How to Create the Ultimate Outdoor Drinks Station

There is a particular pleasure in making a drink outdoors.
The ingredients seem simpler. The surroundings do more of the work. A bottle opened at the end of a long day feels different when the sun is low, the fire is lit and everyone has finally stopped checking the time.
Creating an outdoor drinks station doesn't require a complicated setup.
It requires a few good things, arranged thoughtfully.

Start with the bar

The foundation is the surface itself.
A dedicated field bar creates a natural home for bottles, glasses and accessories while keeping everything together and easy to transport.
A well-designed field bar also brings a sense of occasion to the gathering. Rather than balancing bottles on a garden table, you have a proper place to prepare and serve drinks.

Choose your glassware carefully

Glassware has more influence on the experience than many people realize.
Whiskey deserves a substantial tumbler. Wine benefits from the right shape. A simple highball can feel considerably more elegant when served in proper glassware.
For a sporting gathering, gamebird whiskey glasses introduce an especially personal touch.
The bird depicted on the glass can reflect the day's sport, the recipient's favorite quarry or simply a shared appreciation of field life. Field Traditions' gamebird collection includes designs such as pheasant, mallard, woodcock, partridge, grouse, quail and turkey.

Keep the essentials close

A good outdoor bar doesn't need dozens of tools.
Keep your favorite spirits, a bottle opener, bar spoon, measure and perhaps a small selection of mixers within reach.
If you're serving whiskey, add a water jug and quality ice.
If cocktails are on the menu, consider a shaker and a small cutting board for garnishes.
The principle is simple: everything you need, nothing you don't.

Add something to eat

Drinks are rarely enjoyed alone.
A cheese board, charcuterie, olives or freshly baked bread can turn an outdoor drinks station into the beginning of an evening.
Field tableware works particularly well here. Enamelware has long been associated with outdoor life because it is practical, durable and easy to clean, while still providing a more considered alternative to disposable serving pieces.

Think about the setting

The best outdoor bars feel as though they belong where they are.
Place yours near the fire pit for evening gatherings. Position it beneath a covered terrace for summer entertaining. Take it to a lodge, shooting weekend or country retreat.
Lighting matters too.
Lanterns, candles or warm outdoor lighting can transform the atmosphere once daylight fades.

The final pour

The secret to a memorable outdoor drinks station is not abundance.
It is intention.
A beautifully made bar. A good bottle. A proper glass. Something to eat. Somewhere comfortable to sit.
Everything else is optional.
And when the first drink is poured and the conversation begins to linger, you'll find that you've created something far more valuable than a drinks station.
You've created a reason to stay outside a little longer.