Blackberry Bourbon Sour
This refreshing libation comes courtesy of Dave Blomberg and his CT Cocktail Car.
Food Entrepreneurs
Party Car
CT Cocktail Car Shakes Up Connecticut’s Event Scene
“Old Volkswagen station wagons never die,” declares a headline from a vintage VW Campervan print advertisement. The featured photograph in this particular ad showcases a retired, somewhat rusty-looking Campervan, sans wheels, retrofitted to serve as a folksy, roadside eatery. Volkswagen frequently referred to their van as a station wagon to attempt to grab market share from the 1970s booming station wagon market. Despite the carmaker’s challenges to successfully carve out a niche for its distinctive campervan, it seems Volkswagen was prescient enough to realize the van’s iconic design would have lasting cultural value.
Fast forward several decades later in New Haven, to when Dave Blomberg chose a 1974 Campervan with which to launch CT Cocktail Car, a mobile catering and cocktail business. Similar to food trucks, CT Cocktail Car is designed to bring high-quality craft cocktails to outdoor venues and events throughout Connecticut.
“The idea began several years ago, when my wife and I were planning our outdoor wedding,” recalls Blomberg. “I come from a bar background, so it was very important that our cocktails were special and not an afterthought.” Post wedding, Blomberg realized there was a unique opportunity to be one of the first to launch a mobile, cocktail-focused catering service in Connecticut. He decided to pursue the idea in earnest.
“Right from the get go, I had my eyes on a VW Campervan,” says Blomberg. “My father used to have a shop that worked on old Volkswagens, and my grandfather owned a classic orange VW van that he worked on in his driveway.” For Blomberg, the campervan combined wonderful, nostalgic charm with an ability to create a functional (and mobile) workspace.
Photo 1: Dave Blomberg pours drinks.
Photo 2: A vintage Volkswagon campervan ad.
Blomberg found a clean, but somewhat roughed up Campervan from Arizona and had it shipped to his home in Connecticut. There, it was stripped down to bare metal and rebuilt from the ground up with the help of a few handy friends and some very talented auto shops. Most everything in it is new, including the motor, wiring, brakes, suspension, and new upholstery in original materials and colors. Blomberg performed all the body work and painting himself, sticking to a classic blue and white color scheme.
Restoring the vehicle for road use was only half the fun. Blomberg had to cleverly design the interior to take advantage of every available inch of space. The van’s roof raises high, so two adults can stand and move around comfortably. Chalkboards line the interior side of the roof, so food and drink menus can easily be displayed and updated. The van is outfitted with all essential barware required to operate a fully functional bar, including refrigerators, a sink, and two ice coolers, which Blomberg uses to store “shaking ice” and large-format Clinebell ice that he cuts using an antique band saw. Complementing the vehicle’s metal components are beautifully finished wood shelves, made from vintage reclaimed sailboat seats, custom cabinetry, and a handmade butcher-block bar top. It took three years of toil and perseverance, but the end result elicits attention wherever Blomberg goes.
“The van certainly helps attract people and creates an instant connection,” says Blomberg. “So many people love to share their stories about a VW bus trip they took or an uncle who had one. It helps break the ice with our guests and invites conversation and conviviality.
When the CT Cocktail Car arrives at an event, customers can expect much more than just customary well drinks. Blomberg considers himself a foodie and loves the pursuit of pairing flavors in interesting and novel ways. Take his Blackberry Bourbon Sour, for example. He substitutes a traditional simple syrup with Litchfield Distillery Bourbon Barrel Maple Syrup, which adds a rich, complex flavor profile and nicely complements the cocktail’s featured ingredient: straight bourbon. In addition, he uses aquafaba (the viscous water chickpeas are canned in) as a replacement for egg whites to create a vegan-friendly alternative without sacrificing mouth-feel.
“One of my favorite things about this business is working with our clientele to create a food and drink menu that is complementary,” says Blomberg. “I feel this aspect of our service fills a void that is often overlooked by other caterers.”
CT Cocktail Car is available for all sorts of events ranging from weddings, birthday parties, backyard soirees, and much more. Blomberg can easily park his van on farms, fields, at festivals, and in backyards – anywhere in Connecticut where it is legally permissible. The Cocktail Car may be a young business, but it’s growing, and it’s probable that the company will eventually need a second vehicle as demand increases. “I have a couple of ideas I’m exploring, but I’m not ready to add another vehicle just yet,” says Blomberg. “Before we expand, I want to make sure we can maintain our high standards for excellence and ensure our quality is bar none."
Photo 1: Dave Blomberg operating his CT Cocktail Car.
Photo 2: Dave Blomberg
There is something undeniably classic about the VW Campervan. Its simple, nostalgic design transforms an ordinary event into something uniquely stylish. Back in the '60s and '70s, the van’s unique style might have been a tough sell for the mainstream automotive shopper. Today, the Campervan is revered for its nostalgic design and imbued with romantic imagery shaped by the hippies and nomads who traveled across the country in them. Another vintage VW Campervan headline reads, “Be the first on your block.” Being the first on your block to hire Blomberg’s charming and beautifully restored cocktail van to cater your next party makes a busload of sense. Whether it stirs patrons’ fond memories or helps create new ones, the impression is sure to be lasting.
- CT Cocktail Car: New Haven; 910-229-8505
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