travel bar ~ with lots of options
Have bar, will travel.
Whether you take along a bottle, a bag or a box, there are lots of ways to bring along your favorite cocktails ~ but some ways have more style than others.
Bluwaterdad and his friends pretty much all had a portable bar. The kind that held two bottles of booze and a couple of glasses in a case ~ Samsonite for the scotch and bourbon. We called it the “Bunky Bar”, after one of Bluwaterdad’s college roommates who brought his travel bar to many occasions and tailgates.
Over the years I’ve acquired a bunch of small flasks, small cocktail shakers and mixing tools, but could never find anything I really liked to make them portable. I kept looking around at the vintage ones like my Dad’s, but that was his thing more than mine.
I saw these metal cosmetic cases in one of my closets, and it hit me to try them out for bar potential. One evening trying different bits and pieces ~ sort of a bartender’s jigsaw puzzle ~ and it came together. A lunch time visit to the craft store for some paper and supplies, plus a couple of sessions at the craft table, and here are the results ready for travel!
mini bar ~ just right for one or two, drinks or people
The smaller one is truly a mini bar ~ two flasks, a funnel for filling them and a collapsible cup. You can drink to your own health on the road ~ or take to a friend’s house, and if your friend supplies glasses and some cranberry juice, you can toast with Cosmopolitans 🙂 .
mini bar ~ perfect for a celebration toast
The larger one can pour for four or more. There’s a set of four 1 oz. metal shot cups for a quick round of cheer, or you can shake and stir a bunch of ways. You do need some glasses and ice from room service or your host, but everything else is in there ~ especially if you drop the lemon twists into the tonic flask for the Original Boat Drinks!
travel bar ~ serving up the original boat drink
For my crafty friends, I’m including the “before” shot. I liked these craft papers in black, silver, gray & white ~ which I layered with bits of ribbon for a look that feels like a vintage travel trunk or travel journal. After I cut the papers to fit, I laminated them to keep dry and wipe clean, before I hot glued them into place.
getting started ~ and figuring it out as I go along 🙂
I used stretch braid with fasteners that look like vintage jewelry studs and Velcro to hold things in place. In the larger case, which I turned on its side, the rails that previously held a tray now hold the flasks and shaker in place. And of course, don’t forget the cocktail napkins ~ the black & white damask pattern ones were perfect.
I see lots of miles ahead for these travel bars! Cheers y’all ~~~
