Drinko Alternative: Learn Mixology, Not Just Recipes
Drinko gives you recipes, a smart cabinet and some lessons. Here is how structured five-minute mixology lessons differ, and who should pick which.
If you use Drinko and want something more like a course, or you cannot use it on your phone, you are looking for a Drinko alternative. This page describes Drinko fairly, explains what structured lessons add, and helps you decide.
What Drinko is and who it is for
Drinko is an app for iPhone, iPad and Mac, listed on the App Store. It is made for beginners and enthusiasts who want to make better cocktails at home. Its listing describes several parts:
- A library of classic cocktail recipes that you can filter and sort.
- Bartending technique lessons, with videos you can watch in the app.
- A smart cabinet, where you record the spirits and mixers you own and see which drinks you can make before you go shopping.
- A personal collection, where you save favourites and add your own drinks.
- Small tools, such as a juice calculator, and recipes shown in ml or oz.
- A home screen widget.
The app is free to download, and it offers an optional purchase to remove ads. It is a thoughtful app. The smart cabinet is the best idea in it: it connects what you own to what you can make. If you are an Apple user who wants one place for recipes, a shelf list and a few tutorials, Drinko does that job well.
What it does not do for a learner
Drinko is organised around the drink. You open a recipe, a tutorial or the cabinet, and you choose the order. Some people learn best in a set line instead: first the tools, then the technique, then the families of drinks, each step built on the one before.
A few things a learner often wants:
- An order. Which skill comes first? What should I practise this week?
- A reason for each step. Why do we shake this one and stir that one?
- Practice with a task. Not just a video to watch, but one thing to make or do.
- A phone or the web. Drinko's listing shows iPhone, iPad and Mac. If you use Android or a Windows laptop, you will need something else.
Say you are making your first Daiquiri. A recipe says: rum, lime, syrup, shake. A lesson tells you how to measure with a jigger, how to seal a Boston shaker so it does not leak, how long to shake, and how to strain so no ice chips float in the glass. Those small points are the difference between "it was fine" and "it was good".
What Mixologix does instead
Mixologix is a line of five-minute lessons with a friendly bartender voice. Each one gives exact measures in ml and oz, the tool, the technique and the reason, and ends with one thing to make or do tonight.
The track for this page is The Shaker, Jigger and Strainer. Its lessons cover:
- Choose between a Boston, cobbler and French shaker.
- Measure every pour accurately.
- Seal, break and clean a Boston shaker without spills.
- Strain with a Hawthorne and a julep strainer.
- Assemble a starter tool kit that covers every classic.
Those lessons cover the three tools you use in almost every drink. After that, the lessons move to ice, glasses, spirits, technique and the classic families. For a longer read on what to buy first, see our home bar setup guide.
The lessons are for adults of legal drinking age and include responsible drinking cues.
Side by side
| Drinko | Mixologix | |
|---|---|---|
| Main idea | Recipes, a smart cabinet and tutorials | An ordered set of short lessons |
| Format | Recipe pages and videos | Five-minute lessons with a task |
| Order of learning | Browse what you like | A path from tools to technique to classics |
| Tracks what you own | Yes, the smart cabinet | Not the focus |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad and Mac | Phone and web |
| Price model | Free to download, with an optional purchase to remove ads | A paid plan; see the app for what it includes |
Check each product's own page for its full list of features.
Who should pick which
Pick Drinko if you are on Apple devices, you like to browse recipes, and you want a cabinet that tells you what you can make tonight.
Pick Mixologix if you want to be taught in order, you use Android or the web, or you want to work behind a bar and need the reasons and the speed habits as well as the recipes.
Use both. There is no conflict. Keep your cabinet in Drinko, and take a lesson before you try a different technique. Then use the recipes with more confidence.
To compare more options, read the best mixology apps to learn cocktails.
Questions people ask
Is Drinko good for beginners?
Yes. It has recipes, tutorials and a simple cabinet tool. It is a good start for an Apple user who wants to make drinks at home.
What is the difference between a recipe app and a learning app?
A recipe app helps you make a specific drink. A learning app teaches skills in an order, so every drink you make afterwards turns out better.
Do I need many tools to start?
No. A shaker, a jigger and a strainer cover a large part of the classic drinks. The first track shows you how to choose and use them.
Should I buy a full bar kit before I start lessons?
No. Start with what you own and add a tool only when a lesson shows you why you need it. This keeps your spending small and your shelf useful.
Can I learn at work, between tasks?
Yes. Each lesson takes about five minutes, so you can do one on a break or on the way to a shift.
Learn this in five minutes
The Shaker, Jigger and Strainer track in Mixologix has lessons on picking a shaker, measuring, sealing, straining and building a starter kit. Do the first lesson and make one drink with the tools you already own.