Gizmodo: Booze

Bar2D2, the R2-D2 of Failed Space Operas

Mark Wilson — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 12:30:00 EDT

Remember that time in Star Wars when R2-D2 shot out the lightsaber to Luke Skywalker? Yeah, well the only problem with that scene was that lightsabers don't freaking exist. And until they do, robots of the future must be retrofitted with the next best thing—copious amounts of booze. (Which, as we see in this picture, is something that certain cast members of the ill-fated show Firefly can appreciate).

Bar2 is radio controlled and runs about 8 hours on a single charge. And as you can see in our gallery, he's great with the ladies.

The robot is a fully stocked bar on wheels with compartments for ice, beer and mixed drinks. Grab a beer from Bar2 and its carousel system automatically rotates to present you with the next bottle (15 max capacity). The top carousel holds up to six bottles of hard alcohol and mixers that is programmable to mix the perfect drink.

And Bar2D2 sounds like his fictional counterpart, stocked with the soundboard of an R2-D2 toy. See the full process of building Bar2 over at Jamie Price's flickr page. [flickr via Gizmowatch]

Milkscreen System Prevents Party Moms From Getting Their Babies Drunk

Sean Fallon — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 15:30:00 EDT

Just because you have a baby at home doesn't mean that your partying days must come to an end. Fortunately, mothers that like to go out on Saturday nights and have a few drinks can prevent passing boob booze onto their kid using a system called Milkscreen. Basically, Milkscreen is a litmus test that screens breast milk for alcohol that could have a negative impact on a baby's health. The whole thing seems a little weird in a contentiously irresponsible sort of way, but I suppose it is better to be safe than have a drunken baby on your hands. Available for $20 for a large pack.[Milkscreeen via Inventor Spot via Ubergizmo]

Slot Machine Drink Dispenser Wins Memory Loss

Mark Wilson — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 12:00:00 EDT

Man has long been attempting to combine the destructive vices of gambling and alcohol. Now, with the $60 Slot Machine Drink Dispenser, our fuzzy dreams can become a reality. We can just pull the lever and watch as our favorite cocktail drops into a glass. Storing up to 1.5L of liquid at a time, it's a jackpot that could strike twice—hopefully not all over your shoes. [wossat via Nerd Approved]

Put Some Age On Your Cheap Booze With the Help of 15,000 Volts

Sean Fallon — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 18:10:00 EDT

Why get drunk on cheap booze when you can get drunk on cheap booze that actually tastes good? That is the question Jon Sarriugarte asked himself when he and a buddy set out to solve the problem of how to artificially age brandy. Inspired by a single sentence in a book from the 1930s, they decided that electric current would do the trick. Fortunately, John already had a luminous transformer in his basement (don't we all), and he proceeded to pump 15,000 volts into a glass of bitter brandy. To his surprise, the taste had mellowed considerably.

After their initial success, they developed a more elaborate copper pipe system with a Jacob's Ladder and dubbed it VOLT/AGED. Throw in a safety cage, Oil Punk plexiglass, and a timer that determines how many years the alcohol should be aged and you have a functional piece of equipment that is also interesting to look at. My liver hurts just thinking about it. [Jon Sarriugarte via MAKE]

Floppy Coasters Help You Party Like It's 1979

AddyDugdale — Mon, 03 Mar 2008 07:37:11 EST

Designed by Greek geeks-at-heart Supermandolini, these floppy coasters are cute things to stick beneath your drinks. Measuring 3.5" square, a set of six will cost you $41 and make you wish you were still licking your brother at Asteroids all over again. [SuperMandolini]

MisuraEmme Wall Combines Home Entertainment With Booze

Jason Chen — Mon, 14 Jan 2008 13:06:51 EST

When we've got enough money to get what looks like a 1500-sq-ft living room/home theater area, we're going to load one wall up with a MisuraEmme wall system. Not because it classes up the place in a way that cardboard boxes just do not, but because it combines a sliding flat-screen TV with a self-contained home theater unit with a bar. Did we mention that it's classy? Because the rest of your home could be an S&M dungeon, but as long as you've got this to greet houseguests when they first enter, you'll still be able to get on the cover of Drunken TV Monthly. [Trendir]

Cyclone Cocktail Shaker Makes Drinking Even More Fun

Adam Frucci — Tue, 18 Dec 2007 14:00:51 EST

As if shaking martinis could get all that much classier, this Cocktail Cyclone Portable Drink Mixer makes shaking a drink high-tech and awesome. Pour in your ingredients, snap on the top and hit the button to create a liquid cyclone inside that mixes while entertaining. The best part is that as you make more and more drinks, it'll only get more exciting to watch. Spin, you crazy gin! Spin! [Product Page via Random Good Stuff]

Shot Caller Times Your Drinking Games to the Last Second

AddyDugdale — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 11:22:47 EST

If ever a gadget is going to promote responsible drinking, then the Shot Caller is it. And let's face it, when you're playing drinking games with your buddies, it is all about being responsible and drinking up when you are told to drink up. Made for the Power Hour and Century Club drinking games, the Shot Caller prepares you for when it is time to drink, with red, amber and green lights. You can set it for either an hour or 100 minutes, and it comes with four regulation-sized shot glasses. The financial cost is $10. [The Shot Caller via DVice]

Shot-Glass Printing Bot, Darko-Like Rabbit, Molten Beer Bong Turn Up at Roboexotica "Cocktail Robotics" Convention

Wilson Rothman — Fri, 23 Nov 2007 10:02:30 EST

Apparently the science of cocktail robotics was woefully neglected until some enterprising alkies created Roboexotica, a convention to celebrate cyber-assisted drunkenness. The action is taking place this weekend in Vienna, and from the looks of the opening night pictures, things are still as academic as they were when I was in college. (Just looking at this molten steel beer bong gives me a tear of nostalgia.) The homemade replicator—or "reprap"—you see above stamps shot glasses using a thermistor, stepper-controlling arduinos and, of course, an extruder. Man those nerds know how to party! [Roboexotica, Brex's Flickr Page and Sean Bonner's Metroblogging Vienna via Make]

LEDs Hidden in Corks Light Up Booze Bottles to Eerie Effect

Charlie White — Tue, 28 Aug 2007 18:30:00 EDT

Lighting designers' minds must be turning toward boozing it up lately (joining those of your humble narrators), because this is the second time in as many days we've noticed special lighting devices that somehow illuminate containers full of alcoholic beverages. This clever idea involves a battery-operated LED, nestled within a cork that takes its place atop a bottle of the colorful beverage of your choice. Notice the whimsical effect when a group of those bottles are all lit up from above like that. Now, that's a design concept we like. [Yanko Design]

Boozy Lamp Lets the Spirits Shine Through

Charlie White — Mon, 27 Aug 2007 12:30:00 EDT

We like to celebrate all things drinking just like the next guy, but we're kind of scratching our heads over this goofy table lamp that attempts to splash the color of your favorite booze all over your walls. Just insert the neck of that bottle of wine, liquor or whatever else into this rocker-shaped lighting fixture, and the spotlight within shines up through the liquid, bathing your drinking space with the muted crimson hue of a fine Cabernet or making it murky with the earthy caramel color of that Johnny Walker Black.

This comes to us courtesy of our Japanese Gizmodo brothers, who are quite good at finding crazy stuff all over that kooky country. The roughly translated description assures us that the lamp is not going to be heating up that liquor, just making the room more beautiful. It's all yours for 19,950 yen, or around $172. One problem, though: By the time you've polished off that bottle, it's going to light up the room just like a bare light bulb. But you'll be completely anesthetized by then, anyway. [Caina Design Shop, via Gizmodo Japan]

$2 Plastic Pocket Shots (of Booze)

Brian Lam — Mon, 20 Aug 2007 23:33:37 EDT

Pocket shots are like those little gel packs that marathoners use to go the extra mile. Except instead of energy-giving sugar, these are filled with vodka, rum, and whiskey. [Wired, Thanks Rob]

MyFountain Should Be Our Bartender

Mark Wilson — Sat, 11 Aug 2007 12:02:47 EDT

Following a night of light to extremely heavy imbibing, this morning has been a bit rough for certain members of the Gizmodo weekend crew writing this post. That's why we were just thrilled when the MyFountain, an advanced automated drink mixer, popped up in our RSS.

Storing 16 different chilled liquids, the MyFountain can simply dispense a brew, or mix perfectly portioned drinks at the touch of a few buttons. Through an LCD touchscreen, users can select their ingredients and measurements of choice, or allow the MyFountain to make suggestions based upon the (vile, evil, horrid) liquids on hand.

For those of us with little restraint, limits can be placed on output, with passwords managing different levels of access to the machine. Through a phone line (its only flaw), the MyFountain can even automate beverage orders. And when the stock needs replenishment, lines are automatically cleaned by the system.

Sure, it's intended for commercial use. But for $2,500 when released next year, it would put your neighbor's kegerator to shame. [product via technabob]

Ultra Seven Wine Set

Mark Wilson — Tue, 07 Aug 2007 09:59:30 EDT

Enough wine may feel like it's given you superpowers, but trust us, it has not. However, the Ultra Seven 40th Anniversary Wine Set brings us one step closer to realizing our overconfidence. Once just an ordinary merlot, when packaged with Koji "Ultra Seven" Moritsugu signature stemware it becomes ULTRA SEVEN!! (wine). At $82, the (surprisingly classy) wine set will be the perfect gift for the chic geek when it comes out this September. Just prepare to import it, or make a friend in Japan bring you one back. (*cough* Matt Buchanan, Brian Ashcraft, ok, that's everyone I know *cough*) [altjapan via plasticbamboo]

Oenophile's Personal Winery

Mark Wilson — Sun, 22 Jul 2007 13:10:31 EDT

Here in Illinois, our ability to order wine from our favorite producers will soon be a thing of the past, outlawed to empower the confusing regional alcohol industry. That's why "home brewing" wine through the Oenophile's Personal Winery is so attractive. You order legal crushed, frozen grapes from the region of your choosing, and it does the rest.

Producing up to four cases of wine at a time (woohoo!), the personal winery has a massive steel tank for fermentation. The system controls Brix (sugar levels) by regulating temperature to control yeast at all times, and transmits the data to a PC via WiFi. The software graphs statistics, offers tips to control the flavor and sends notices when tasting is necessary or the skins need pressing.

After 6 months to a year in the tank, wine can be removed and further aged in the packaged oak barrel. And while the entire package will run you a steep $5,999, we'd absolutely love to have a tiny winery of our own...even if we had very little to do with the final product's quality. [product via uberreview]

Igloo's Coolbox with Boombox on Wheels Looks Like a Transformer

AddyDugdale — Thu, 05 Jul 2007 07:50:18 EDT

This is what every al fresco party needs - a cooler that plays tunes and lugs your beer to the pier without you needing to see a chiropractor. There's an AM/FM radio to fiddle around with, a jack for your iPod or MP3 player into. And if all that wasn't enough, it also looks like a Transformer.

The 40-quart cooler holds 58 16-oz cans, and is tall enough to carry two-liter bottles upright, and Igloo claims that its Ultratherm insulation will help keep your booze cool for up to 51 hours. The two speakers are 3 watts each and run on four AA batteries. The cooler measures 20"L x 17-3/4"W x 18"H and costs a shade under $150.

Product Page [Hammacher Schlemmer via Book of Joe]

Powerless Wine Thermometer is Useful, Awesome

Adam Frucci — Mon, 25 Jun 2007 15:15:00 EDT

Different wines should be stored at different temperatures, but how can you tell quickly if your precious Bordeaux is being kept properly? You don't want to waste time and money with some doodad that requires lots of batteries and wires, which is why this Liquid Crystal Wine Thermometer is so great.

It slips right over the bottle, and within a couple of minutes the temperature will appear on the side. There's a list of all sorts of different wines, so you can see whether or not it's chilled properly. And since it uses liquid crystals for the temperature display, no batteries or power is required. Slick.

Product Page [via Book of Joe]

Don's Super Margarita Machine

Mark Wilson — Sun, 24 Jun 2007 13:15:57 EDT

In the last week, "Dirty Don" has become a blog celebrity. In what can only be labeled as a perfect blend of technology and humanity, his now-famous margarita machine is powered by a small-block 400 engine that will roar louder than even the drunkest soccer mom at your next PTA meeting.

Whenever Gizmodo throws their next get together, I vote we get this guy.

Thanks Gerry!

Softflask Slips a Sip Through a Patdown

Charlie White — Thu, 07 Jun 2007 09:21:55 EDT

As much as we love breasts and ogling them as they support the Winerack that stores booze in a bra, there may not be many gals willing to wear such a thing and let you drink from their tits like that. Cue the Softflask, a pliable container that one of our tipsy tipsters swears by:

Bought this thing for cycling and end up using it to bring hard liquor into concerts. Passes the pat down test every time. Every time i break it out people go nuts.

Useful advice, indeed. This $11 flask may not work when you're going through airport security, but it could be a good way to get a shot or two past a turnstile, letting you spike up that innocent stadium soda. – Charlie White

Product Page [Softflask] Thanks, Brian!

Beer Burglar Drink Protection Device

Travis Hudson — Fri, 25 May 2007 15:20:40 EDT

Memorial Day, that is a drinking holiday, right? Hell, nowadays what holiday isn't a drinking holiday? On this long weekend make sure nobody touches your brew with this beer burglar alarm system. It is a proximity sensor that attaches to a sensor and will go off if anyone gets near the beer. It includes a standard siren or a voice alarm that sounds like a member of the Mafia. Intimidating, indeed. $10. –Travis Hudson

Beer Burlar Alarm [Gadgetizer]

Weird Combo of the Day: Free Phone Charge Adapters with Jim Beam Long Black

Jason Chen — Sun, 06 May 2007 13:50:04 EDT

If there's ever a pattern with these weird combo of the days we do, it's that people like to bundle things with booze. We suppose you still need to get stuff done when you're drunk. That's why this set of phone charging adapters free with every 4-pack of Jim Beam Long Black isn't really a surprise. You can't drunk dial when your phone's not charged. – Jason Chen

Thanks Adam!

Weird Combo of the Day: Retractable USB Mouse with Johnnie Walker Black Label

Travis Hudson — Wed, 11 Apr 2007 19:00:18 EDT

Out of all of the weird combos of the day this has to be my favorite. You can get a free retractable USB mouse with the purchase of good 'ole Johnnie Walker Black Label (it is Scotch whiskey for those unaware).

I'll be the first to admit that I have gotten plastered and proceeded to get online and harass individuals via IM (ask Brian or Jason), and this combination will make the harassment that much easier. By the way, using a touchpad while drunk is damn near impossible. Thanks, Christopher! –Travis Hudson

Reef Dram Sandals Carry Relief for the Perpetually Thirsty

Charlie White — Thu, 22 Mar 2007 12:30:00 EDT

Squirrel away three ounces of your favorite beverage inside the heel of each of these Reef Dram Sandals, giving you a total of four generous shots of courage afoot wherever you may roam. Looks like a great way to keep your sanity—that is, if you don't mind your single malt tasting a bit like feet.

We like this Reef company, one that keeps besotted wretches such as your heavily sedated Gizmodo team in mind. You may remember its first foray into drinking and walking with its bottle opener sandals, and now there's these $45 Dram Sandals that are available in three earthy colors. Just be sure to empty the contents of their internal flasks before placing them on that airport security conveyor belt. – Charlie White

Product Page [Reef, via AcquireMag]

Weird Combo of the Day: Free Knife with Booze

Mark Wilson — Sat, 03 Mar 2007 08:54:32 EST

Now if the knife packaging could only be opened through a failed breathalyzer, we'd really have something.

And what's with this "you still have to walk to the other side of the store for black leather gloves" attitude? Because if I find a pair with a packaged flask and silencer, you just lost my business, pal. – Mark Wilson

Thanks Luke, hope Italy was "productive"!

Talking Butler: "She was out of your league"

Mark Wilson — Sat, 24 Feb 2007 13:15:05 EST

Gizmodo Tip #45: Avoid any gadget that speaks unnecessarily. This includes but is not exclusive to talking...bottle openers, plush dolls, birthday cards, keychains, nose hair trimmers, trout that hang on your wall, any trout, anything that hangs on your wall and anything that I will in any way hear ever.

Gizmodo Tip #46: Avoid speaking back to any gadget that speaks unnecessarily. Especially when drinking. The $66 talking butler is just a hired hand. He doesn't care about "the one that got away" or how you were "born to do something very important" with your life. And neither do your guests who are sharing the bottle. – Mark Wilson

Product Page [via scifi tech]

Epicurean Wine & Champagne Saver Gets You Drunk Daily

Jason Chen — Thu, 15 Feb 2007 16:50:49 EST

Since you use gadgets in every other facet of your life, why not take your love of electronics to your boozing as well? If the Vinturi or the Nuvo Vino aren't enough foryou, this Epicurean wine stopper and pressure seal guarantees to keep the wine preserved for up to 14 days after opening.

The Epicurean system can set itself to the correct pressure for both champagne or wine, and with just a touch of the "engage pump" button, you're in business. Pretty neat if you're a light drinker that likes to spread out your enjoyment of a bottle throughout a week, instead of downing it in with some Jack in the Box in 7 minutes like Travis. – Jason Chen

Product Page [Epicurean via Cooking Gadgets]

Get Drunk Properly, Stylishly with the Flask-Shaped Electronic Bar Master

Travis Hudson — Tue, 19 Sep 2006 14:23:48 EDT

The Electronic Bar Master allows you to store up to 500 drink recipes digitally alphabetically, by name, category, type of glass, occasion, alcohol type or ingredients. And best of all—it looks like a flask! Oh man, I love booze. The Bar Master is available for $30. – Travis Hudson

Product Page [Via Popgadget]

Burton Liquid Lounger Backpack Holds Playing Cards, Tunes, Chair, and Malt Liquor

Brian Lam — Wed, 06 Sep 2006 18:00:27 EDT

This bag is technically snowboarding gear, but I think it has definite "animal house" applications. It fits a 12-inch laptop in a dedicated sleeve. But has built-in speakers, cd wallet, an amp, and an aux input jack. The frame folds out into a chair, so you can sit down after you're all shitfaced from sipping on the beer in the cooler compartment. The compartment even has a "champagne chimney" that holds 40 oz of malt liquor. (Hence our 'shop job above.) Lastly, it comes with deck of playing cards, and a bottle opener on its zipper. Did I mention it'll hold a snowboard, too?–Brian Lam

Jump to see the Liquid Lounger in action.

Burton Liquid Lounger Backpack [Burton]

Breathalyzer Wrist Watch

Travis Hudson — Wed, 09 Aug 2006 11:42:57 EDT

When you are plastered into an oblivion time doesn't really matter, does it? So put your wristwatch to another use by determining precisely how sloshed you are. This cheap-looking wristwatch has an integrated breathalyzer—give it a little blow to see if you are legally sound to drive, or give it a blow to prove to your friends that you can indeed hit the .30 level and still remain conscious. It will be available later this month for around $100 from A&A Products of Hong Kong. – Travis Hudson

The Alcowatch wristwatch alcohol tester [Gizmag]

E3 2006 Booze Watch: Margarita Machine

gizmodo.com — Tue, 09 May 2006 21:44:04 EDT

So far Team Giztaku's favorite gadget from all the pre-E3 press events we've attended over the past two days is this beautiful, beautiful Margarita machine we had the pleasure of acquainting ourselves with over and over again at yesterday's Sony press conference.

To the catering guy who made the decision to fill the machine with muy delicioso 1800 instead of nasty cheap stuff, and to the Margarita machine rental company Margarita Man LA: we salute you both.

Alcohol-Fueled Robot Muscles

johnb — Mon, 08 May 2006 11:17:47 EDT

University of Texas researches have created a form of "shape memory wire" that expands and contracts when cooled and heated. To make the muscles contract, they coat it in a catalyst that reacts to alcohol and begins to heat up. These muscles can be used in robots or in prosthetic limbs.

Bender, it seems, wasn't so far-fetched after all.

Video [ScienceCentral via TheInquirer]

Flaming Jello Shot How-To

johnb — Wed, 03 May 2006 11:02:50 EDT

Thanks to science, we have many amazing inventions—the model train, the fish, and Space Ghost are just a few of them. Well, thanks to the magic—and spiritual mystery—of science, our friends at MyScienceProject have done the impossible: set a Jello shot on fire. Sure, there were problems along the way...

We tried to go all out and add a cup (8 oz.) of straight Everclear to regular Jell-O dissolved in 4 oz. of hot water. To our surprise, as we poured in the liquor, the mixture turned murky, and strands of an egg-like substance formed. As we stirred, the goo massed around the spatula. Eventually we pulled out what looked like a wad of chewed bubble gum. The alcohol solution was so strong that it denatured the proteins in the gelatin! We poured the remaining mixture into serving cups to see if it would gel up anyway. The gelatin had enough protein remaining in it to set halfway. The result looked like a raw egg, with a semisolid blob floating in liquid.

But they prevailed, creating a mixture so potent that it could be used in developing countries as an alternative to anesthesia. Go science!

Lighting a Jell-O Shot on Fire [MyScienceProject via LiquorSnob]

LG Introduces Breathalyzer In Cellphones

gizmodo.com — Sun, 30 Oct 2005 15:03:18 EST

These people look way too happy to be getting their BAC calculated. Slow down on those vodka and tonics, mkay folks? Anyways, LG has introduced breathalyzers into the LG-SD410, LG-KP4100 and LG-LP4100 cellphones. You breathe into the phone and it'll let you know how intoxicated you are. Simple enough right? Wrong. I was testing a model out last night after drinking a whole bottle of Jack and when I vomited all over the phone. In fact, it didn't calculate anything! I tried again but dropped the phone 4 times before I got it. The screen didn't say anything as the battery started to fall out, so I took it as an A-OK for me to get behind the wheel. Seriously, props to LG for this though. Every college student needs a breathalyzer phone along with a HotOrNot detector for late night Frat party hook-ups.

LG's phone with breath analyzer [Akihabara]

Coldpole - For Drinking

johnb — Thu, 13 Oct 2005 12:12:36 EDT

I'm thinking that this isn't the best of ideas for beginning skiers, but you folks who can really slalom with the best of them should consider picking up the Coldpole, a skill pole with a hidden booze reservoir. Imagine the looks on your friends' faces when you pull a Kennedy straight into a tree after sucking down a pole full of Rumplemintz. What fun!

Coldpole Liquor Reservoir Ski Poles [LiquorSnob]

Quaffer Shot Glass

johnb — Wed, 05 Oct 2005 10:07:16 EDT

Ladies and gentlemen, good morning. What we have here is a shot glass with a built-in chaser and I think we're all going to be better for it. Now I can have my morning Jagermeister/egg white "omelet" or my brunch whiskey/goose fat "pick-me-up" without having to use two glasses. Hell, it's hard enough trying to find a bottle of booze without cigarette butts in it at my house, let alone glassware.

How does it work? Apparently, you pour your mixer into the bottom—beer, milk, orange juice—and the shot in the top part. They are kept apart through the magic of Bernoulli's principle (I know, I'm making stuff up) and when you tip the glass at a 45 degree angle the shot pours out then the chaser quickly follows. How much will this set you back?

$24.99 for a Quaffer Sampler Pack (2 Glass Quaffers, 2 Plastic Quaffers, 2 Beer Quaffers, 2 Pour Spouts, 2 Recipe Cards, and 2 Stickers)

Quaffer Shot Glass Review [LiquorSnob]

Phonograph for Delicate Wines

gizguest — Wed, 20 Jul 2005 13:30:50 EDT

The guys at CucumberLab have an irritating flash website but nice portfolio. Their Phonograph has been designed for the wine connoisseur. Under the music player is a wide space to stack your Barolo and Sauvignon bottles. It also has what Cucumberland calls an "automated transitional glass sensor-linked" that gets nearly transparent when you approach it, allowing you to check the booze crus without opening the door. So, you got the music, the wine, the mind-blowing sound machine. Make an effort and you might get that girl as well.- RD

CucumberLab [CucumberLab]

Turbo Tap Beer. Fast.

johnb — Tue, 19 Jul 2005 11:31:55 EDT

Just when I thought I was doing a good job drinking away my sorrows, Laminar Technologies has helped up my consumption of Daddy's Little Helper with the new Turbo Tap. This beast can fill up a pint of brew in two seconds! The Turbo Tap really is revolutionary; it uses science—which is damn near to magic—to reduce the effects of gravity on beer. Gravity, velocity, forces, molecules, yeah they all have importance, but the real fact is that the Turbo Tap gets you beer, quick. Four times as quick. Now that is efficient alcoholism!

Product Page [Turbo Tap Via Rammer Jammer]