The history of hip flasks
Posted by The Wares Team on 20th Jan 2023
If you're looking for a great wedding favour, party gift or small business product, then hip flasks are a fantastic choice. These flasks have been used since the middle ages to keep liquor, wine and even holy water on hand during times when access to ready, clean water was rarely possible.
The history of the hip flask
Back in the middle ages, gutted fruit husks were used to store alcoholic and fermented drinks, acting as the very first hip flasks on record and providing ready liquid to travellers when clean water was rarely available. The style that we recognise today began to be seen in the eighteenth century when the gentry used flasks made of silver, pewter and sometimes glass. These items became fashionable and they were usually curved and thin, with a design shape reminiscent of a kidney bean. This shape wasn't purely for aesthetic reasons, however, the thin, curved design allowed it to be easily concealed under clothing and pressed against the body without detection!
Did you know . . .
In the eighteenth-century women would smuggle gin onto British warships by filling pig's bladders with so-called Mother's Ruin? And during prohibition, people used hip flasks to smuggle alcohol on their person, or in the glove box of their car, even though they risked a search if they were stopped.
Fashions for hip flasks changed over the years and today's versions tend to be made from glass, pewter or metal, with attractive engraving, personalisation options and captive lids or caps, so that you can't accidentally lose your hip flask lid whilst having a cheeky swig in a private place!
Ideas for using hip flasks as wedding favours
A hip flask makes an excellent wedding favour, particularly if you want to gift something a little different to your guests on your big day. They are also incredibly versatile, so you can fill them with anything you wish.
Add personalisation
A personalised hip flask is a lovely thank-you gift for everyone who has helped to make your wedding special. You can have personalised hip flasks engraved with the recipient's name and a special message and then present them either boxed and ready for filling with contents - or ready filled with alcohol or non-alcoholic alternatives such as Zam Zam water.
Use them for flowers
Why not gift a pretty mini hp flask and make it into a table decoration? Sit your hip flask upright and fill it with miniature seasonal, dried or artificial blooms to make a beautiful place-setting decoration. Add the place seat name on a wooden label or pretty decorative tag, and you'll have a real talking point at the wedding table.
Choose glass hip flasks for a mini hamper
Nothing looks prettier than a wicker hamper filled with paper shred and an array of mini glass hip flasks filled with colourful spirits or cocktails. You could make a series of coloured spirits such as sloe gin, raspberry gin and an orange liqueur, or create a themed collection of indulgent White Russians, Orange Creamsicles and Baileys for the full dessert-themed collection.
Fill with a healthy alternative
Your hip flask doesn't have to be filled with an alcoholic drink. You could make this reviving morning-after shot to gift instead:
Reviving Creamy Orange Cocktail
This drink is packed with vitamins, minerals and electrolytes, all of which are perfect after a late night! To make it, juice fresh oranges - or any citrus - and strain out the pulp. For every two oranges, add half a cup of coconut water and a quarter of a cup of coconut milk. This is a great source of natural electrolytes and potassium, which are likely to be depleted after a heavy night. Add a pinch of sea salt, a teaspoon of vitamin C powder and a teaspoon of acerola cherry powder. Pour into your glass hip flasks and serve with instructions to drink in the morning, finished off with a pretty tag and a ribbon.
Offer a meaningful gift
Why not fill a glass flask bottle with meaningful Zam Zam water, which has a profound religious significance in Islamic culture. You could also fill a glass bottle with Lourdes holy water or another famous source of reviving water - maybe even Buxton water for a refreshing pick-me-up. Place your pretty glass bottle in a box with colourful tissue and some decorative elements, such as a handwritten note, some ribbon or perhaps a posy of dried flowers and a photo.
Why hip flasks are great for wedding favours
It can be difficult to find wedding favours that are different, but our hip flasks are always a popular choice. We also sell them in bulk, so that you can benefit from cost reductions and great prices on our delivery. Here are some of our most popular sizes - the 100ml and the 50ml which is ideal for a shot!
https://www.waresofknutsford.co.uk/50ml-miniature-flask-glass-bottle-with-a-choice-of-4-screw-caps/
You'll find a range of glass bottles and hip flasks at Wares of Knutsford. Discover our comprehensive product collections, great prices, competitive delivery and superb customer service today!