Michal Ždanský About seven years ago, I became so fascinated by the world of mixed drinks that I almost became a bartender. I spent hours researching the best cocktails, proper mixing and garnishing techniques, and bought several books to do so. Today, even thanks to applications, it is much easier to find the necessary information to become a skilled home bartender, and a new application Minibar is a shining example of this.
Not that there aren't plenty of similar apps in the App Store filled with recipes for popular drinks, but most of them have a "but". Either it has such a comprehensive database that you spend a long time just searching for what to mix, they are confusing or ugly. I've always considered mixed cocktails to be a luxury drink, not just because of the price, so I think they deserve an adequate application as well. The minibar does not set itself the task of containing all existing drinks in the world. In its current version, its selection includes 116 cocktails, but each of them is unique.
The minibar shows that less can be more. The application does not miss any popular cocktail, from Apple Martini po zombie, moreover, these are real recipes used by the best bartenders in the world. Each of the recipes contains a list of ingredients with their exact ratio, preparation instructions including choosing a suitable glass, a short history of the drink and also a list of similar drinks. Without exception, each such page displayed in the form of a leaflet is dominated by a beautiful photo of a cocktail, which you will not find in many similar applications.
The app does not assume that your bar contains all the necessary ingredients. In their list, you can choose the ones you have at home, and in the main menu displayed in the style of Facebook, you can then choose a category What I Can Make those cocktails for which the ingredients are enough at home. In the tab inspiration Minibar will then advise you which drinks can be mixed by purchasing a few additional ingredients.
Even 116 drinks can create a long list, which is why it is possible to view recipes by category in the side panel. It works the same way for ingredients, where you browse by type instead of selecting them in a single, long list. Among other things, ingredients can be added from each recipe card. A minor bonus is the Guides tab, where you can read about the basic know-how of each bartender (if you speak English). Minibar will teach you how to decorate glasses, identify types of glasses, show you preparation techniques and even advise you on basic ingredients that should not be missing from your home bar.
Abi a few shortcomings. I especially miss the option to add my own drinks. On the other hand, I understand that this would undermine the integrity of an elegantly crafted list. Another, perhaps more serious shortcoming is the inability to save cocktails in the list of favorite drinks.
Apart from that, however, there is not much to complain about the Minibar. The user interface is polished to the smallest detail, in terms of graphics, it is one of the nicest applications I have seen in recent times. If you are one of those who like to mix cocktails at home and are always looking for new inspiration and recipes, Minibar is the app for you. Cheers!
[app url=”https://itunes.apple.com/cz/app/minibar/id543180564?mt=8″]
