HOW BIG A ROLE DOES SOCIAL MEDIA PLAY IN YOUR WORK?
Instagram plays such a huge part—I don't know what Disco Cubes would be without it. It's a joy to be able to share my fascinations with others, and find other people who it resonates with.
“it's a fun way to let people get a glimpse into the secret everyday life of Disco Cubes.”
HAS THE RISE OF ZERO PROOF COCKTAILS AND THE SOBER CURIOUS MOVEMENT INFLUENCED YOUR WORK?
Definitely. I only started designing cocktails a few years back, and even in those few years, the industry has drastically shifted.
“I personally love non-alcoholic or low-proof drinks.”
I think there's so much room for creativity when there's less of a need to balance out the intense taste of a liquor. I love Ghia as a beautiful base for any drink, and Seedlip for swapping into a cocktail recipe in place of liquor.
IS THERE AN ONLINE COMMUNITY AROUND THE WORLD OF ICE CREATIVITY?
A very small one, yes! Over the past few years I've started getting to know the other ice businesses—there really aren't that many of us.
“It's a tricky business, given all the difficult temperature-sensitive logistics involved.”
I love to see what others are up to and learn about their processes.
TELL US ABOUT DISCO INFERNO.
“Disco Inferno is a spicy cocktail enhancer, similar to a bitters. It's for anyone who wants to instantly add heat to their drink.”
It is made primarily of Bird's Eye Chilis and Scotch Bonnet peppers—it packs quite a punch! I partnered with Bittercube, a bitters company in my home state of Wisconsin, and we just launched it this past December.
WHAT WAS THE DRIVING FORCE BEHIND CREATING THIS PRODUCT?
With Disco Cubes being so exclusive and ephemeral, I wanted to create a physical product that was marketable to the masses, and also something that would look great sitting on your bar.
WERE YOU INVOLVED IN THE PACKAGING DESIGN AS WELL AS THE FLAVOR DESIGN?
“I designed all of the packaging and visuals myself—I love branding and graphic design.”
As for the flavor, I had created some early test batches and taken notes about what to include, but once I found my manufacturing partners, Brandon, our head of R&D, really took it to the next level and figured out the perfect balance and blend of flavors.
WHO DO YOU ADMIRE IN THE BEVERAGE OR ICE SPACE THAT IS DOING EXCITING WORK NOW?
On The Rock is a Hawaii-based ice company that makes beautiful ice, and really appreciates the nuances of nature and ingredients the same way I do… It's really fun to see their creations.
“I love keeping an eye on amazing cocktail bars like Katana Kitten in New York, Dr. Stravinsky in Barcelona, or Locale Firenze in Florence.”
WHAT’S NEXT FOR YOU?
We just moved the entire operation into a new studio, so we're fine-tuning the ice setup and getting to know the light here. I'm ready to start creating for fun again, and seeing what new things we can make in this space.
© All Photo Credit via Disco Cubes