Extremely Detailed 3D-Printed Ice Cube Sculptures

Novelty-shaped ice cubes are nothing new, but it's safe to say that you've never seen them as impressive as this before. 3D on the Rocks is the latest ad campaign for Japanese liquor company Suntory, a brand who specializes in whiskey. They collaborated with advertising agency TBWAHakuhodo to create the world's first 3D-milled ice cubes. The tiny, intricate sculptures are cool, this time both literally and figuratively.

Each creation is the result of a time-consuming modeling process completed by a precision drill that carves the minute details into ice. Their beauty is fleeting, unfortunately, because after all of the careful work they were placed in a glass for immediate enjoyment.

Some of the campaign's designs included a great white shark, an astronaut, the Statue of Liberty, and Michaelango's David. Ideas were submitted by the public, and a few lucky participants had their work produced. The winners were invited to a secret bar in Tokyo where they partook of Suntory whiskey with some very special “rocks.”





3D on the Rocks website and TBWAHakuhodo website
via [Lost in E Minor and Spoon & Tamago]

Sara Barnes

Sara Barnes is a Staff Editor at My Modern Met and Manager of My Modern Met Store. She is a graduate of the Maryland Institute College of Art where she earned her BFA in Illustration and MFA in Illustration Practice. Sara is also an embroidery illustrator and writer living in Seattle, Washington. She runs Bear&Bean, a studio where she stitches pet portraits and other beloved creatures. She chronicles the creativity of others through her website Brown Paper Bag and newsletter, Orts. Her latest book is Threads of Treasure: How to Make, Mend, and Find Meaning Through Thread, published in 2014. Sara’s work has been recognized in Be Creative With Workbox, Embroidery Magazine, American Illustration, on Iron and Wine’s album Beast Epic, among others. When she’s not stitching or writing, Sara enjoys planning things that bring together the craft community. She is the co-founder of Camp Craftaway, a day camp for crafty adults with hands-on workshops in the Seattle area.
Become a
My Modern Met Member
As a member, you'll join us in our effort to support the arts.
Become a Member
Explore member benefits