Nicest whiskey for hip flask present?

ceekay74

Getting a hip flask for a friend, which whiskey should I put in it? He's not normally a whiskey drinker but thats what he wants!

lord lucan

Bushmills Honey (35%)

Bushmills 10yo off of that list. The Honey isn't actually a whiskey,it's a whiskey liquer.

If you're going Single Malt then have a look at Tullamore 10yo SM,bloody fantastic.

Meirleach

Some nice Yellow Spot, admittedly not one of your choices, and possibly out of budget :P

ceekay74

Looks like Bushmills 10 year is a clear winner so far.

I'm surprised Glenfiddick isn't doing better, I really like that one, but then again I've never had the Bushmills.

rubadub

Don't mean to hijack, but I think it is relevant -what do people think of hip flasks?

I would have thought some might be against opening and pouring in a bottle of good stuff. I remember reading of some spirit taster guy who claimed he could tell if a bottle of spirits had been opened for a reasonable length of time by taste.

Also what is there to look out for with the hip flasks, I saw some in €2 shops and the lids looked like they had crappy plastic seals which I imagine might impart flavour to spirits, which are more likely to leach out taste.

Might need to know your overall budget for whiskey and flask.

syklops

Bushmills 10 year (40%)

rubadub wrote: »

Don't mean to hijack, but I think it is relevant -what do people think of hip flasks?

I would have thought some might be against opening and pouring in a bottle of good stuff. I remember reading of some spirit taster guy who claimed he could tell if a bottle of spirits had been opened for a reasonable length of time by taste.

Also what is there to look out for with the hip flasks, I saw some in €2 shops and the lids looked like they had crappy plastic seals which I imagine might impart flavour to spirits, which are more likely to leach out taste.

Might need to know your overall budget for whiskey and flask.

Well I seriously doubt someone is going to pour whiskey that cost 50-100 euros or more into a hip flask they got in a 2 euro shop. Actually I don't doubt it, but I would hope people would not do that.

I think if you are very concerned about taste, don't put it into a hip flask to begin with. They can be difficult to clean. Do not use detergent with them because if it does not get fully washed out it will taint whatever you pour in. I have a nice silver one, but if I was buying one for myself, I would buy a nice stainless steel one.

If possible, I highly recommend getting one where the cap is attached to the rest of the flask. Nothing worse than dropping the cap in long grass while out somewhere.

A hip flask is for a quick nip when out and about. FIshing, shooting, at the races or at a funeral etc etc. Though I know some unsufferable snobs(we all know a few) who would turn up their nose if you had anything but what they consider to be "the best" in a hip flask that you were offering to them, I think most people when using a hip flask as it was intended would just be glad of a quick nip of something and not mind too much what it is.

minidazzler

syklops wrote: »

I think if you are very concerned about taste, don't put it into a hip flask to begin with. They can be difficult to clean. Do not use detergent with them because if it does not get fully washed out it will taint whatever you pour in. I have a nice silver one, but if I was buying one for myself, I would buy a nice stainless steel one.

Is the silver one lined with stainless steel inside or is it pure silver? I'd imagine silver would impart some taste onto a spirit, but I know stainless steel won't.

If it's stainless steel, the best way I know to clean them is simply soda water. Half-fill, close, shake empty, repeat... then a quick rinse of normal water, and hang upside down moving around to get the last few drops out. Will take all the taste of the old whiskey away.

syklops

Bushmills 10 year (40%)

minidazzler wrote: »

Is the silver one lined with stainless steel inside or is it pure silver? I'd imagine silver would impart some taste onto a spirit, but I know stainless steel won't.

If it's stainless steel, the best way I know to clean them is simply soda water. Half-fill, close, shake empty, repeat... then a quick rinse of normal water, and hang upside down moving around to get the last few drops out. Will take all the taste of the old whiskey away.

I don't wash mine and never would. Fill it with water and empty it a few times is all I would do.