Skip to main content

This ‘Project Gutenberg’ is for booze, not books

pernod ricards project gutenberg smartphone controlled cocktail mixer ricard
Apparently, French distillery Pernod Ricard doesn’t care that there’s already such a thing as Project Gutenberg. In a bold move, the company (who’s best known as the maker of Absolut vodka, Beefeater gin, and Jameson whiskey) went ahead and made its own Project Gutenberg. Oddly enough, Pernod’s project involves books too, but instead of being filled with literature, these “books” are full of liquor.

In a nutshell, Pernod’s Project Gutenberg is a modular, app-controlled cocktail dispenser system that uses removable book-shaped containers to dish out drinks. To use it, just pop open the app and pick your poison – the app will guide you through the rest of the mixing process. Each book has a little spout on the front, and will dispense the perfect amount of booze for the particular drink you’ve chosen, and also offer mixing tips for more complicated recipes.

Related: Best Cocktail Mixer

Recommended Videos

Automated bartender machines like this definitely aren’t a new thing, and while this one clearly isn’t the most advanced contraption ever conceived, it differs from other systems in the way that you refill it. Instead of heading over to the liquor store to pick up more hooch, the Project Gutenberg app allows you to order refills through the mail. The idea behind the book-like shape of the liquor containers seems to be that, with a sturdier, more durable design, they can be shipped to your house more easily, thus saving you from all those time-consuming trips to the booze market.

It’s a decent idea, and might be appealing to certain consumers, but it does come with one big drawback. Based on the video below, we gathered that the Project Gutenberg system limits your choices of booze to only the ones made by Pernod Ricard. Don’t get us wrong, we love Beefeater and Jameson as much as the next spirits enthusiast, but we also like to mix things up every so often, and being stuck with the the same selection of liquor is a big drawback.

At this point, Project Gutenberg isn’t yet available for purchase or pre-order, but Pernod is working to bring the device to market sometime later this year. Find out more here.

Drew Prindle
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Drew Prindle is an award-winning writer, editor, and storyteller who currently serves as Senior Features Editor for Digital…
Nest Doorbell vs. Ring Battery Doorbell Plus: which is the better video doorbell?
The Ring Battery Doorbell Plus installed outside a front door.

Ring and Nest are responsible for some of the best video doorbells available. With easy-to-use smartphone apps, simple installation processes, and the ability to customize your motion alerts, the Ring Battery Doorbell Plus and Nest Doorbell have quickly established themselves as two of the best video doorbells money can buy.

But what exactly is the difference between these two popular gadgets? And which is better for your smart home?

Read more
The best Apple HomeKit devices for 2023
A person unlocking the Aqara U100 smart lock with their phone.

While not as widespread as Google Home or Amazon Alexa, Apple HomeKit remains one of the most popular smart home ecosystems of 2023. The software plays well with iOS devices, and several other gadgets such as smart lights, smart locks, thermostats, and cameras can be controlled using the fancy technology. If you’re looking to build your smart home around Apple’s ecosystem, here are the best HomeKit devices available today.
Locks

HomeKit doesn’t have the largest selection of smart locks, but that doesn’t really matter when you have something as well-rounded as the Aqara Smart Lock U100. Not only does it offer full HomeKit support, but you’ll even gain access to Apple home keys -- allowing you to unlock your door with your iPhone or Apple Watch. There’s also the standard keypad for entering a passcode, along with a fingerprint sensor that can store several dozen fingerprints (so your whole family can enter the home without worrying about forgetting their password or smartphone).

Read more
Secure your home with Ring Floodlight Cam Plus and save $80
Ring Floodlight Camera placed on a wall outside.

Best Buy has one of the best security camera deals at the moment with $80 off the Ring Floodlight Cam Plus Outdoor Wired Surveillance Camera. Usually priced at $200, it's down to $120 for a limited time only so if you're fast enough, you'll save a lot of cash. If you're looking to secure your home, keep reading while we tell you all about the advantages this security camera offers.

Why you should buy the Ring Floodlight Cam Plus
Considered to be one of the best floodlight cameras for someone seeking a hard-wired solution, the Ring Floodlight Cam Plus Outdoor Wired Surveillance Camera is a highly effective home security measure.

Read more