30 replies to this topic

[Jack Griffin]

You won't see this on Martha Stewart! I found an old circa 1940s small suitcase with the logo Vacationer on it at a yard sale yesterday for $2. I cleaned it, hit her with some Febreze, and viola! Hot glue in a 1/4" plywood divider, some foam from a twin bed mattress topper a la Bed, Bath & Beyond ($14), and some fabric I had around as a backdrop for vintage instrument photos. Everything is held in place safe and secure. The padding on the lid, divider and sides gives just the right compression to stop things from moving around. I rolled up spare pieces of the fabric to go between the glasses before closing the case. It will hold 1 bottle and three glasses, or in this case, 2 vintage egg glasses and an auto-verseur. In the last shot, I'm off for a tête-à-tête. I encourage you all to try this. An old thrift-store suit and bowler are suggested as accessories. Also, have a good story ready for the customs agent! (La Berthe De Joux strongly suggested for proper enjoyment at aforementioned tête-à-tête.)
I'll have this at the Catskills event next month for shits and giggles.

[Gwydion Stone]

Nice.

I have a similar suitcase I've considered retro-fitting for when I go out to do tastings. I won't be paying the extra baggage to bring it to the event however. Besides, it was my grandfather's, and I don't want the apes at the airport destroying it.

[Gwydion Stone]

... I'm off for a tete a tete. (Sorry Aggelos and Marc, my keyboard doesn't have the correct French characters!)

Try it now.

[Marc]

Nice!
I need one too, it's always a pain to carry absinthe accessories and a bottle when I travel.

[Jack Griffin]

I did this as it is carry-on size...though they may not let you carry on the absinthe, I'm not up on the rules these days. I suppose if you told them it was for the pilot they'd let you right thru!

[Quartermaster James]

[quote name='sbmac' date='Sep 6 2010, 12:32 PM' post='220367']
(Sorry Aggelos and Marc, my keyboard doesn't have the correct French characters!)

I just C&P them into text here.

Oh! And nice case!

A one liter thermos filled with ice and a few bottles of water, and you're a self-contained traveling Absinthe road show!

[Absomphe]

Nice case, indeed!

Very classy.

[Phoenix]

Much nicer then my usual plastic bag or Popples lunchbox.

[Jack Griffin]

... I'm off for a tête-à-tête. (Sorry Aggelos and Marc, my keyboard doesn't have the correct French characters!)

Try it now.

edited and corrected thanks to Gwydion's filter robot gizmoid. Now what about the correct French characters for "shits and giggles"?

[rob fritz]

Scott, why don't you try and sell some of those ? I'd like mine pre-loaded of course

[Jack Griffin]

Hey Rob, too much time away from guitar bench. Besides, it's a project anyone can take on.
Very satisfying as well. The freedom to go anywhere in style, share this with friends, and see the smiles as you open the case. Thanks Quartermaster James...a small thermos WILL fit in there with two glasses!) In fact, three or 4 repro pontarlier glasses will fit WITH a small thermos and dripper. I'd only cram repros in at higher numbers, but that is a great idea!

In fact, smaller sample bottles would provide even MORE room for sugar, spoons, power bars, condoms, etc....

[mgs]

.... and I don't want the apes at the airport destroying it....

a side note, but still related :

I brought a beautiful round painting, a mandala, made by my cousin from Brazil two weeks ago. In the back of this painting there was a pray, written by a family member.

It was packed nicely with cardboard and plastic bubbles, and looked like a 4 feet diameter huge pizza. The apes from TSA cut it in three parts, two in one side, and another cut on the other side with a knife.

They cut completely through the canvas !!!! I wrote many emails already to TSA, the only response I had was : "fix it and send the receipt, if that is reasonable you can be reimbursed at our discretion...."

can someone fix something like this ? impossible.....

- Marcelo

[Mat B.]

Classy, SB!

mgs, sorry to hear that; sadly, I considered being one of those apes, but even though I am job-starved, I declined. I hope you get it corrected!

[techdiver]

The good, the bad and the ugly: Good is the case, bad is the destruction of the painting, and the ugly is that "send the receipt, if that is reasonable you can be reimbursed at our discretion....".

[sandpedlar]

Great find, sbmac! What a good investment of 2 bills.
So sorry to hear your horrendous news, Marcelo.
I carry my aunt's old Samsonite train case to drag samples/tasters around. It's the perfect size for smaller bottles and tasting glasses, as well as spoons, matches, etc.

[Jack Griffin]

Marcelo, you can ask to have it painted again, and have it shipped to you as an option...it may be lass costly than trying to repair/restore it...If you go the restoration route, get the people there to write a letter.
Take photos if you haven't, and document everything that is said between all parties. A letter withall this information to a VP of the airline will most likely solve your problem, especially if you are polite despite how you were treated.

Now, go make a case like mine, take it to the airline execs, serve them up some good absinthe, and they'll most likely buy you a your own plane!

Here's the repro glass and brouille version with water bottle thanks to QJ's idea! A standard double wall stainless steel water bottle filled with ice and water, surrounded by all that foam BECOMES a thermos!
(though I might put it in a ziplock due to condensation.)

[Ron]

That's pretty snazzy, Scott! Approve.

[Derrick]

Sweet!

[Absomphe]

Indeed!

[Gwydion Stone]

Now what about the correct French characters for "shits and giggles"?

Sure: sheets end geegles.

[pt447]

The first thing that came to my mind was the suitcase that Thompson totes around in Fear & Loathing in Las Vegas.

[Jack Griffin]

The first thing that came to my mind was the suitcase that Thompson totes around in Fear & Loathing in Las Vegas.

"As your attorney, I advise you to drink what's in that suitcase."

[Jay]

Now what about the correct French characters for "shits and giggles"?

Sure: sheets end geegles.

Or my favorite variant, as heard from G.O.B. Bluth in 'Arrested Development' while talking to a group of elementary school kids in a Chuck E. Cheese's-like establishment: "shizz and giggs."

But seriously Scott - listen to your attorney. He's got a license. A license to louche.

[Jack Griffin]

This absinthe travel case made its first trip across State lines, and broke-in two absinthe virgins in New England. When I arrived at their home, they briefly feared I was staying overnight without warning, as they saw the suitcase! The contents were revealed a bit later. (I made them wonder a bit)!

Verdict: Two New Englanders now like absinthe, and will be wanting more. Perroquet was the culprit.

[OMG_Bill]

Perroquet is a decent culprit.

[brewmaster]

Very nice indeed! Thanks for the pics Scott! Now where is my old suitcase. . . . .

[nny12345]

That's damn sexy!

[Minnalouche]

Very cool travel case, Scott!

Have absinthe, will travel!

[Songcatcher]

Nice indeed. I need ideas for a hiking, backpacking travel case

[crow]

A friend of mine travels with a bottle of booze tucked away in an old viola or ukelele case. I didn't see the inside of his case, but I'm sure a case like that can be fitted with the same or similar stuff in Scott's.