In April, skilled ice designers and ice sculptors from ICEHOTEL will be transforming Stockholm’s coolest waterhole into an underwater world. The ice is taken from the frozen River Torne, where it is harvested every year in March.
“People have always been fascinated by water in all its many forms and the inspiration behind the new theme is the River Torne, which provides the building material for our ABSOLUT ICEBAR. We want to create a theme that plays on the idea of the possibilities in a mystical underwater world. All the details are inspired by the new theme, from the specially made bartender jackets to the music and drinks menus, providing guests with an entirely integrated and unique experience,” says Astrid Lundquist, Head of Communication for ABSOLUT ICEBAR.
Visitors will be forgiven for believing that they are on the ocean floor in the new ice design Aquatic, in which various effects create the feeling of an underwater station. Light installations create the illusion of light reflected under the surface. Inside the ice you can sometimes catch a glimpse of a large monkfish with its half-moon shaped mouth and sharp, luminous teeth. The playful ice sculptures are combined with real images of fish, jellyfish and other underwater creatures, which are projected onto the ice walls. Bar guests can also keep a look out for underwater dangers with the help of a large periscope, while they navigate their way through the drinks menu. The bar tenders are dressed in specially made marine jackets and serve unique taste combinations that have been created to complement the new theme.
“Every new theme in ABSOLUT ICEBAR STOCKHOLM is always exciting for our visitors and it means that the ice experience is forever changing and surprising”, says Tobias Ekman, CEO of Nordic Hotels.
ABSOLUT ICEBAR was an instant success when the original ice bar was created in 1994 in Jukkasjärvi. The world’s first permanent ice bar opened in 2002 at Nordic Sea Hotel in Stockholm and every season it is rebuilt. ABSOLUT ICEBAR STOCKHOLM offers visitors a unique ice experience from Lapland, right in the heart of Stockholm. All the furnishings, including the glasses, are made from 100% pure, crystal-clear ice from the River Torne, and the indoor temperature remains a constant -5 all year round. Guests are advised to prebook their visit as ABSOLUT ICEBAR STOCKHOLM can take a maximum of 60 guests at the same time.
For further information and pictures, please contact:
Emelie Bergsten
PR & Web Manager
ABSOLUT ICEBAR STOCKHOLM
emelie.bergsten@nordichotels.se
Tel: +46 (0)8 50563279
Astrid Lundquist
Head of Communication
ABSOLUT ICEBAR
astrid.lundquist@icehotel.com
Mob: +46 (0)70 6699678
About ABSOLUT ICEBAR
It’s not exactly a hot spot. But to claim that the ABSOLUT ICEBAR is the world’s coolest bar is no exaggeration. How cool is it? Let’s put it this way: Should you be foolish enough to stick your tongue on the counter, there is an imminent risk of getting stuck. Here, drinks are not served “on the rocks”, but “in the rocks”.
ABSOLUT ICEBAR at Nordic Sea Hotel in Stockholm is the world´s first permanent icebar and was inaugurated in 2002. However the story started in 1994 when the first original icebar was built in Jukkasjärvi and this ABSOLUT ICEBAR is now rebuilt every season. Between then and now, more than 50 temporary ABSOLUT ICEBARs have been built in different locations around the world, including the sizzling Niger Desert.
With a steady, computer-controlled interior temperature of minus 5 degrees Celsius (23 Fahrenheit), ABSOLUT ICEBAR is at the cutting edge between contemporary technology and ancient building. Guests wear specially designed coats and gloves when entering the deep-frozen environment ‟ while keeping bar flies comfortable, the outer garments also reduce body heat so the interior won’t start melting.
That’s right, everything in the bar, from the seating area to the art works and the drinking glasses, is made from crystal-clear ice. The ice comes from the Torne River in Jukkasjärvi, northern Sweden Each spring, a total of 6,000 tons of ice is harvested, enough to fill a football stadium. Like gigantic ice cubes, the two-ton blocks of ice are stored in a refrigerated warehouse. With the aid of custombuilt saws, all of the building materials, art works and glasses are hand-carved out of the huge ice blocks.
The ice from the Torne River is nothing like the lumps of ice you may find lurking deep inside your own freezer. The river is located 20 kilometers north of the Arctic Circle, where there is virtually no pollution. The ice builds up gradually during the long, arctic winter, producing crystal-clear ice with occasional cracks and marble-like veils that give it a unique character. Artists love it. Every year, designers and artists from all over the world are invited to create dazzling new designs for ABSOLUT.
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ICEBAR Cool facts
ABSOLUT ICEBAR is the world’s coolest bar.
- It was inaugurated in 2002 at the Nordic Sea Hotel in Stockholm.
- The original ICEBAR was constructed in Jukkasjärvi, northern Sweden, in 1994. The same year, it was singled out as one of the world’s ten coolest bars by Newsweek Magazine. At that time, the brand-new bar didn’t even have a liquor license yet.
- The collaboration between ICEHOTEL and the Absolut Company started with the shooting of the ABSOLUT Versace campaign in Jukkasjärvi in 1994. Fashion photographer Herb Ritts shot the campaign, which featured models such as Kate Moss and Naomi Campbell.
- In 1999, an ABSOLUT ICEBAR was erected in the Niger desert for a fashion show featuring designers such as Kenzo, Mickael Kra (Ivory Coast) and Alphadi (Niger).
- Art works, furniture, plates and drinking glasses are manually cut from the huge blocks of ice.
- ABSOLUT ICEBAR has a computer-controlled inner temperature of minus 5 degrees Celsius (23 Fahrenheit).
- The ice is harvested from the deep-frozen Torne River each spring in March.
- Ice made from sweet water is harder and clearer than ice from salt water.
- As water freezes to ice, sediments and salt are pushed out of the ice on a molecular level, making it cleaner than the surrounding water.
- Jewellery designers David & Martin have designed a silver bracelet for ABSOLUT ICEBAR. They have previously done designs for Karl Lagerfeld.