If you've ever pored over the vast collection of whiskeys, scotches, bourbons and whiskys at your favorite liquor store or bar or restaurant, you'd know there are hundreds of brands and thousands of choices out there.
It’s hard to tell which copper-hued whiskey is going to be a favorite by looks and price alone. That's where
Barreled, a new website and app, comes in. Developer Casey O'Neill spent months creating a database of more than 3,000 whiskeys and reviews from professional tasters and amateur imbibers who all share the same passion -- whiskey.
O’Neill’s interest in the spirit grew after he joined the
Denver Whiskey Club. "I'd be in the liquor store trying to figure out if I should buy this [or that whiskey]," he says. "You don't know if you can trust the shelf-talkers."
"I wanted to have an app where you come to this whiskey and then there are user reviews and you'll see your friends pop up to the top," O'Neill explains. "So if you know what they like you like you’ll have a better idea if you like this and we aggregate critics' reviews as well." Those reviews come from publications like
Whiskey Advocate and
Whiskey Cask. Users can touch or click on the review and be taken to the site.
O'Neill is continuing to add features to the app (available on
iOS and
Android) as well as the site, and on making it as social-media friendly as possible.
"Of any liquor, I feel that whiskey is probably the most popular, and has the biggest following," he says. "If this is successful, I could see doing other spirits."
Contact Confluence Denver Innovation & Jobs News Editor Chris Meehan with tips and leads for future stories at chris@confluence-denver.com.
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