A good bottle deserves better than a paper bag.
Fall is the season of carrying a bottle somewhere: to the tailgate before a home game, to hunting camp, or to a friend's table for Thanksgiving. Most of the time that bottle travels in a thin paper sack or rolls around the back seat. A purpose-built bottle bag protects the glass, keeps everything upright and makes the bottle feel like a gift before anyone opens it.
We make our bourbon bags and wine totes in Greenville, North Carolina, the same way we've made canvas bags since 1982. Here's how to choose one for the way you'll actually use it this season.
What makes a good bottle bag
- Protection for the glass. Padding or a divider keeps bottles from knocking together on bumpy roads and crowded parking lots.
- Something to handle a spill. A wipe-clean liner means a leaky cork or a sticky bottle doesn't ruin the bag.
- A comfortable carry. A shoulder strap matters when your other hand is holding chairs, a cooler or a dish for the table.
- Materials that age well. A bottle bag gets used year after year, so it should look better with time, not worse.
For tailgates: carry it in, set it down, keep it upright
Tailgates mean long walks from the car, crowded truck beds and a lot of setting things down on uneven ground. The Double Barrel Bourbon Bag is built for exactly that. It holds two standard 750ml bottles in 14oz water-repellent waxed canvas, with foam insulation to protect the glass and a wipe-clean nylon liner. A removable divider makes room for a larger bottle, and the adjustable strap switches between hand carry and over the shoulder, which frees up your hands for everything else you're hauling to the lot.
Pair it with the Stadium Cooler, a soft-sided Cordura cooler with a waterproof liner, foam insulation and two seat cushions tucked into built-in pockets, and you've covered drinks, ice and somewhere to sit on the bleachers.
For hunting camp: built for the truck bed and the washboard road
The bottle that comes out once the day's hunt is done is one of the oldest camp traditions. Getting it there in one piece is the hard part. Waxed canvas sheds rain and wet grass, and it picks up a patina the longer it lives in the truck, so a bourbon bag that rides to camp every fall looks better for it.
For a single hunter or a weekend for two, the Double Barrel is the right size. For a lease group, a camp or whoever always brings the bottles, the Four Barrel Bourbon Bag carries four standard bottles with the same waxed canvas, foam insulation and removable divider. Its liner is covered by a lifetime warranty: if it ever leaks, we replace the liner at no charge.
Shopping for a hunter? Our guide to gifts for hunters who have everything breaks down the best gear by type of hunting.
The host gift: from game day to Thanksgiving
Bringing a bottle to someone's house is a fall habit that runs straight through Thanksgiving and into the holidays. A canvas wine tote turns that bottle into a real gift, and the tote stays with your host long after the bottle is finished.
- The Double Wine Bottle Tote is made from 18oz extra-heavy natural cotton duck, fully lined, with two separate compartments that keep each bottle upright and an olive suede leather bottom. It's the lighter, classic option for dinner parties and BYOB nights.
- The Catawba Valley Wine Tote is the heritage version: heavyweight waxed canvas with a twill canvas lining, a padded divider between the bottles, chocolate brown leather handles and bottom, and antique brass rivets.
For a bourbon lover, a Double Barrel with the bottle already inside makes a host gift that gets used every season.
Which one should you choose?
| If you're carrying... | Choose | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Two bottles to a tailgate | Double Barrel Bourbon Bag | Foam insulation, wipe-clean liner, shoulder strap |
| Bottles for a whole camp or party | Four Barrel Bourbon Bag | Carries four, lifetime liner warranty |
| Wine to a dinner or Thanksgiving | Double Wine Bottle Tote | Two compartments, natural canvas, suede bottom |
| A gift with heritage character | Catawba Valley Wine Tote | Waxed canvas, padded divider, leather trim |
Make it personal
Initials turn a good gift into the one that gets kept. We embroider monograms in our Greenville shop, and our bourbon bags look especially sharp with three letters on the front pocket. Buying for a hunt club, a tailgate crew or your company's holiday gifts? Custom logo orders start at 24 pieces and take 6 to 8 weeks, so now is the time to start a custom order for holiday delivery.
Caring for your bottle bag
Wipe the nylon liner with a damp cloth after each use and let the bag air dry with the zipper open before you store it. For waxed canvas, brush off dirt and wipe with a damp cloth or rinse with cold water, without soap. Don't machine wash or dry clean any of these bags. For more on how each material ages and how to look after it, see our plain-English guide to canvas, waxed canvas and Cordura.
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Frequently asked questions
How many bottles does a bourbon bag hold?
The Double Barrel holds two standard 750ml bottles and the Four Barrel holds four. Both have a removable divider for larger bottles.
Can I carry wine in a bourbon bag?
Yes. They're sized for standard 750ml bottles, so most wine bottles fit, and the removable divider makes room for wider ones.
Is a bourbon bag a good gift?
It's a practical gift for hosts, hunters and anyone who likes bringing a bottle to share, and it gets used every season. Add a monogram to make it personal.
Are your bourbon bags and wine totes made in the USA?
Yes. Every one is cut, sewn and finished in our Greenville, North Carolina shop.