Pour Me
App that suggests drinks based on what you have in your bar.
The Challenge
The Problem
Standing in front of my home bar, staring at bottles, wondering what I can actually make with what I have.
Why I Took This On
Seemed like a fun weekend project. Also, I like cocktails and dislike decision fatigue.
Constraints
Wanted it functional fast, so kept scope minimal. Just ingredients in, recipes out.
The Process
Initial Approach
Built a simple ingredient inventory system paired with a recipe database.
What Went Wrong
Recipe matching was too literal at first—missing one obscure ingredient would eliminate otherwise-makeable drinks.
Breakthroughs
Added fuzzy matching and substitution suggestions, which made the results actually practical.
What I Learned
Skills Gained
Unexpected Discoveries
There's a surprising amount of complexity in cocktail substitutions. Bartending has more rules than I expected.
What I'd Do Differently
Would have started with a better recipe data source instead of manually entering drinks.
Where It Stands Now
Current State
MVP works, I use it personally. Not polished enough for public release.
What's Next
Might add AI-generated cocktail suggestions based on flavor profiles. Or might just keep it as my personal tool.
The Bigger Picture
Honestly just a fun side project. Not everything has to connect to the master plan.
The Impact
Personal Impact
I make better drinks now and waste fewer ingredients.
