Impress all the guests at the next party by opening a bottle of Champagne (or other sparkling wine) with a sword. This technique is called "sabrage". Learning how to "decapitate" a bottle of Champagne on your own is not difficult, but it takes some practice and several bottles of sparkling wine to become perfect.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Prepare the Equipment and Space
Step 1. Learn how a glass bottle of Champagne is made up
The determining factor in being able to open it with the saber is the internal pressure.
- The bottling technique of this wine allows carbon dioxide to create an internal force of about 15 kg which constantly pushes against the cork.
- Glass is fragile. This means that when damaged it breaks instead of bending.
- Hitting the glass surface of the bottle will cause it to break, while the internal pressure will detach the neck and cork sharply.
Step 2. Purchase several bottles of Champagne
You will most likely not be successful on the first try, so you need to have some in stock. This trick also works with cheap sparkling wines, so you won't have to go broke to practice.
- A sparkling wine or other sparkling wine is also fine.
- Typically, French and Spanish wines have thicker glass bottles than American ones, and may even be more expensive. Thick glass bottles perform better than thinner glass bottles, but if you need to keep spending under control, you can also use American-made Champagne.
- You will need at least 6-12 bottles to master the technique. Consider spending no less than 30 euros to learn (6 bottles of 5 euros each). Practice with cheap wine, closed with a cork. Remember that low-end wines are often bottled in poor quality glass, which tends to break more easily, making the process a little more risky as a result.
Step 3. Get a sword
It doesn't have to be extremely sharp. In fact, any sturdy knife is fine. Obviously, the sword is much more dramatic and flashy.
- The best knives and swords for sabrage are those of thick and sturdy metal. The sides should be as flat as possible and parallel to each other.
- It is recommended that you practice with a very durable kitchen knife before investing in a particular sword.
- Keep your eyes peeled when going to thrift stores, flea markets and clearance sales, as you may find a reasonably priced sword.
- You can purchase sabrage-specific swords online.
Step 4. Cool the wine
The colder the neck of the bottle, the better the result.
- You can also put the bottle necks in a bucket of ice water before doing the trick.
- Be very careful not to shake the bottle.
- Do not chill the Champagne in the freezer, it will spoil the flavor and the bottle may explode.
Step 5. Find a free space
For this performance it is best to go outdoors. The sabrage literally makes the cork and the neck of the bottle fly, spilling the wine; therefore, unless you are in a very large enclosed space such as a gym, going outside is the best solution.
- Some experts in this technique claim that a cap can fly up to 6 meters away, so make sure you have enough free space.
- Make sure the guests you want to impress are safe, away from the cork's trajectory.
Step 6. Prepare the bottle
Dry any condensation that has formed on the external surface, remove the aluminum foil and the metal cage. While doing this, always keep your thumb on the cap - there is always a risk that if you remove the cage, it will fly away.
Part 2 of 3: Hold the Bottle
Step 1. Find one of the bottle seals
This is where the two halves of the container are fused together. This is the weakest part of the bottle, so it's the area to focus your attention on.
Step 2. Hold the bottle so that it is tilted approximately 30 ° and with the seal facing up
Make sure the cap is facing the direction you want it to fly and that no one is in its path. The inclination does not need to be very precise.
Step 3. Hold the bottle with your non-dominant hand by grabbing it by the base
Put all your fingers, except the thumb, under the bottle (on the opposite side from the weld) and away from the path of the sword. The bottle should rest on the four fingers, while the thumb stabilizes its position.
The sword will never reach the base of the bottle, so your fingers will be safe
Step 4. Put your thumb in the depression at the bottom of the bottle
This way, you can hold it still without running the risk of hurting your finger with the sword.
- Once your thumb is in place, practice holding the bottle with your other fingers close together or spaced apart.
- Choose the grip that gives you greater safety and stability.
Part 3 of 3: Open the Bottle with the Sword
Step 1. Rest the sword blade on the bottle neck
The blunt edge should face the cap and the side should fit flat against the bottle.
- The trick also works using the sharp edge of the sword, but doing so would damage it.
- If you use the edge of the sword, the risk of not getting a clean and regular cut is higher.
Step 2. Find the crown of the bottle
This is the ring positioned at the end of the neck and represents the point you will have to hit with the sword.
Find the point on the crown where the two half bottles are sealed. This is the weakest area of the bottle itself
Step 3. Practice sliding the blade from the base to the crown
Before attempting the great gesture, you must familiarize yourself with the sensation transmitted by the sword on the glass; in this way, you will be more decisive at the right time.
You should also try the movement without holding any blades in your hand
Step 4. Slide the knife along the vertical weld and hit the crown
Perform this movement firmly and confidently. The bottle should snap sharply and the cork should fly off. When done correctly, the sabrage technique should leave no jagged edges. Remember to keep moving - don't stop your hand when it hits the crown, but keep pushing forward following the trajectory of the cap.
- If you follow the sealing of the bottle, you will get the best results and a perfect break.
- If you don't use enough force or stop the movement, you will fail.
- If you don't succeed on the first try, you should keep practicing. Remember that you can move your hand (without a sword) quickly and without hesitation.
Step 5. Inspect the neck of the bottle for splinters
If necessary, clean the area with a cloth, but be careful not to push the glass shards into the bottle.
The internal pressure that blew the neck and cap off should also keep the splinters from falling into the bottle, but in these cases, you are never too cautious
Step 6. Pour the wine and enjoy the moment
Check the Champagne glass again, to be sure there are no glass fragments.
At this point, you should also look for the crown and cap. Be careful not to step on them and only pick them up by the non-sharp edge
Warnings
- The "decapitated" portion of the bottle has extremely sharp edges. Be careful when picking it up.
- This trick does not work with still wines, because there is not enough pressure inside the bottle.
- You cannot open screw cap bottles using this method.
- Throw away any bottle you can't "decapitate" properly. Do not drink wine from any broken bottle with many fragments. When opened the right way, the bottle has a sharp and precise cut line (with sharp, but not serrated, edges).
- If you don't open it on the first try, remember that the rapid movements you subjected the bottle to could cause the wine to "explode" with greater violence when you succeed in your intent. In addition, several tests increase the chances of breaking the neck of the bottle in a jagged way, making the contents undrinkable.
- In case you want to open a bottle of Champagne with the sword at the next social event you are organizing, but you are too afraid of making a mistake, appoint a professional qualified and authorized by the "Brotherhood of the Golden Saber". This person will show you how.
