It's 5 p.m. and you have a fully stocked liquor cabinet but no idea what to make for cocktail hour.
Eventually, you end up chugging a box of wine from frustration.
Enter the Cocktail Computer, the most adorable "computer" you may ever own.
It's currently on Kickstarter and, at the time of publication, had earned $12,516 of the $50,000 required to put it into production.
The Cocktail Computer is filled with punched cards, the original method used to program computers. Users take cocktail stirrers (included with the kit) to punch one, two or three of the 24 listed ingredients inventor Lily Szajnberg says are essential to any home bar. Then, lift up the computer's lid and the gadget presents a selection of curated cocktail recipes.
Szajnberg tells Mashable she was tired of trying to come up with inventive cocktail recipes at the drop of a hat. "I was very hung up on creating an elegant solution for finding classic cocktail recipes."
The design is inspired by classic 1950s Chevy and KitchenAid designs.
"Online resources and apps didn’t feel curated enough," says Szajnberg, who was tired of googling and relying on cocktail blogs with limited selections.
The Cocktail Computer contains over 100 recipes; the punch system filters based on your tastes and available ingredients. Plus, you don't need WiFi to make this lo-fi gadget work its magic.
Mashable got exclusive permission to reprint three of the Cocktail Computer's custom recipes for classic gin-based cocktails. They were all designed by Szajnberg and based on her favorite recipes from mixologists and vintage cocktail books.
These recipes are classics for a reason — they are balanced, delicious and pack a punch after a long day at the office.
1. Gin gimlet
2.5 oz gin
1/2 oz simple syrup
1/2 oz lime juice
lime wheel for garnish
Combine gin, lime juice and simple syrup in a shaker filled with ice. Shake and strain into a chilled coupe or rocks glass. Garnish with lime wheel.
2. Negroni
1 oz gin
1 oz Campari
1 oz sweet vermouth
orange peel for garnish
Combine gin, vermouth and Campari in a shaker with ice. Shake and strain into a chilled coupe or rocks glass. Garnish with orange peel. May be served straight up or on the rocks.
3. French 75
2 oz champagne
1 oz gin
1/2 oz lemon juice
2 dashes simple syrup
lemon for garnish
Combine gin, lemon juice and simple syrup in a shaker filled with ice. Shake and strain into a champagne or coupe glass. Top with champagne. Garnish with lemon peel or twist.
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