I have considered a hip flask in the past to hold wine or port for short periods but haven’t got around to hunting one down. We are out tonight for the annual Christmas lights switch-on, a swig of port may help keep the cold at bay, if I had something discreet to store it in.

Does anyone here use a hip flask for wine? Is the taste affected in any way? I think the materials used are pewter, stainless steel or silver. Which is better? (Dunc, I understand you are the type of fellow who regularly drinks from a silver goblet, does it affect the taste? )

I’m not a regular spirit drinker and have generally associated hip flasks with whiskey, rum, etc. Why not port?

Seek out an opaque "health & fitness" plastic bottle. Wash well. Now you don't need to be discreet. Just advertise what a good boy you are, and tipple away.

Mmm, I know what you mean but there's something crass about this arrangment, I just wouldnt feel right, Philistine springs to mind.

Good question GK,
I have drunk duty free old cask rum (how I pine after our little 3 ton boat) from Alderney in a silver flask, the boat's, when sailing there quite regularly (small 30ft yacht - GK - remember small, full Musto's, the hard stuff OK )

The silver gave a note, yes even with cask rum. I like silver in the mouth, when swigging, it is soft against the teeth in a pitching sea. The flask stays beautifully warm in heavy work trousers, and gets a nice polish from the sweat and pocket lining.

Pewter imperial pint mugs, I collected 8, been awarded one and inherited a very curly one. The pewter gives home brew ale a great additional note, possibly more nose, than tongue, but much better for porter than port

If you want to keep bullets away from your goulies buy stainless, if you want something softer, with a tactile feel, and can afford it, buy silver.

I would not leave the port in a silver flask for long periods. For 3 months though (might taste a bit old after 90 days), stainless would be best. The silver will acquire a patina, a skin of oxidised silver and port solution, and then it will remain relatively neutral.

Prepare your new silver flask, or (buy at a quality junk shop and then clean) with strong red plonk, a kind of breaking it in.

On the other hand don't bother with any of that stuff, you won't notice anything other than cordite, when using your flask at a firework display, or dung at a horse event, or in a farm yard. You're allowed to be fussy, who said that ? (descriminating I mean) with this one.

Sorry this is a long post from an old fart

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Duncan

Seriously GK, Stainless is best. Silver and pewter are more "organic" and reactive. Had some draught Bass out of a silver trophy that the winners had filled and passed round. Definite tang - may have been polish though. Antique pewter can contain lead.

Sloshing it round with beefy red wine first seems a good idea. However, a hip flask is pretty small, which is fine for spirits, but because you don't get the same warming effect from a nip of wine, I'd stick with spirits.

What about buying a 25cl blossom hill, screwcapped bottle (in a hat and dark glasses, obviously), soaking the label off and re-filling?

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mel

Some good advice guys, thanks.

I think it would be used with port only. I would have to see how the taste is affected by removing the 'nose' experience.