Add Some Travel Style to Your Home (and Virutal) Happy Hours!

Perhaps like you, some of my favorite places to enjoy an adult beverage are on flights, in airport lounges, and at hotel bars.

But those options are off the tray table for a while.

Our travel-related happy hours currently consist of enjoying a sip while watching YouTubers like Trolley Dolly, Ray in the Skyy, Swayne Martin, Micah Muzio’s helicopter videos, and a few others.

We also visit virtually with friends and family through apps like FaceTime, Zoom, and Duo — as you might, too!

Here are some simple, rather affordable little touches to bring a couple of little — yet fun and stylish — travel touches to your home happy hours.

Warm, Assorted Nuts and a Welcome Beverage

We’re big fans of enjoying some assorted, warm nuts with our evening beverages.

We love these Kirkland (Costco) containers of assorted nuts (available for purchase on Amazon). Aside from that, your local grocery store probably has some good, off-brand options available.

Glassware

Our house has bourbon and Scotch drinkers, so that’s what you see pictured in some of our examples. But my stepmother loves gin & tonics served in the same barware.

We enjoy spirits in these Marquis by Waterford Markham Double Old Fashioned Crystal Glasses. They look great — and will last years if you take halfways decent care of them. (We noticed our whiskey tastes better in heavier, crystal glasses than in thinner, generic glass tumblers.)

The MSRP is $100 for a set of four. (When we bought our first set a few years ago, they were a complete steal at $25.) Instant savings coupons are occasionally available, so keep an eye out for them.

There’s also this option for $39.99.

Make sure to handwash the glasses. Yes, you can put them in the dishwasher — but that significantly decreases their life. (Don’t ask me how I know.)

Ice Spheres and Big Cubes

Large ice cubes melt slower than small ones. (Science!)

Your drink won’t dilute as quickly when you use bigger cubes (assuming you like drinks on the rocks).

We like the Tovolo sphere ice molds and OXO square ice block tray with lid. (There are similar OXO options without the tray and lid. But the lid limits freezer burn and odor absorption that makes your ice taste icky.)

Wine Glasses

We also enjoy some wine every now and then. We like our Riedel wine tumblers — which not only are crystal but dishwasher safe.

What Are You Doing?

Are there any travel nuances you’re recreating at home? Please share in the below Comments section!

— Chris