My Vintage Travel Bar

Sarah

We are in the midst of college visits right now which means a busy month of road trips. What makes staying at random budget hotels a bit more enjoyable? Our favorite sips packed in my vintage travel bar.

Also known as hootch suitcases or portable pubs, these handy totes were popular in the ‘60s and ‘70s. They include partitions for bottles and leather holsters to hold aluminum travel cups and shot glasses, a drink stirrer, a bottle opener and a small serving tray. Most also included a lock and key for safekeeping.

Our vintage travel bar, The Original TravL Bar by Ever-Wear, stocked and ready to go!
Our vintage travel bar, The Original TravL Bar by Ever-Wear, stocked and ready to go!
This is one of the travel bars I found on a recent trip to The Mall of St. Paul.
This is one of the travel bars I found on a recent trip to The Mall of St. Paul.

We’ve used ours over the years when we’ve gone “cocktailing” at the neighbors, and more recently for road trips, but really there are so many places to carry your precious cargo in style. Plus, wouldn’t this be a fun gift to give someone stocked with their favorite cocktail ingredients? If you are in the market for one (and after reading this I am sure you will be!), I found several online on eBay and Esty as well as a few at my neighborhood antique store: the Mall of St. Paul.

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I inherited my own liquor luggage from my grandparents, Fran and Les. A little sticker inside the case says it is The Original TravL Bar by Ever-Wear in Chicago. One of my favorite parts is the bottle opener with a handle made of Bakelite.

Apparently, my grandparents also appreciated traveling with some comforts of home as can be seen in their old scrapbook photos that document their own road trips with their besties, Bob and Nancy.

Les and Fran are shown here, with their friend Nancy, on a road trip to Cable, Wisc. If you look closely you can see the travel bar on the picnic table! Also, note the awesome Chevy Caprice Classic in the background. I loved that car!
Les and Fran are shown here, with their friend Nancy, on a road trip to Cable, Wisc. If you look closely you can see the travel bar on the picnic table! Also, note the awesome Chevy Caprice Classic in the background. I loved that car!
The return trip from Cable included a stop to enjoy some Bloody Mary drinks. Pictured here is Bob (with the sweet pants), Fran and Nancy. Could that be Nancy’s own portable pub on the bench in front of her?
The return trip from Cable included a stop to enjoy some Bloody Mary drinks. Pictured here is Bob (with the sweet pants), Fran and Nancy. Could that be Nancy’s own portable pub on the bench in front of her?

Travel Bar Staples

While we don’t make pit stops to have a drink like they may have done in the old days, here’s what we are packing in our touring travel bar this week to enjoy when we are safe and snug in our home away from home:

Aside from booze, here is a look at what is in our vintage travel bar for road trip season.
Aside from booze, here is a look at what is in our vintage travel bar for road trip season.
  • Booze: With spaces for three bottles, we prioritize and bring wine, whiskey and vodka. Bonus: I found some small travel size cocktails in a can at my local liquor store that pack nicely!
  • Snacks: I use the travel cups to tuck an assortment of little chocolates, cookies and nuts. I also try to squeeze in a lemon or lime.
  • Fun: a deck of cards, dice and party lights—I love to bring my own battery-operated string of lights or candles because, why not?!

Of course, we typically supplement all of this with a small cooler stocked with club soda, pops, etc. or pick up those items at the hotel as we fill our ice bucket.

About Fran & Les

Yes, my grandparents loved their cocktails! But above all, they loved spending time with family and friends and enjoying life to the fullest. I feel lucky to have so many great memories of them—they were very involved grandparents and a huge part of my life. But something that really sticks with me is, how they, as a couple, prioritized their own fun. Fran and Les had a very busy social life with dinners out, golfing and traveling to places near and far with their many friends. And, I am sure their little leather suitcase accompanied them on many of those journeys. 😉

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If only this vintage travel bar could talk, oh the stories it would tell!

Cheers and happy roadtripping.

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