Drinkboard, A Food And Drink Gifting App, Is Launching Soon

Drinkboard, a new mobile gifting platform, is in the works. And when it launches it looks like it'll be an interesting way to buy a friend everything from a cocktail to a steak.

The app, which has been in the works for about a year, is getting ready to launch, and they've begun signing up early adopters. Bars and restaurants across the country have already signed on, and when the app launches you'll be able to buy your friend, family, co-worker, etc. a gift that's different from just about any others out there. Say they live in Seattle and you're in New York. For their birthday, instead of mailing them a present or just posting on their Facebook wall, you can buy them dinner at a restaurant in their neighborhood. Or, if you want to buy a housewarming gift for a new neighbor, instead of a gift basket you can buy them dinner at your favorite local restaurant.

"If I send my sister flowers across the country it will cost me $25 for the flowers and $25 to be delivered. Drinkboard will let me buy my sister a glass of champagne on her birthday or brunch on Mother's Day," Drinkboard's CEO and founder David Leibner told us. "I can send my father a steak, a Scotch, and a cigar if I want, in real time, with no hassle; just a couple quick clicks from my phone." Another cool feature is the option to re-gift gifts you're unable to use.

Like all apps that require adoption by small businesses in an already incredibly crowded landscape, only time will tell whether Drinkboard will succeed, especially because as opposed to consumers buying discounted meals for themselves, they're buying full-price meals for someone else. But everyone has to give gifts at some point or another, and this is one of the coolest ways we've seen to do it yet. More details will be released closer to launch, but you can read up on the app (and sign up for updates) through their website.