I stumbled across this really well written article over at livemint.com that is essentially an ode to hip flasks.  Titled On The Hip, it details the history of the hip flask from inception to today’s versions. There are a lot of cool nuggets in here, like the medieval origin of the flask as a drinking vessel made of leather and slung over your steed.  These eventually morphed into pilgrim’s bottles, which were adorned with jewels detailing these travelers journeys.

Eventually, glass became the vessel of choice so the bearer could see just what they were drinking.  These morphed into flasks being made of sterling silver, a safe metal that would not taint the alcohol inside (like lead or other metals might).  Well, I don’t want to plagiarize the whole article,  because quite honestly, its writer Joel Harrison, who runs a blog called Cask Strength,  does a top notch job that I couldn’t compete with anyway!  Suffice it to say that the flask eventually morphed into the stainless steel and leather wrapped versions we have today.  And thank God it did because I don’t know how I would get through the weekend without my trusty flask!

-Simon

The modern hip flask is a uniquely American invention that was used in a variety of ways over the last two centuries, but mostly to provide a secret stash of alcohol for the holder. The earliest hip flasks were made of silver, pewter, and even glass while most all modern flasks are constructed of stainless steel. With higher security in place at some sporting events, people have been known to use plastic flasks to avoid being discovered by metal detectors. They come in all shapes and sizes and some even come with their very own shot glass!

Hip Flasks Historically

Hip flasks in the general form in which they appear today first surfaced in the 18th Century. They were shaped to fit a man’s or woman’s hip which accounts for that curved look most all hip flasks have. They were commonly used by women who boarded British warships in the 18th Century to smuggle gin to the crews and to use themselves if they were traveling to the New World. It’s also not hard to imagine a cowboy on a long cattle drive during the 19th Century needing that extra added jump start to get him through a tough and lonely night turning to his trusty hip flask.

The Age of Jazz and Hip Flasks

Things changed dramatically for makers of hip flasks in the early 20th Century. Not only did they see a rise in demand thanks to the Prohibition Act of 1919, but they gained a whole new target market for the very first time – American women. After the end of World War I, women in America for the first time were welcomed in bars which had for years been the sole dominion of men. Unfortunately, they picked the wrong time since alcohol was now illegal. But being enterprising and resourceful, the manufacturers of hip flasks made new models suitable for women and it soon became a fashion accessory for a number of young women, who were known as Flappers for their bobbed hair and risque behavior. Hip flasks for women were worn on the hip and held in place by their garter belts which in those days meant they were safe unless they were caught in the act since social norms at that time did not allow male officers to search females and there were no female police officers. That left young women free to take their drink of choice virtually anywhere they wanted, they just had to be discrete when taking a drink.

NFL Tailgating and more

Even after Prohibition was ended in 1933, hip flasks still remained popular, but their use by men and women changed yet again. Now it was all the rage to smuggle your favorite potent potable into college football games, which remained much more popular than professional football up until at least the 1960′s. Today, it is common for fans of the NFL smuggle liquor in via a hip flask, but with more security in place, plastic flasks have been developed to get around that minor inconvenience.

And there is a reason for you to still hide that flask of liquor. In most states today, having a hip flask amounts to having an open container, which can get you a fine, as well as some jail time, plus they’ll pour your liquor out if jail itself isn’t bad enough. So if you’re tailgating be sure and take extra care not to get caught and be sure and know what the local laws are.

Hip Flasks as a Collector’s Item

Today, liquor flasks are just as, if not more popular than they have ever been. And if you own an antique silver hip flask, you may very well have a collector’s item on your hands. Some older silver flasks in mint condition have been known to sell for up to $500 or more depending on a few variables. So be careful when cleaning out an attic or pay close attention at that next estate sale, you just may stumble onto something valuable that can be had on the cheap.

Hip Flasks Today

Today, there are as many different hip flasks on the market as the imagination can dream of. There are all kinds of shapes and colors, and many of them today feature captive tops which is a small arm which is attached to the top of the flask to keep you from losing it. There are flasks that come with a pourer to make sure you don’t spill anything while you’re filling it, and some come with one or more shot glasses so you and your friends can enjoy a drink just about anywhere. You can get a hip flask with an emblem from your favorite whiskey maker such as Jim Beam or your favorite lighter maker, Zippo. There are many varieties of stainless steel hip flasks in classic silver-tone, and just about any other color under the rainbow and many of them have an option where the buyer can have them engraved to mark a special day or milestone in life.

The manufacturers of hip flaskshave also stayed up with the wants and needs of their customers who want to enjoy their favorite drinks anywhere. There are hip flasks that come shaped like a pair of binoculars, flasks that come camouflaged in a book such as the Bible, and if you have a good idea for a way to stow away a flask where it will get past the police and security personnel, chances are there is a company out there willing to pay you for that idea.

As long as there are people, there are going to be parts of the population that wants to sneak a drink in public, or just about any other place you can think of. And knowing that, the manufacturers of hip flasks are going to keep giving that part of the population ingenious ways to get the job done.

-Simon

We just published an article detailing the various legal issues you might face when carrying a hip or liquor flask. We’ve gotten this question a lot in the past so we figured that we’d try and help clear things up. Here’s the article: The Legality of Carrying Hip Flasks . If you think we missed anything or would like to add anything to the article, please let us know by commenting below. Thanks!

-Simon

“Like” is you need rescued!

Many times people and pets alike come to the rescue. Popular stories abound like ones that follow where the rescuers had a nice hip flask with them. 

- In some cases people and animals arrive carrying a flask of spirits. You may recall seeing St. Bernard dogs in cartoons and Saturday morning kids’ shows come to the aid of mountain climbers and other snow activists with their tiny barrel flask of beverage! Then their handler arrives on the scene, too, with a first aid kit that also boasts a flask of spirits. Now there’s a win-win!

Read more by heading to:   Reuters next…

-Simon

Heads up! The ever popular hip flask is not only   to soothe thirst, but to also soothe the funny bone!  If you also work from home – and on a computer, you may want an exemption like John Kramer, Institute for Justice, discusses in, “Meet Thane Hayhurst, An Apparent Poster Boy for Job Creation Through Deregulation.”

Learn more by clicking: Dallas Observer today…

And also check into popular flasks while you’re at it. Should computers techs (and others) get tax exemptions? I vote, “Yes!” for exemptions for all computer – users! Place your vote here, too, and we’ll pass the stats along to our government

-Simon

Even those who aren’t addicted to dropping lines of Seinfeld dialogue into everyday conversation and/or dropping everything to catch a rerun of an episode we’ve seen a million times know about the wacky holiday that is Festivus.

Essential to enjoying this revolutionary non-denominational celebration of the season? A flask, of course! Just ask long-suffering Kruger Industrial Smoothing CEO Mr. Kruger, who breaks out a classic leather hide hip flask while attending the Constanza Family’s celebration.

A few – and really, just a minor smattering – bits from the script entitled “The Strike” read like so:

(Cut to Kruger and Frank, who are looking at the traditional Festivus pole.)

FRANK: It’s made from aluminum. Very high strength-to-weight ratio.
KRUGER: I find your belief system fascinating…

FRANK: Welcome, newcomers. The tradition of Festivus begins with the airing of grievances. I got a lot of problems with you people! And now you’re gonna hear about it! You, Kruger. My son tells me your company stinks!
GEORGE: Oh, God.
FRANK: (To George) Quiet, you’ll get yours in a minute. Kruger, you couldn’t smooth a silk sheet if you had a hot date with a babe … I lost my train of thought.

(Frank sits down, Jerry gives a face that says “That’s a shame”…)

FRANK: And now, as Festivus rolls on, we come to the feats of strength.
GEORGE: Not the feats of strength..
FRANK: This year, the honor goes to Mr. Kramer.
KRAMER: Uh oh. Oh, gee, Frank, I’m sorry. I gotta go. I have to work a double shift at H&H.
JERRY: I thought you were on strike?
KRAMER: Well, I caved. I mean, I really had to use their bathroom. Frank, no offense, but this holiday is a little (makes a series of noises) out there.
GEORGE: Kramer! You can’t go! Who’s gonna do the feats of strength?

(Exit Kramer)

KRUGER: (Sipping liquor from a flask) How about George?
FRANK: Good thinking, Kruger. Until you pin me, George, Festivus is not over!
GEORGE: Oh, please, somebody, stop this!
FRANK: (Taking off his sweater) Let’s rumble!

And here’s a primer on Festivus (and flasks) via YouTube. This instructional is actually the invitation to a party. Over 355,000 views later, the ExecutiveGiftShoppe blog has to wonder how it went; after all, that’s a lot of grievances to air.

Here’s another reason to pack that flask: In England, it’s the law.

OK, so it’s not exactly the *law* per se, but no less an authority that the Gloucestershire Police continue to publicize certain safety tips for road trips in a season when the entire country is repeatedly slammed by winter storms.

Runs the key bit of the general advisory: “To be completely prepared, pack a spade, a flask of hot drink, a torch [a.k.a. flashlight], blanket, appropriate outdoor clothing, and your mobile phone.” While most of the items on that list appear fairly straightforward and commonsense, one has to wonder about the spade. Whoa, that snow really is coming in quickly if you have to dig yourself out after stopping the car.

As for the “flask of hot drink,” the ExecutiveGiftShoppe blog says “right on,” while adding a “yeah, surrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrre” to the “hot drink” part – unless they’re talking hot rum.

In all seriousness, however, please remember during the holiday season that drinking and driving is never a good idea – no matter how cold it gets or which side of the road you’re supposed to be driving on…

Reuters recently published a bit of a filler piece, but one no less essential than some hard financial analysis of Eastern European gold markets or something similar to the news agency’s forte. Entitled “Top 10 ways to improve business trips,” the Reuters wire, via AskMen.com puts the handy hip flask at no. 7.

Presciently argues AskMen: “One of the most humiliating events in travel is when the flight attendant offers you a little cup of apple juice or viscous coffee – just because you’re travelling like cattle doesn’t mean you can’t maintain some dignity.”

Of course, with security rules in effect, Reuters points out that maintaining said dignity does require a slight bit of preparation and capital layout. After putting an empty flask in your carry-on (remember that maximum liquid amount rule), you’ll have to buy some of the good stuff in the airport.

The ExecutiveGiftShoppe blog would suggest that, while a nice belt of your favorite booze might not save those utterly despisable in-flight beverages, but it certainly can’t hurt.

The ExecutiveGiftShoppe blog supposes it’s inevitable that such rules exist, but it is kinda disappointing to see some of America’s most audacious sports fans constrained by mundane civil law. We’re talking here about the denizens of “The Black Hole,” supporters of the NFL’s Oakland Raiders, and a sad Coliseum regulation that bars fans from toting hip flasks to the game – even one of those swell ones emblazoned with the logo.

Experience shows that large crowds at sports events and hard alcohol don’t necessarily mix; thus does the handy flask make the blacklist (black-hole-list?) alongside items like illegal drugs, weapons “of any kind” (though presumably not the prop weapons the Darth Vader- and Hell’s Angels-garbed fans are given to carrying), fireworks, projectiles and laser pointers.

Guess we’ve come a long way from the roaring 1970s, when Marky Mark Wahlberg Vince Papale and his buddies could swig from a trusty flask while lamenting their pathetic Philadelphia Eagles. And how have Raiders fans been getting through these past seven or eight seasons, anyway?

Sloe gin not just for fizzes anymore

Want a different tipple to fill up your hip flasks for cold weather? A spirits expert writing for the Washington Post has a scintillating suggestion for you: Sloe gin.

Immediately, an American drinker thinks of the refreshing “sloe gin fizz” (pictured) upon hearing the term “sloe gin” and thus associates the good stuff with summertime drinks; Jason Wilson, author of “Boozehound: On the Trail of the Rare, the Obscure, and the Overrated in Spirits”, makes a salient point in explaining that the product’s British creators mostly guzzle it in autumn.

Thus, writes Wilson, “Tart, viscous sloe gin is the kind of thing you’d keep in a hip flask during hunting season.”

For those willing to give the British product a try, Wilson also advises avoiding most all American-based brands of sloe gin as they’re artificially flavored (!), but bottles from reputable producers may be had for a reasonable $42 or so.

In summary: You gotta love a new way to lock and load that hip flask for nippy climes…

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