Shaken or Stirred? Let Your New Robot Bartender Decide

BONA FIDE holiday revelry is often linked to a good mixed drink. Parties where decadent cocktails flow befit the season, especially when those behind the bar know what they are doing. Result: Manhattans with too much whiskey, martinis made hastily with sweet vermouth and too much astringent lemon concentrate. So why not delegate the task to a computer? Over the past few years, cocktail machines have emerged that promise to do the difficult work of remembering recipes more capably than a designated bartender who's had a few tipples herself.