Struggling to find perfect birthday gifts for him? Sick and tired of the same old, same old? would be a stainless steel hip flask engraved with your special message? Imagine – his own uniquely personalised Hip Flask! This stunning gift can be engraved with your message of up to fifty characters for a truly personal present. The hip flask has a capacity of four ounces and features a secure screw top cap. It’s an original and thoughtful gift, ideal for husbands, partners, brothers or boyfriends! A hip flask is a thin flask for holding a distilled beverage; its size and shape are suited to a trouser pocket. The hip flask is popular as commemorative item, often being engraved.

The Modern Drunkard Magazine describes the engraved flask as the best present one can give “and it better have something in it”. The engravings may be short quotes, the recipient’s initials, toasts or signs of friendship. The engraving may also be a date for a memorable occasion. The hip flask began to appear in the form recognised today in the eighteenth century, initially used by members of the gentry. However, less compact versions had been in production for several centuries. Notably, in the middle ages, there are several accounts of gutted fruit being used to store liquor.

During the eighteenth century, women boarding docked British warships would smuggle gin into the ship via makeshift flasks, created from pig’s bladders and hidden inside their petticoats. Following the act of prohibition in 1920s America, the state of Indiana banned the sale of cocktail shakers and hip flasks. Antique hip flasks, particularly those made of silver, are now sought-after collector’s items.

The hip flask appears frequently in comedy, in part because it allows drinking in inappropriate situations where a bottle would not be found. In the Royal Air Force, “hip-flask” is used as code for a revolver. A novel yet historic birthday gift for him, is it not?

Alternatively, send the man’s man on a 4×4 Extreme course at Silverstone, and give him a day of extreme off-roading and a day he’ll never forget! There is no vehicle on earth to match the extraordinary power of the Defender; it will do whatever you ask of it – and more. Silverstone’s challenging purpose-built, off-road course combines steep gradients, big drops and deep water, demanding his full attention as he navigates a tricky obstacle course. It may be slower than walking pace at times, but precision handling and rock solid nerves are definitely required. He will begin his experience with an in car safety briefing, accompanied by a demonstration lap from the instructor. Then it’s into the driving seat as he puts his new-found skills to the test. He may also bring two passengers to ride with him in the car, so the birthday gift for him gets to be witnesses by friends and or family as well! What a unique and fun gift to give!

For an outdoor adventure that will simply make him laugh his socks off, tell your man to hang on for a thrill ride in a Powerboat Zapcat Blast. When he arrives to participate in his birthday gift, he will be given a safety briefing and kitted out with a drysuit and boots. The action begins by a speedy trip out of the bay by the RIB. Then it is on to the main event – the Zapcat. These twin hulled light weight catamarans, designed originally for surf rescue, are now redesigned for short course offshore powerboat racing. All of the Zapcats are the race ready versions, capable of pulling in excess of 2G in a turn; with a power to weight ratio of 340 bhp per tonne, the acceleration is explosive so get him to hang on tight! The total experience lasts approximately three hours and the experience provides him with almost two hours out on the water on a 10.5m 225HP RIB and a Zapcat. Surely a birthday gift for him to beat all birthday gifts?

Last but not least, give him a great opportunity to try out an exhilarating sport – Clay Shooting. What starts out as an addictive hobby quickly becomes a competitive sport. It’s not surprising that clay pigeon shooting is one of the country’s fastest growing sports. If your man has never shot before, this activity gives him an introduction to the sport of formal clay shooting. If he already shoots, the hour will be based around his requirements and will be tailor-made by the Chief instructor, so that he can use the time effectively to brush up on his techniques.

Now don’t say you never know what to give him as a birthday gift, as we’ve proven that there are just so many Gifts and activities for him to experience and enjoy. Go ahead; put a huge smile on his face…