A hip flask is one of those things people own for years without ever being told how to use it. There is no great mystery to it, but there are a few habits worth knowing, both for looking after the flask and for using it in the right way at the right moment. Here is the practical version.
What to put in it
Stick to spirits. Whisky, bourbon, rum, gin and brandy all travel well in a flask. Lower alcohol drinks like beer and wine do not, because they can spoil and go flat with nothing to preserve them. Fill it with something you actually enjoy drinking neat, since a flask is for sipping rather than mixing. Choose a spirit that suits where you are going, something easy for a walk outdoors and something better for a quieter occasion.
How long to leave a drink in it
This is the bit most people get wrong. A traditional metal flask is not meant for long-term storage. Spirits can pick up a metallic edge if they sit in metal for more than a day or so, which is exactly why our Flight Flask uses a glass interior instead. With glass, your drink tastes the way it should even after a few hours in a bag. Whatever flask you own, the sensible habit is to carry what you plan to drink that day and empty it afterwards. We go into the full case for a glass-lined flask in Why the Oak and Ember Flight Flask Beats Every Standard Whisky Flask.
Filling it without the mess
Use a funnel if the neck is narrow. Do not fill it right to the brim, because an overfull flask spills the moment you open it. Leaving a little room at the top also stops air bubbles forming as you pour. Our Flight Flask has a wider neck than most, so you can usually fill it straight from the bottle without a funnel at all, and a window down the side shows how much is left.
Where a flask fits, and where it does not
A flask suits informal and outdoor settings where a quiet drink is welcome, a walk, a campsite, a race day, a wedding reception or a cold afternoon watching sport. It does not belong at a formal dinner, at work, or anywhere that only serves its own drinks, like a pub or a licensed venue. The simple test is discretion. If taking it out would make you self-conscious about being seen, the moment is probably not right. For more on carrying drinks well on days out, see our guide to How to Take Your Drinks Anywhere.
Using it well
Good flask manners come down to a few unwritten rules. Keep it pocketed rather than on display. Take it out briefly and put it away again. Offer a sip to the people you are with, because a flask is a sociable thing rather than a private stash. Drink in moderation, since the small size is a feature and not a limit to be beaten. And never drink from one while driving, which should go without saying.
Looking after it
A flask lasts for years if you treat it right. Rinse it before its first use, empty it after every outing, and let it air dry with the cap off so nothing stale builds up inside. Warm water and a little soap are all you need for a clean, and a proper dry before you put it away keeps it fresh for next time. A glass-lined flask like ours is easy to keep clean, which is part of why it tastes better over time.
The right flask for the way you drink
If you carry a flask more than once in a blue moon, it is worth owning a good one. Our Flight Flask holds up to 100ml, suits whisky, rum, gin and most spirits, and its glass interior means no metallic aftertaste on the way to your glass. Used well, a flask is a small pleasure that turns an ordinary afternoon out into something a bit better.
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