I Tested the Bartesian Cocktail Maker—Here's Why It's a Great Gift for the Hostess with the Mostess

I like the bartender

Author image: An image of Destinee Scott.

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Updated Oct 30, 2024

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Bartesian

Value: 18/20
Cocktail Quality: 20/20
Functionality: 20/20
Ease of Use: 20/20
Aesthetics: 17/20

TOTAL: 95/100

There are two types of at-home bartenders. Bartender A is a total mixologist and uses fancy tools (from a muddler to a cocktail shaker) to create bar-quality drinks. Whereas, bartender B is *super* laid-back and uses whatever they have in the kitchen and hopes for the best. I used to be bartender B (making terrible drinks), but then the Bartesian cocktail maker ($350) came into my life, and I became the hostess with the mostess. If you ask me, I think it's one of the coolest gifts you can buy yourself or someone else this holiday season. However, at $350, you may think twice about buying it, which I totally get. I had reservations too. But, after making more than five craft cocktails (from a spicy margarita to a lemon drop and rum runner), I'm convinced it's worth every penny. Here's why.

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Destinee Scott for PureWow

What Is the Bartesian Cocktail Maker?

Simply put, the Bartesian cocktail maker is a kitchen gadget that creates craft cocktails in the comfort of your home with the touch of a button. I like to think of it as a Nespresso machine but for bar-quality drinks, since it uses pods (or capsules starting at $15, to be exact) to stir up fan-favorite cocktails (including old fashioneds and cosmopolitans) and unique alcoholic drinks (like peanut putter cup and maple pecan pie). That prevents you from having to stock up on all kinds of mixers, juices and bitters—just the capsule, alcohol and you're good—while the purpose of the sleek machine is to make really good drinks really fast (in under a minute). Oh, and you can also use it to make mocktails.

Destinee Scott for PureWow

How Does the Bartesian Cocktail Maker Work?

The Bartesian cocktail maker is effortless to use right out of the box. Once you set up the machine and fill the 900-mililiter glass spirit bottles with your favorite alcohols (vodka, whiskey, tequila, rum, gin, you name it), all you have to do is set a cocktail glass under the spout, insert a Bartesian cocktail capsule, choose your desired strength (light, regular, strong or mocktail) on the touch screen and voilá! In less than 40 seconds later, you're drink will be ready for you to enjoy.

Wondering how it does it? Well, the brand says the machine's scanner reads the barcode on the Bartesian capsule to determine which drink to serve up, and even tells you what glass to use. It also self cleans between cocktails, so you don't ever have to take the machine apart—just replace the alcohol and capsules (sold separately) to keep using it on repeat.

My Review: Are Bartesian Drinks Good?

I've never been good at making cocktails at home. As I mentioned, I used to make drinks using whatever was in my kitchen so they've never been top-tier. After setting up my Bartesian (in less than 20 minutes, may I add), I was hopeful that my luck would turn around. And not so much to my surprise, it was everything the brand—and Oprah—claimed it was. Yes, that's right. The machine made it on Oprah's Favorite Things List in 2019, and I believe it's about to make a *major* comeback, especially once I tell you how good the drinks are.

On a random weekend, my boyfriend (a more experienced drinker), my cousin (a non-drinker) and I (a moderate drinker) conducted a taste test using seven fan-favorite Barestian drinks. We started with spicy margaritas, and were surprised at how flavorful they were. All three of us weren't expecting it to be blended to perfection (i.e. not too sweet or spicy). We moved on to old fashioneds next and were blown away by how the machine delivered on the crisp and smoky taste that could rival one at a top-notch bar. A rum runner, a long island iced tea, a cosmopolitan and a lemon drop later, we ended our test with a Grinch appletini (one of the brand's holiday cocktails). With the perfect balance of sweet and tart (like green apple candy), it's safe to say it was unlike any cocktail we've tried before. That said, when it comes to Bartesian drinks, you're not likely to be disappointed, no matter what kind of drinker you are.

Bartesian

What I Like

makes craft cocktails in less than 40 seconds
self-cleans
has three drink strengths (and a mocktail option)
giftable

What I Don't Like

takes up a lot of counter space
capsules aren't sold everywhere

Bartesian

The Bottom Line: Is It Worth It?

Absolutely. While an investment, the Bartesian cocktail maker is worth the price tag because it creates delicious, high-quality drinks with minimal effort. So, whether you're hosting a party this holiday season or staying in with your boyfriend on a random weekend, it'll come in handy. That's why I think it makes an excellent gift for hostesses, because it does the drink-making for them, so they can finally sit back, relax and still get the praise. Talk about making spirits bright.

$350 at amazon

Destinee Scott

Associate Sales and Deals Editor

Stays on top of the best sales and deals across the internet
Over 3 years of experience in commerce (covering tentpole sales, like Amazon Prime Day, Black Friday and Way Day)
Studied Journalism at St. John's University

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