Advise wanted on how to open a bottle

[Special Reserve]

Any advise on how to open a bottle where the cork is known to break?

I'd like to open a CGL WT12 for Thanksgiving. I've have noting but bad luck with these bottle and Weller Centennial in that the cork almost always breaks upon opening.

Thanks for you comments.

Will

[WsmataU]

I would recommend trying to open the bottle normally.

Then, if the cork breaks:

1) Wine stores sell bottle openers that have prongs that slide in between the cork and the lip of the bottle. This will likely solve a "broken" cork issue.

Or

2) Just force the cork into the bottle and pour the liquid through a filter (tea eggs work well) into a decanter. It isn't the prettiest solution, but it will get you the bourbon without any real concern over having the cork contaminate the flavor.

Good luck!

[T Comp]

I've had good success with just a double hinged waiters cork screw. The prongs that slide in opener WsmataU suggests (aka butler or ah-so) is probably best but be careful if you haven't used one before as it can also push the cork in. The fine crumbly dust on top is the most problematic so, a few forced exhalations of your breath through pursed lips, into the cork area, are appropriate before any extraction (no, I didn't say give it a blow job ).

[StraightNoChaser]

I've had to do this for broken corks before. Works like a charm and there is no mess, no tools and no need to filter the juice

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZuGfjtBffiE

[Enoch]

I've had to do this for broken corks before. Works like a charm and there is no mess, no tools and no need to filter the juice

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZuGfjtBffiE

Pretty cool. I'm going to try this tonight with a bottle of wine. I just use a cork screw very carefully. With older WT I try to carefully rock the cork back and forth.

[StraightNoChaser]

Pretty cool. I'm going to try this tonight with a bottle of wine. I just use a cork screw very carefully. With older WT I try to carefully rock the cork back and forth.

It really is the best method. Works like a charm and everyone has a heeled shoe laying around they can use.

[MarkEdwards]

So nobody has a Russian saber?

[Special Reserve]

I've had to do this for broken corks before. Works like a charm and there is no mess, no tools and no need to filter the juice

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZuGfjtBffiE

Very cool,

I think I'm going to give that a try, even if it only moves the cork a little it should help getting it out the first time without breakage. I've broken too many old corks in CGL WT12.

Thanks for post the YouTube video.

Will

[jburlowski]

The other posters here are spot on. If the cork breaks, use a two pronged "Ah So" cork puller to try to remove the remainder of the cork. (Or, if you highly suspect the cork will break, use the Ah So, from the get-go.)

If this doesn't work, push the remainder of the cork into the bottle, decant the contents through a coffee filter into another vessel, and enjoy.

[bcrossan]

Here is trick in case the bottom part of the cork goes into the bottle

[Josh]

Just keep practicing, Will. You'll get the hang of opening whiskey bottles one of these days...

[Special Reserve]

Just keep practicing, Will. You'll get the hang of opening whiskey bottles one of these days...

As they say practice makes perfect. I'll let you guys know how well I did later in the week.

[cas]

As they say practice makes perfect. I'll let you guys know how well I did later in the week.

I'm pretty skeptical - let me know how it works. Not sure what the physics behind this could be...?

I've got an open WT12 on the shelf with cork in the bottle that I plan to filter on thursday.

Craig

[Special Reserve]

I'm pretty skeptical - let me know how it works. Not sure what the physics behind this could be...?

I've got an open WT12 on the shelf with cork in the bottle that I plan to filter on thursday.

Craig

I didn't think about the physics behind this yet but it would be an interesting subject for a physics class.

When I have to deal with broken cork I remove the loose cork as well as can be done and then I push the remaining cork into the bottle, pour the bourbon into a Pyrex 2 quart measuring cup and carefully remove the cork from the top. I drain the bottle well and then use the plastic bag technique to remove the remaining cork from inside the bottle. Rinse the bottle well with a little reserved bourbon then pour the reserved bourbon back into the bottle and use another cork. Its a lot of hassle and I really want to avoid breaking the cork in the first place.

I'll let you know how the shoe trick works.

Will

[cas]

I didn't think about the physics behind this yet but it would be an interesting subject for a physics class.

When I have to deal with broken cork I remove the loose cork as well as can be done and then I push the remaining cork into the bottle, pour the bourbon into a Pyrex 2 quart measuring cup and carefully remove the cork from the top. I drain the bottle well and then use the plastic bag technique to remove the remaining cork from inside the bottle. Rinse the bottle well with a little reserved bourbon then pour the reserved bourbon back into the bottle and use another cork. Its a lot of hassle and I really want to avoid breaking the cork in the first place.

I'll let you know how the shoe trick works.

Will

That's a lot of work. The alternative is to just invite some friends around to help you polish off the bottle quickly. When the shoe against the wall trick fails let me know and I'll help you with the finish the bottle quick option.

Craig

[Special Reserve]

Well I pulled out the Johnston & Murphy shoe's (lately they are only used for weddings and funerals) and tried the pounding against the wall trick.

Down to the basement to pound on concrete rather than drywall. I don't have conclusive results.

It didn't remove the cork, but I did open a CGL WT12 and a Weller Centennial without breaking either cork. In the past I have not successfully opened a CGL without breaking the cork and I'm about 50% successful opening Weller Centennial without cork breakage.

One think I'm certain about, I'm enjoying two great bourbons! Happy Thanksgiving!

[cas]

I was waiting for a report. I was expecting maybe that you had put a hole in the wall, broke the bottle, and ruined a good shoe. And worse, spilled a whole bottle of WT 12. But it sounds like things worked out pretty well. I'm about to pour a glass of my open WT 12 with cork pieces adrift in it and sit in front of the wood stove. Maybe I'll spit the cork into the fire...

Happy Thanksgiving as well.

Craig