• by Laurie Sullivan  @lauriesullivan, May 7, 2014

A last-minute dinner party or event has you in a tizzy because you forgot the wine? The mobile app Drizly enables consumers to order beer, wine and spirits and have it delivered within 20 to 40 minutes. This week the company has partnered with the car service Uber to send one pair of basketball fans to Saturday's NBA playoff game between the Nets and the Miami Heat. 

Roundtrip transportation to and from the Barclays Center, along with alcohol beverages provided by Boston-based Drizly and Uber, of course.

The promotion aims to bring Drizly into the minds of consumers. Drizly partners with neighborhood liquor stores that fulfill orders, building a neighborhood partner network by licensing exclusive delivery zone per merchant.

The consumer downloads the app, registers with an email, provides a delivery address and Drizly locates the closest partner store, serving up the merchant's inventory in the app. Consumers can search via brand name or type. Soon users will find pairing wine and food advice. While Boston area liquor stores have delivered beverages for years, it's not the case in southern California, an area the company plans to offer service in within the coming year.  

Discovery and experience are two app features, explains Michael DiLorenzo, SVP of marketing. The future service road map includes a way for consumers to order products that are not available at the local store, but may require additional time for delivery. The merchants must have their own delivery service or contract out.