What is a hip flask and why should you own one? Let’s face it. Life is nerve-wracking. Whether you have to deliver a speech at your best friend’s wedding, or you’re at a friendly dinner party trembling to socialize, it’s normal for guys to get nervous. All you need is a little confidence and a bit of a kick to overcome your fear. Many gentlemen would agree that in times like this, there’s nothing that a good sip of alcohol can’t solve.
It’s fun to drink, we mean, who doesn’t? Well, not all men drink but for those who enjoy a few shots here and there, we need to move on from drinking from the bottle hidden inside a paper bag. C’mon guys, it’s not classy, so it’s time to level up with a hip flask. We’ve got the details on the kinds of material used in making one to where you can get one for a great deal. Because nothing looks classier than a classy gentleman sipping his favorite liquor from his classy hip flask!
What is a hip flask?
Photo by Regan Gilder on Unsplash
For those who have never come across one, a hip flask is a small container used to store liquor that can be carried in a hip pocket or a coat. Its purpose is to carry a man’s preferred or private supply of alcohol.
This classy container has been around for the longest time. But it has evolved from being made from Mead Skin to durable Stainless Steel. In history, it played an important aspect in the transportation of alcohol because of its preservation and disinfecting properties when clean water is not available. Back in the day, Christian Pilgrims used hip flasks as containers to collect water or oil from sacred places.
Today, hip flasks have been upscale in material and size to suit a gentleman’s preference – sleek in design and practical in use. Shaped with curved edges, the design of the hipflask follows to match the contours of the human body when placed inside blazers or coats because they are visible when placed inside the pockets of trousers. To add, certain states and countries prohibit the use of hip flasks out in the public eye.
Why you should own a hip flask?
The hip flask is the ultimate accessory for the gentleman who knows his drink and chooses what he drinks. It has been every man’s companion to some of life’s events. If you’re particular about what you drink, you can opt to pour in a few ounces into your hip flask. Then, you can share a few sips of your most recommendable drink with your colleagues and friends. If it’s a drink to calm you down, well, there’s no other container better than a classic hip flask. It’s lightweight and small, which makes it perfect for you to carry it wherever you need to go. For all we know, nothing beats a nice swig for every triumph, breakdown, or obstacle in a gentleman’s life.
What is a hip flask made of?
Over the years, different materials were used to manufacture hip flasks to ensure that your favorite liquor doesn’t stale. At the same time, it prevents the internal coating of the hip flask from mixing with it. We’ve got five of the most used materials and layout their pros and cons in dealing with its content.
Glass Flask
This was the first material used in making hip flask. Because of its nonporous and impermeable properties, this kind of hip flask does not affect the flavor of the liquor you store. You won’t get a horrible after taste and you can even store it for a longer period. However, the production of glass hip flasks has stopped due to their fragility and weight. Owning one in this time is considered a prized possession for any hip flask collector.
Copper Flask
Copper flasks have been around for the longest time. The use of copper allows durable and corrosion-resistant propers for longer use of the flask. It assures safe and pleasant drinking and at the same time a nice vintage look from the copper’s natural color. The downside of this is your choice of liquor. It is not ideal to store a beverage with a pH below 6.0 for a certain amount of time since copper might leach into the drink. And we don’t want a copper-like aftertaste now, do we? Copper will last long but its shine won’t. To keep the outside in tip-top shape, you will need to do a bit of brass polishing from time to time.
Sterling Silver Flask
It’s a novelty to have a flask made from this kind of material. It’s a hip flask that’s worth your money because of its attractive design and durability. Silver has antibacterial properties and is used as a container to keep the freshness of fresh substances. It also has properties that cool the digestive system and metabolism of the body. They do not rust easily, so hip flasks made of this material are safe to store alcoholic beverages. Owning a flask made from Sterling Silver is a novelty, however, can be costly. It may not be the flask you would go for on the first purchase, but it’s something to save up for the quality. Aside from being costly, this flask also requires some regular cleaning for longer maintenance.
Pewter Flask
The pewter flask is for gentlemen who want the design to be classy and sophisticated but are practical in where they spend their money. The material won’t give your tastebuds an aftertaste and will maintain the quality of the liquor. For sure, you’ll be sipping those bad days away with this hip flask. Being a quality metal, the pewter’s durability will last in the long run if well maintained. And by this we mean, the way it’s handled because pewter hip flasks easily dent. So if you want your hip flask looking stylish always, well, best not to drop it too often. Not only that, pewter metals, when exposed to saltwater, are prone to tarnish, so it’s not the ideal hip flask for someone who goes to the beach that often.
Stainless Steel Flask
Stainless steel hip flasks are the most commonly bought and sold hip flask, both durability, and cost-wise. What’s great about the material being used is that steel is a resilient metal that won’t rust or stain so you know it won’t do any harm to your stored beverage. Not only that, but the metal is durable so you’re guaranteed quality for the price you pay. The only con you can have with purchasing a stainless steel hip flask is its ductility. If you store a stainless steel flask inside your freezer for quite some time, the cold temperature affects the metal’s ductility which makes it prone to breaking.
Does a hip flask come in different sizes?
Yes, a hip flask comes in different sizes ranging from 4 ounces to 10 ounces. Most men would prefer to purchase the 8 ounces hip flask because it’s just the right size to put inside their coats and pockets. Women, on the other hand, prefer the 6 ounces hip flask.
Photo from Google Images
If you’re wondering how many shots would fit inside a flask, 1 shot is equal to 1.5 oz. So when purchasing a hip flask, consider how much you’d want it to contain if you’re bringing it to events or just drinking at home.
What can you pour into a hip flask?
The hip flask was to store ONLY hard liquor. So you can pour drinks such as whiskey, bourbon, vodka, and other hard spirits that you might not find in normal drinking places. You can pour any beverage that is 80 proof and above into a hip flask. Anything below that won’t mix well inside.
Is it legal to own one?
Technically, yes, it’s legal to own a hip flask except where you carry it with you and how you use it makes it illegal. There are laws in America, specifically the Open Container Laws, that prohibit the exposure of open containers of alcohol or the consumption of alcohol in public, except for private places open to the public like bars, restaurants, and stadiums.
These laws are still being implemented today and are being practiced. However, not all laws are the same for some states in the U.S. so we advise checking up on your state’s open container laws or any laws regarding alcohol consumption and containment in public places for precautionary measures. This is because the states would like to avoid incidents such as drunk driving and public intoxication, so it’s best to drink responsibly.
How to fill-up hip flask (2-Ways)
Filling up a flask is not as easy as you think. If you do it the lazy way, then be our guest, but your drink will only end up pouring before you even get the chance to drink it. So we have two ways you can fill up your flask without spilling the contents:
Funnel
Some hip flasks come with a funnel to help guide the liquid into smaller openings. Usually, they come in the same metal or material as your hip flask. But there are those hip flasks that don’t come with any at all. Here are the steps if you do have a funnel available to fill up your hip flask.
Step 1: Make sure that the smaller end of the funnel fits the opening of your hip flask. Place the spout of the funnel inside the flask and let your flask stand on a flat surface. Hold it in place to keep it steady.
Step 2: Choose your preferred liquid and pour it onto the funnel. Slowly keep an eye out on the amount of liquor you pour in so that it doesn’t overflow.
Step 3: If you feel like your flask is almost full, slowly lessen the amount of liquor you pour into and check from time to time if the liquor has already filled the inside of the flask. You can opt to determine this by filling it up until it reaches the neck of the funnel, but that would still spill a little. That is why we recommend checking up on it every so often when it’s almost full. Once you’re done, close your flask and you’re good to go.
Measuring Cup
If your hip flask doesn’t come with a funnel, then be resourceful. A measuring cup does the same purpose.
Step 1: Check to see how many ounces your hip flask is and make sure that it’s equivalent to your measuring cup.
Step 2: Pour the desired amount into the measuring cup before transferring it into your hip flask. This ensures that you won’t have to worry about overflowing liquor if you put in too much.
How to clean a hip flask?
How to clean flask before use
When you get your new flask, it’s advisable to clean it first before using it. Just take the cap off and put some water inside. Just water is okay. It’s unnecessary to use soap when cleaning
Your newly bought flask. Put the lid back on and give it a few shakes before pouring the water out. Once the water’s out, lay your flask down uncapped on a table and let it air dry.
How to clean flask after use
After you’ve quenched your thirst, add a bit of hot or warm water with a few drops of dishwashing soap into your flask. Give it a good shake for one minute before rinsing it several times with running water. Then let it dry by laying it down on a flat surface. Once it dries, it’s now ready for your next use.
Tip to maintaining flask
- Don’t leave your favorite alcohol or any beverage in the flask for extended periods.
- Store away when not in use.
- Do not put it in the dishwasher if you want to clean it. There’s no easy way out if you want it to have a longer life.
- Do not use it to store acidic content like juices and cocktails as the chemicals will affect the metal interiors of your flask
- Do not store hot liquid inside your hip flask for a long period as metal and hot liquids don’t mix well together.
A Gentleman’s Do’s and Don’ts To A Hip Flask
What a Gentleman Would Do
- Like we said before, certain states do not allow public drinking for certain causes. Do your research and check your local laws that align with the open container law so you would know your boundaries when buying your hip flask.
- You have the option to bring your hip flask to private events that allow drinking like weddings or house parties. Do pour in your favorite drink if you feel like it won’t be made available at the party.
- Sharing is caring so be polite and try offering a sip of your favorite drink to your friends.
- Always make sure that if you bring your hip flask with you when going outside, make sure that you’re sober enough to safely drive home.
What a Gentleman Wouldn’t Do
- You can’t bring these on flights.
- Do not buy a hip flask to frequently get drunk.
- Do not buy a hip flask with the idea that it saves you money when going out to bars. A hip flask is more like storage for your favorite liquor, one that you know is hard to find in public and common bars.
A Gentleman’s Companion
So we’ve already gone over what is a hip flask and the things to consider if you want to own one. For a true gentleman with class, he knows that a hip flask is not just used in storing liquor. It also acts as a companion – a friend, during the times you need a little pick me up or push. As we’ve mentioned it’s an accessory that a gentleman should cherish and flaunt like how a woman does with her jewelry. After all, for a man who knows his drink, he has to store it somewhere to take it anywhere.
That said, buying a flask won’t be as easy as buying cheap liquor. Materials like pewter or sterling silver are just some of the quality materials used to make flasks. That is why they’re priced higher. It won’t be cheap, but there are places you can get it for a good deal. We’ve rounded up the best hip flask to get online, so check it out if you’re interested.
