How long until your drink is perfectly cold?
Cooling follows Newton's Law of Cooling: the rate of temperature change is proportional to the difference between the object and environment. A salt-ice bath (water + ice + salt at -2°C) is the fastest method, chilling a can in 5-10 minutes vs 30-60 min in a freezer and 2-3 hours in a fridge. The key is thermal contact: water conducts heat 25× faster than air. Ideal serving temperatures: lager beer 3-5°C, ales 7-10°C, white wine 7-10°C, red wine 15-18°C, champagne 6-8°C, sodas 3-5°C. Warning: never leave glass bottles in the freezer over 30 minutes — they can explode as water in the beverage expands upon freezing. Wrapping a bottle in a wet paper towel before placing it in the freezer accelerates cooling by ~40%.