You’ve got the Patron Saint of the white-knuckled flyer: the mini. It’s square. Then there’s the fifth which is square, as is the 1.75L.
Why are the intermediate sizes usually flask-shaped?
Bonus question: what are the names of bottle shapes? I know there’s a Boston Round, but that’s about it.
The intermediate sizes are usually flask-shaped so you can put them in your pocket and carry them around, just like you would a flask.
While doing a landscaping project in our backyard a few months ago, I dug up an old flask-shaped bottle. In my research to find its origin, I came across this site (let me presume to share your surprise that the U.S. government’s Bureau of Land Management has a great resource on bottle shapes and sizes):
http://www.blm.gov/historic_bottles/liquor.htm
The flask shape is definitely used to enhance portability on one’s person.
And the fifth is too big for that, whatever shape (so might as well make it round or square), while the mini is meant to be a miniature of the fifth, so it mimics its shape.
What may be more amazing is that someone’s perfectly obscure question is answered so forthrightly in such a short time on this bbs, and with the help of the US Govt to boot. Truly wonderful.
Very cool. You’re right, CC.
In other words, for almost 100 years many liquor drinkers aren’t able to plan ahead and buy a refillable flask. I find that fascinating.