Hip flasks got their name because they are destined for the hip pocket of the owner and the slightly curved shape is designed to fit comfortably around the hip. In early times the content, usually alcohol, was transported in fruit skins and pigs bladders, but in modern times it’s usually glass, plastic or some kind of metal. You can buy a solid gold one for around £25,000!

Our rather humble version is made from glass with a leather cover for protection, along with an aluminium top that can be used to partake of a wee dram. The dram would usually be whisky, in the highlands anyway, though the gentry would often prefer brandy or port.

This particular hip flask once belonged to the Boyle family in Glen Roy, Scotland, and would have been filled with uisge beatha (water of life) i.e. whisky, slainte!