The Definitive Guide To Flasks

As long as there has been alcohol, man has found ways to carry it with them. Before the invention of the hip flask, in the Middle Ages, folks would gut fruit in order to stash their alcohol. Later in the 18th century, women would smuggle gin onto British warships via a makeshift flask fashioned from a pig's bladder. As this method later proved to be impractical (and a bit disgusting) the traditional hip flask evolved.

The once used Pilgrim Bottle was closer in design to our modern day flasks. These were made of earthenware, glass, porcelain or leather and were highly decorated. The pilgrim bottle was flat on one side and bowed out on the other so it would sit up against the body or saddle. Loop holes on either side of the bottle provided a way to suspend it from around the neck, shoulder or saddle. They had corks for tops and were usually used for carrying water, religious gear (like holy water and oil) or other precious metals.

As technology advanced, so did the hip flask. In the 1920s when alcohol was banned, the design of the flask was changed and gained popularity. The now more familiar slim design of the hip flask was easily hidden from the prying eyes of the lawman, so they were used more and more.

Materials such as pewter and silver made their way into the hip flasks and can still be purchased today; however they are more of a collectable now than used for its intended purpose.

Flasks Today

Now that we know where flasks came from, lets look at some of the funkiest flasks on the market today. They're not traditional and will definitely give you some pause for thought.

The Camera Flask: Say cheese and take a belt out of this small flask made to look exactly like a camera. It's made out of pewter and the lid is where a flash would normally be. You may not fool security with this one, but at least it will give them something to talk about.

The Brandy Smuggler Cane: This cane serves a dual purpose with a narrow flask inserted through the cane. Just pop the handle off and fill it with your favorite beverage. The cane is useable as an aid for walking, even after the drink is gone.

The Barnoculars: Made to resemble real binoculars, this unique flask holds liquor in both its eyepieces. Not great for birding or being inconspicuous at sporting events.

The Keychain Flask: Flasks are now made to fit on your keychain. Though it won't hold a lot of alcohol, it may still be enough to land you in hot water with the highway patrolman.

What to look for in a Flask

Whether you are buying a flask, for a novelty or an impressive gift, there are a number of things you should consider. First, who is the person you're buying it for? Will they use it for a show piece or for its intended purpose? If it's for display, then seeking out an antique or an unusually designed flask can make a lasting impression. If your recipient will use the flask then be sure to find one that will fit into his/her pocket and sit flush with their person.

Flasks should also be equipped with screw tops that are attached. There's nothing worse than dropping the lid behind the bleachers at a sporting event, then having to go look for it.

Another thing to keep in mind is what the flask is made from. If the material is too pliable, then you run the risk of sitting on the flask, damaging it and possibly ruining the entire structure or injuring yourself. - glass flasks are highly breakable, so extra care has to afforded to this material when it's in use.

What is it made from?

The two most popular materials flasks are made from is stainless steel and pewter. Both of these offer advantages and disadvantages.

Stainless steel is cheaper to use and is very durable. It is also resistant to rust and corrosion. It is easy to clean and come in a variety of styles and colors. Stainless steel flasks stay shiny and can often be covered in other materials, such as leather, or can be engraved with patterns.

Pewter flasks tend to be more expensive, but a great investment. They are stylish and chic, making a lasting item for generations to come. Pewter also will maintain the alcohol at the right temperature and does not have the metallic taste of metal. However, one drawback to pewter is it's not as durable as stainless steel.

Another important thing to remember is to never drink from an old pewter flask. Back in the day these were made from lead, which can be toxic to the system.

Cleaning your flask

Never use soap and water in a flask. The soap molecules will adhere to the inside and taint the taste of you alcohol.

When you first purchase a new flask, it's recommended that you rinse it with hot water. If you feel this isn't enough, then equal parts of water and vinegar may be used. Heat then pour this mixture into the flask. Screw the lid on and shake vigorously. Rinse repeatedly until no smell of vinegar remains. Let stand to air dry.

Also, do not leave alcohol in your flask for more than three days. It will begin to take on a metallic taste.

Whether you buy a classic flask or go with something more outrageous, they are sure to bring you many hours of sipping celebration pleasure. Armed with knowledge and proper care of your flask, you should be able to enjoy it for years to come. And remember to drink responsibly.

Flask FAQs

• How should I clean my flask?
  Cleaning your flask is as simple as can be. Shortly after using it, empty it of any remaining alcohol. Take a paper towel and wet it with warm water. Use this to clean around the lid and screw on cap. Fill your flask with warm water and let it stand for 10 minutes. Shake it with the cap closed and empty. That's it.
  
  
  
• Can I use my flask to hold other fluids besides alcohol?
  There is no reason you can't use our flasks for purposes other than holding liquor. Although the vast majority of our customers only use our flasks for holding alcohol, we have had a few that have used them for other purposes. Some of these include holding mixed drinks, hot sauces or other condiments, water and juices. If you do use a stainless steel flask for any reason besides holding alcohol, be sure to fill it up shortly before using it (don't leave anything besides alcohol in a flask overnight) and empty it and rinse it with warm water shortly after using it.
  
  
  
• What are flasks made of?
  Our flasks are made of either pure stainless steel or lead-free pewter. Some metal flasks are wrapped in genuine leather.
  
  
  
• How do you fill a flask?
  You can fill a flask using a flask funnel. The opening to most flasks are very narrow, so alcohol can not be poured directly in from the bottle. A liquor bottle pourer can also be used.
  
  
  
• What sizes do flasks come in?
  The most common flask sizes are 6 and 8 ounces, however there are a whole bunch of other sizes available. Keychain flasks hold 1 ounce of liquor. Smaller style flasks, miniature flasks carry as little as 2 ounces. A classic pocket flask, which is long and narrow holds 5 ounces. Recently, larger flasks have increased in popularity. These are novelty items and range from 18 ounces, all the way up to 64 ounces.
  
  
  
• How are flasks personalized?
  Stainless steel and pewter flasks (as well as leather flasks with a steel engraving plate) are personalized using a diamond tip engraving cutter. The engraving instructions are entered into a computer. The computer relays a message to the engraving machine and the engraving machine drags the diamond tip bit (which looks just like a drill bit but with a diamond tip) across the surface of the flask to form the message.
  
  Leather flasks are done a little differently. Leather flasks (again, that don't have a steel engraving plate), are engraved user a laser engraver. Basically, the computer again send the message to the laser engraving machine, but now, a laser is used to burnish the leather with the message of your choice.
  
  
  
• How is a monogram engraved?
  We actually did a whole blog post on this that will walk you through the proper way to engrave a monogram. You can find it HERE
  
  
  
• I'm stumped on what to engrave on my flask, do you have any ideas?
  We wrote a blog post on this, offering some flask engraving ideas: Engraving Ideas for Zippo Lighters . You can see, the words you can have engraved on a flask can range from funny to sentimental, with everything in between. The important things to remember is to make it personal to the recipient.
  
  
  
• Can I carry a flask on an airplane?
  The short answer is yes, as long as its empty. You cannot carry a flask filled with alcohol in your carry on bag. You can, however, carry a flask filled with alchohol in your checked luggage. It is important to note that it has to be be sealed tightly, if not, you run the risk of having it taken from you. All this being said, we have heard of many people that had no problem bringing a flask filled with bourbon or scotch (or some other spirit) onto a plane. The worst that can happen is they take it from you.
  
  
  
• Is there a minimum age to carry a flask?
  No, there isn't. There is a minimum age to carry a flask filled with alcohol, the minimum drinking age (21 in the United States). So an empty flask, or a flask filled with a non-alcoholic beverage is legal to carry at any age. A flask filled with alcohol is bound by the same laws as any other type of alcohol.
  
  
  
• Can I carry a flask in my pants or jacket pocket?
  Many larger flasks, 6 ounces or more are too large to carry in your jean's pocket, possibly even in your jacket pocket. The ideal flask to carry in your jeans pocket is a small flask, about 2 ounces. The ideal flask for a jacket pocket is a 5 ounce tall or slim flask.
  
  
  
• What type of lids are available for flasks?
  There are 2 types of lids for flasks, a captive top and a loose top. Both screw on but the captive top is attached to the flask, making it harder to misplace. The loose top is just as its name describes, loose.
  
  
  
• Do pewter flasks contain lead?
  All pewter flasks are made from 100% pure, lead free pewter.