Fleeting sculptures: Japanese firm creates stunningly detailed miniature ice carvings — These stunningly detailed ice sculptures were made for Japanese whiskey firm Suntory by TBWA\Hakuhodo, a Tokyo-based creative agency. Courtesy TBWA/Hakuhodo Fleeting sculptures: Japanese firm creates stunningly detailed miniature ice carvings — Using CNC ("computer numerical control") carving machines, technicians can program in detailed commands. Courtesy TBWA/Hakuhodo Fleeting sculptures: Japanese firm creates stunningly detailed miniature ice carvings — CNC carvers mill objects out of a solid block as opposed to building up the object from scratch, as a 3-D printer would. Courtesy TBWA/Hakuhodo Fleeting sculptures: Japanese firm creates stunningly detailed miniature ice carvings — The agency, TBWA\Hakuhodo, created sculptures from their own designs but also from social media-suggested ideas. Courtesy TBWA/Hakuhodo Fleeting sculptures: Japanese firm creates stunningly detailed miniature ice carvings — The creators of the successful designs were taken to a secret Tokyo location to be served their unique Suntory-on-the-rocks. Courtesy TBWA/Hakuhodo Fleeting sculptures: Japanese firm creates stunningly detailed miniature ice carvings — The company captured the 3-D renderings using Autodesk's 123D Catch app. Courtesy TBWA/Hakuhodo Fleeting sculptures: Japanese firm creates stunningly detailed miniature ice carvings — The images were fed into the CDC device, producing these miniature melting marvels. Courtesy TBWA/Hakuhodo Fleeting sculptures: Japanese firm creates stunningly detailed miniature ice carvings — The ice was first carved with a thick bit, then detail was added with a finer tip. Courtesy TBWA/Hakuhodo Fleeting sculptures: Japanese firm creates stunningly detailed miniature ice carvings — Japanese ice has long been a source of fascination for the bar industry, with artisanal ice spheres becoming common in high-end cocktail bars. Courtesy TBWA/Hakuhodo Fleeting sculptures: Japanese firm creates stunningly detailed miniature ice carvings — There is no word to when -- and if -- CDC 3-D ice carving technology will be used in Tokyo's bars. Courtesy TBWA/Hakuhodo Fleeting sculptures: Japanese firm creates stunningly detailed miniature ice carvings — The Suntory campaign has sadly come to a close, but we have plenty of ideas for miniature 3D objects to float in our drinks. Courtesy TBWA/Hakuhodo Fleeting sculptures: Japanese firm creates stunningly detailed miniature ice carvings — TBWA\Hakuhodo Executive Creative Director, Kazo Sato, told CNN that the company was looking for a way to attract younger whisky drinkers. Courtesy TBWA/Hakuhodo Prev Next