Build a Cocktail

Add ingredients, set pour sizes, watch the cost meter move. The full recipe-building flow.

Updated May 6, 2026

A cocktail in PourCost is a list of ingredients with pour sizes, plus a name, plus your menu price. Everything else (cost, margin, suggested price, tier read) is calculated.

The flow

  1. Open Cocktails and tap the plus button.
  2. Name the cocktail. Pick a category if you want to group it on the menu later (e.g. Classic, Tiki, Featured).
  3. Add ingredients one at a time. Each one defaults to its standard pour size; override if your spec calls for a different amount.
  4. Set the menu price. Tap the suggested price to accept it as-is, or type your own. The hero updates to show your current pour cost against the target.
  5. Save. The cocktail lands in your list.

What the screen shows

  • Pour cost hero. Cost, percentage, and suggested price at the top.
  • Build. The ingredient list with pour sizes and per-pour cost contributions.
  • Capsule bar. A single-color glow that visualizes where this drink lands against your target. Green is in tier; warm shifts mean you're over.

Tip

Build the cocktail without garnish first to see the spirit math cleanly. Then add the peel, the salt rim, and the bitters. Watch the meter jump. Garnish is a real cost; ignoring it produces a flattering pour cost number that doesn't match reality.