Michael SatterfieldGoing off the grid doesn’t mean that you can enjoy the comforts of home and the luxury of your favorite libations. While most people will simply throw everything in a cooler and hit the road, those who want an elevated experience pack a field bar. As the luxury outdoor trend grows it is not uncommon to see high-end field bars at campsites, or at basecamps for hunting or fishing trips. We set up my field bar in the back of a Land Rover for an afternoon of shooting sports and shooting cameras out at the country estate of a family friend, it was the perfect way to enjoy a drink while out in the country.
The demand for field bars means that retailers from Macy’s to Wayfair are offering bars that range from a few hundred dollars all the way up to thousands. Take the Blade and Bow Field Bar featured by Garden & Gun, the cherry wood box is priced at a whopping $4,600. While it includes glasses and some bar tools, it doesn’t even come with a bottle of Blade & Bow 22-Year-Old Whiskey at that price, which will cost you another $1,099. While most expensive bars like the Blade and Bow bar are made by the craftsmen over rat Leake Furniture, the popularity of the category means that many low-quality bars are being promoted by online retailers, so be sure to do your research before purchasing a bar online.
That is why I am such a fan of my Gerstner & Sons 1403 Aficionado Travel Bar, it offers made in the USA craftsmanship and is priced at just $1,350. While spending over $1,000 on a wooden box might seem like a lot, it is about the middle of the range for pricing and when put side by side with the $4,000+ bars, the Gerstner’s value really shines. For over 115 years Gerstner has been producing fine wooden tool chests, range boxes, and other furniture-grade industrial fixtures, meaning not only do you get a great field bar, but you get one with heritage and a story.
The Aficionado Travel Bar features a large drawer that can hold four glasses, a cork-lined drawer for playing cards or drink accessories, a cedar drawer perfect for cigars, and a top storage area for additional bar tools. It has room for two standard 750ml bottles, and the front door can be used to pour drinks or slides out of the way depending on where you have placed your bar. Regardless of what bar you buy, make sure that it is well made enough to support the weight that you will be putting in it, as nothing would be worse than spilling your whiskey.
