by Jason Edelman
If you are like me, when you have friends over for a cocktail party, you want to impress them with your amateur bartending skills (I make a mean Old Fashioned).
If you are like me, you also have a friend who asks for unusual drinks, like a Slow Comfortable Screw Up Against The Wall (yes that is in fact a drink). Believe it or not there are plenty of awesome bartending apps for making sure you never get stumped behind the bar again.
1. Liquor Cabinet (iOS)
For those who like to keep things pretty exact when pouring a drink, it is definitely worth splurging the $0.99 on this app. Featuring an extensive list of cocktails, Liquor Cabinet will tell you everything you need to know about a drink, and the proportions to make just the right one. Learn and experiment, because this app will keep your party guests coming back for more (and more).
2. Mr. Boston (iOS, Android)
Because, you aren’t a bartender till you’ve thumbed (swiped) through this. Mr. Boston, for many years, has been the definitive bartending guide and, continues to retain it’s stellar reputation, now in the digital world. For those of you without an iPhone, Mr. Boston Official Bartender’s Guide is available for Android as an ebook. It’s pricier that way, but still worth it for anyone who even wants to remotely categorize themselves as a bartender.
3. Mixology (iOS, Android)
If you are looking to avoid spending money on an app, (which is totally understandable. Save it for a good bottle instead!), then try Mixology. They have an amazing list of drinks (jello shot recipes included), and if you are missing ingredients, the app has a built in liquor store locater. Never run out of drinks or ideas again with this amazing free app on both iOS and Android. If you really want the full experience though, pay for the full version, Mixologist, ($0.99 for iOS, $1.49 for Android), you will be so much happier in the long run.
4. Yelp (iOS, Android, Kindle, Windows Phone)
This seems like a strange addition to the list, but sometimes you don’t want to be behind the bar, and want to go out with your friends. Yelp is easily the best app available for finding places of all sorts. Whether you are looking for a fancy rooftop bar with views of the city, or a new hangout for you and your friends, Yelp can help you find them all. Best of all, the app is free on all platforms!
5. DrinkedIn (iOS. Android)
Available for both Android and iOS, this is most certainly one of the best bar-finding apps on the market. DrinkedIn (a cute play on a site that’s used for…other sorts of networking) uses your location to find bars near you, and provides reviews for those bars, so you and your friends can find an amazing place to start your night, or end it. They also have an amazing feature coming soon for their app which will integrate a cab hailing service a la Lyft, so if you’ve had a little too much, you don’t need to worry about getting home. This is the ultimate app for any aspiring bartender, who wants someone else to do all the work that night.
6. Mad Men Cocktail Culture App (iOS)
There are plenty of drinks out there you haven’t tried to make yet, and instead of practicing on a friend’s real cocktail, try this app. A clever bit of marketing for the show Mad Men, a show in which the characters are almost never seen without a cocktail, the 99 cent app allows you to make virtual versions of classic cocktails. Not every drink is on here, but there are a good number of the old standbys. Also, if you’re a Mad Man fan, the app is a great little piece of fandom to have on your phone.
This post was written by Jason Edelman of Fueled, the premier agency for iPhone app design and Android app development in New York City.
