November 06, 2004

• I really should polish my cheap-ass, stainless steel standard issue Jack Daniels flask (it's got my name on it). Although I don't have a very discriminate taste, it doesn't color booze's flavor in my experience. It was 50 CAD at a souvenir shop in Montreal back in 2000 (I've seen similar flasks for less). Engraving: 10 CAD. Screw-on. Full of fingerprints, doesn't look that good nowadays, but it was a gift from an ex-gf.
• It really depends on the booze. If you're drinking something that, well, dissolves metal, you're going to need a glass lining. Other than that, a pewter one is perfect. More to the point, though is how you're going to drink from it, and where. If it's for long rambles through dense woodland, pewter is the way to go. Short strolls around a city park, and the glass one isn't going to get broken quite so easily. Putting your lips to pewter certainly has an aroma (rather than a taste per se) and pouring from a glass lined job into a cup is different too. Really, you need to think what you're going to do with it. Then there's size, outer covering (plain metal, leather, whatever), and potential thigh curve matching, if you go for an oblong one. Tipple sticks are the real chap's answer, obviously, but nice ones are hard to find.
• Oh, it's this one, as seen here, but with a Jack Daniels logo and my first name engraved.
• I've never liked the idea of pewter, because I don't like drinking lead! I'll stick with stainless steel, thank you very much. As for the outside, an outer leather covering keeps it from being overly flashy, a useful touch to keep it from being too obvious when in use out and about in public.
• Oh, and consider where you'll be carrying it. A round flask like the one you've linked to is nice and compact, but they're usually thicker and don't fit in a pants pocket quite as well as the classic, slightly curved hip flask, even though its larger.
• A captive lid definitely makes life easier when in the middle of a busy, jostling environment. Or just not in the best shape to keep track of small items. Nothing to lose. And keep your eye out for small funnels when in kitchen stores. A funnel makes it much easier to pour into that tiny opening from a big bottle. I'll stop typing now.
• Unbreakable, so forget glass. Lightweight. Tight-closing lid. That's the basics. They're menat for spirits. Be leary of using one for wine or for sports drinks or fruit juice or the like, as these may well corrode metal. Flasks should be used only for spirits, otherwise cleaning the inside may be a problem. Flasks with corners can be hurtful if carried in a pocket -- which is where men usually do carry 'em, while ladies may carry one in a handbag. Stainless steel is excellent for flasks.
• Great thread, and thanks for the link, Richer. /knows what she's getting the spouse for Xmas
• Wow- thanks everybody! The flask will hold bourbon or scotch. I want it primarily for use at conferences (where it will be toted around in my purse or briefcase) or stashed in my desk on those long afternoons when no students show up for office hours. I just want something a little classier than a half-pint bottle in a brown paper bag. So glass lined is right out. In grade school I was always taking swigs of milk and broken glassed-lined Thermos. I destroyed them on a regular basis. I've not changed that much in 30 years. If it isn't a necessary feature, I don't want to worry about it. Pewter's not so good, huh? I'll see if I can locate a nice round steel one with a similar pattern...
• Is there a proper method for cleaning a flask, or do you not worry about it?
• Last time, I just rinsed with water, then with 90% alcohol (the stuff you use to make screwdrivers). But I'm definetely not an expert on stainless steel or flask care.
• FYI - Modern Pewter is lead free. Tin, Copper and Antimony are the main ingerdients these days. To be safe, buy pewter made in contries where lead is banned from food containers, UK, Europe, Australia/NZ Canada USA etc.
• My roomate bought me one from pottery barn. Small with nice thick stainless steel. It has a nice leather cover.
• Tipple stick? Ah, tipple stick. How utterly tricky. I'd wager that Raj was packing a flask in his cane.
• Modern pewter is made with alloys other than lead, but if you buy an antique flask or one from parts unknown you might want to avoid pewter. Have seen a few of these modern Irish flasks and it'd be the heft of 'em put me off -- they would bag my pockets worse than they already are, I fear. Handsome, though, so if ye like its looks and don't mind the weight, go on and buy it. Way to clean a flask -- rinse several times with water. Alcohol discourages growth of bacteria. Me, I sometimes just refill mine with The Good Stuff. Leaving a flask sit around when it's been all but emptied and not rinsed I imagine might result in a bit of sticky residue, but rinsing it a time or two with hot water should get rid of that. Mine has an outer cap ye remove and drink out of and I do wash that, but it's not part of the fluid-containment system, so to speak. If ye put your lips to the neck of the flask, then I'd give the whole thing a wash in soapy water and rinse well. It doesn't seem fair in the great scheme of things, but a person's mouth is a breeding-ground for all manner of bacteria. This is far more than I ever expected to write about flasks in all my days. And I have done with it -- now ye all I do, if not more.
• A friend of mine purchased one of these (scroll down) and has been very happy with it. Also, its a great conversation starter.
• Curious, George: I want a flask, but I don't know what features comprise a good one. You'll want one with booze in it. Sorry, couldn't resist. I am never invited to the other kid's birthday parties, and I don't know why.
• Moneyjane- Absofuckinglutely.
• I just got a flask from my Step-Granma. The flask appears to be pewter. It has to be at least 60 years old (I'm guessing the chances of it containing lead are slim?). I want to engrave it with something. I was thinking maybe a good quote. Thoughts, anyone?
• that was oddly clipped...also: beeswacky said spirits only, would this exclude gin & tonics?
• isn't there something about "curing" pewter? Like you should only use one type of liquor in it or something? *shrug* heck I coulda just made that up. I dunno.
• Gin is usually classed as spirits, but tonic isn't. Thing is, tonic hasn't any sugar, so it wouldn't be sticky, but I don't know if it's acid. You just want to avoid clean-up as much as ye can, or anything that might pit or corrode the interior surface. The idea behind the flask was to carry something -- brandy, for ezample -- which could be drunk by itself. Not usually used for cocktails. If ye can get some other beverage -- a soft drink, or water -- ye may then spike it from the flask. One time riding the CNR, I watched a number of enginering students with flasks parade to and from the water-cooler, and they used their flasks to enhance the contents of the wee concical paper cups they would carry back to their seats. Have never heard of cocktails or the like being carried in a flask -- they usually hold only 6 or 8 ounces or so. Have no idea whether 60-year-old pewter is lead-free or not. Maybe a jeweler would know.