From the early beginnings of wineskin containers made with animal bladders cured with wax, humans have found ways to transport their liquids, including alcohol. In comparison, wineskin is a distant flask relative, but more recent predecessors of modern flasks actually transported gunpowder. The evolution of the whiskey flask is filled with innovative designs created with many different materials.
A flask filled with gunpowder
Gunpowder was a necessary part of everyday life, and it was carried in powder horns, usually made from metal, stag horn, or even leather. The powder horn had a narrow opening for adding gunpowder directly into a rifle barrel. The smaller opening also made pouring liquor directly into your mouth easier.
While soldiers may have been the first to understand that the powder horn can transport their favorite liquor, everyday civilians, including farmers began carrying liquor in a re-imagined powder horn.
The pocket flask
In the 17th century, pockets began appearing on various garments. Having pockets brought on a surge in demand for a “pocket flask.” Depending on the process, these were often manufactured with the wealthy in mind and made of adorned metals, possibly including glass. While pocket flasks made of precious metal and adorned with jewels were for the ruling class, the trend of plain metal flasks began seeing use in Europe and the American colonies by people regardless of social standing.
In the early 1800s, glass manufacturing grew, and glass flasks began appearing. Often, they included patriotic or political statements or advertisements. These were extremely popular around the Civil War, with flags or eagles as symbols of patriotic fervor.
Prohibition
During prohibition, the flask was a standard item for anyone trying to hide their liquor from the authorities. There are countless examples of hiding flasks filled with their favorite liquor in many interesting ways.
Today you can purchase flasks made out of metal, glass, and plastic with decorative features. One company specializes in copper flasks, while another will sell 24-carat gold flasks. The evolution of the whiskey flask is a look through history.
My new favorite flask
Recently in Kentucky, I was offered a pour from a unique glass flask adorned with a sleek silicone sleeve. I had never seen a flask like this and asked to see it. It was a flask created by Ragproper, and they sell a unique collection of cool and, most importantly, very functional flasks. I contacted the company, and they sent me a sample of a two-flask set called the Double Shot that includes the following:
A 100mL Break Resistant Glass Flask with Bayside Red Silicone Sleeve
A 240mL Break Resistant Glass Flask with Bayside Red Silicone Sleeve
2 Stainless Steel Cork-lined Lids
2 Sneaky Plastic Cork-lined Lids
2 Smooth Pour Funnels
4 Silicone lid liners (replacement for cork lid liners)
Ragproper flasks
These innovative designs include a glass window so you can always know how much you have left to sample. The silicone sleeves come in multiple colors and are removable and hand washable. If you have ever filled a flask with a standard funnel, you will appreciate the Ragproper smooth pour funnels included in the set. You should note that using the sneaky plastic cork-lined lids leaves no metal traces on your flask. I strongly recommend their products because I use them. Full disclosure the set featured here was provided to me by the company.
Listed below is a link for you to review Ragproper flasks. I do earn a small commission on any purchases made through this link.
https://ragproper.com/?ref=um6mdsde
