I found ICE! The recipe lives!

These may work better.

https://www.alibaba.com/product-deta…84780.html?s=p

I don’t do BBQ so not a problem for me, but I use these when travelling if taking food/drink that needs to be chilled.

Actually not. 5kg of ice is much better for that. And additionally you can put it in the drink .

I have a small ice maker,

This one, in fact

https://www.galaxus.ch/en/s2/product...-makers-450670

Makes 12liters every 24 hours.

It was chf 144 last year. It's a bit noisy to sit on the counter in the kitchen, but I have a room off the kitchen where I keep my small appliances.

I dunno, I mean I like a chilled beverage as much as the next guy but 3000 cool packs seems a tad excessive.

Well, I guess it depends on how big your BBQ party is going to be.