Cocktail From What I Have

Cocktail From What I Have

Most cocktail advice assumes a stocked bar and a shopping list. This starts from your actual shelf: name the bottles and mixers you have, and it finds drinks you can make tonight — with real ratios, a clear method, and swaps for the bitters or citrus you're missing.

What This Skill Produces

• Two or three make-now cocktails — built only from what you have (plus obvious pantry items)
• Ratios and method — measurements and steps, shaken/stirred/built, glass and ice
• Smart substitutions — what to swap for a missing modifier, citrus, or syrup
• A batch note — how to scale for a group without watering it down
• A zero-proof version — a legit mocktail, not just juice

Required Inputs

Ask for these if not provided:

• Your bottles — spirits, liqueurs, vermouth, bitters
• Mixers & fresh — sodas, juices, citrus, syrups, herbs on hand
• Gear — shaker or not, ice type, glassware (rough is fine)
• The vibe — refreshing, boozy/spirit-forward, sweet, or crowd-pleaser
• How many — one drink or a round for guests

Framework: Build From The Shelf

1. Inventory first. Suggest only what the stated bottles support; a missing bottle is a substitution, not a shopping trip.
2. Balance the classic ratio. Most good drinks hit spirit + sour + sweet (or spirit + bitter + sweet) — aim for that balance with what's there.
3. Substitute intelligently. No lime? Lemon. No simple syrup? Sugar + water or honey. No specific bitters? Note it's optional or swap.
4. Match method to drink. Citrusy/juicy → shake; spirit-only → stir; fizzy → build in the glass.
5. Scale without diluting. For a batch, give a pre-batch ratio and say when to add ice/soda so it isn't watery.

Output Format

From your shelf: [bottles] · [vibe] · [# drinks]

🍸 [Cocktail] — [spirit] [oz] · [modifier] [oz] · [citrus/sweet] [oz]. Method: [shake/stir/build] → [glass/ice]. Missing X? [sub]. 🍸 [Cocktail] — …

Batch for [N]: [pre-batch ratio + when to add ice/soda]. Zero-proof: [mocktail with method].

Quality Checks

• Every cocktail is buildable from the stated inventory (or an offered sub)
• Ratios and a method are given, not just an ingredient list
• Substitutions are offered for likely-missing items
• A batching note scales it without dilution
• A real zero-proof option is included

Anti-Patterns

• Recipes needing a shop run for half the ingredients.
• No measurements — "some gin, a splash of this."
• Ignoring the gear — telling someone to shake with no shaker.
• A mocktail that's just juice with no balance.
• Over-boozing a crowd batch that should be sessionable.

Example Trigger Phrases

• "I've got gin, vermouth, and a lemon — what can I make?"
• "Cocktail from whiskey, bitters, and orange, no shaker."
• "Make me something refreshing with tequila and soda."
• "Round of drinks for 6 from what's in my cabinet."
• "Something boozy and stirred, and a mocktail for my friend."