corkscrew

[cellio]

Ok, I admit it: I'm growing old and (slightly) feeble. I need a new approach to cork removal. I sometimes buy wine with screw caps just to avoid this problem. Something's gotta change.

I've never been any good with the traditional corkscrew, the ones that bore a hole through the middle of the cork. I go off-center, or shed little bits of cork into the bottle, or otherwise damage the pristine state of the target liquid. I currently (try to) use a device I've heard called a "dishonest butler". It has two prongs that slide down the sides of the cork, and then you wiggle/twist the cork out using the handle. But apparently I don't have sufficient wrist strength for this any more. And I'm tired of having to ask Dani to open my bottles of lambic ale, darnit. I don't drink often, but when I do I want the ability to do it without outside assistance. I mean geez, it feels like I should just ask him to pass the Geritol while he's at it. Not good.

I think Consumer Reports did a survey of cork-removing devices a few years ago, but I don't still have the article. I have this vague recollection that it's possible to spend what seemed an outrageous figure (like $50 or so) for high-tech low-effort gadgets designed so that even your grandmother can open ornery bottles of wine. That's not necessarily outrageous, particularly when relatives come fishing for gift ideas.

Does anyone reading this have any recommendations -- what to look for or where to look? (I'm not really after recommendations for alternative beverages.)

Comments

[hopeness.livejournal.com]

You absolutely need something like this:
http://www.rubakshopping.com/shopping/product.cfm?ID=KTCORK. (this is not an endorsement of this particular brand, just the first pic I stumbled upon).
How it works is the corkscrew goes in as you put the handle down, then you lift the handle and the cork pops right out. Plus it looks like the Enterprise.
We got one for B's dad and one for his sister and they LOVE them.

[cellio]

Oh, cool! I take it that moving the lever causes something to turn the prong?

Plus it looks like the Enterprise.

Oh my. Yeah, just a little paint in strategic places... :-)

[tyedie.livejournal.com]

Indeed, this corkscrew or one similar to it was recently named #35 on Mobile PC magazine's "Top 100 gadgets of all time" alongside the abacus and can of dust-off.

I'd love to try one. I currently have the one that cahwyguy has pictured, it worked well until the plastic lining inside the "apron" cracked. Now, during the time when it needs to sit still on top of a bottle and transfer the cork-pulling force from the corkscrew to the glass, it keeps slipping all over the place.

[cellio]

Thanks for the pointer to the gadget list. Ooh, gadgets. :-)

[cahwyguy.livejournal.com]

Although there are loads of different corkscrews (http://froogle.google.com/froogle?q=Corkscrew&btnG=Search+Froogle), we tend to go to the one pictured to the right. I've never had trouble with this.

With the one with the two prongs, I would always end up pushing the cork into the bottle.

[aliza250.livejournal.com]

I second the recommendation - the circular head centers the worm (the technical term for the spiral part) in the cork, and the levers apply great mechanical advantage to the job of pulling the cork out.

BTW, the traditional corkscrew is greatly improved by putting a joint in the lever portion. (It's called an "articulated corkscrew", if you want to impress your local wine geek or cork dork.)

[cellio]

I take it that inserting the worm is a manual process (push and turn) but that removing the cork is mechanically assisted?

[cahwyguy.livejournal.com]

With the one pictured, yes.

[goldsquare.livejournal.com]

There are two versions I have used that are utterly effortless - the "Rabbit" style (which is pictured in the link hopeness provided). I've also used tabletop types which mount to a cabinet table and work much the same way.

I had a regular corkscrew, which was teflon coated and had a plastic sleeve that fit over the bottle - just keep turning and the cork rides up the screw with ease - and the sleeve allowed for fairly reliable insertion angle.

If my ex-wife hadn't taken it, I'd go read the brand name for you. But I don't recall... Ah, of course, the web. This imaged version (http://momastore.org/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?catalogId=10001&storeId=10001&productId=22194&langId=-1) is what I mean, but can be found at a far lower price.

[cellio]

Thanks.

I've also used tabletop types which mount to a cabinet table and work much the same way.

This brings to mind visions of drill presses. :-)

[goldsquare.livejournal.com]

Actually, they are very much like table-top drill presses or morticing machines. Although I prefer the image of a 1-armed-bandit - it seems more convivial to drinking. :-)

[murmur311.livejournal.com]

When I was in Kansas last week visiting my friend her parents had an amazing corkscrew that required very little effort (or strength). I don't know exactly what brand or how much they paid for it, but the link below seems reasonable.

http://www.mixologys.com/xq/00610006.asp

[cellio]

Thanks! This looks similar to the one goldsquare also likes.

[psu-jedi.livejournal.com]

I've used the kind that hopeness mentions. It's freakin' fantastic! No hassle on your part, and no need to worry about wrist strength or anything of that sort! Get one. Now.

I've seen them at various prices, but I don't know if that means there's a difference in how they work. Honestly...for something that makes opening wine this easy, $50 is a bargin!

[dsrtao]

We bought several at CostCo at $20 each; handed them out as gifts last year.

[cellio]

Thanks!

[filkerdave.livejournal.com]

I picked up a Rabbit at BJ's for about $20. Costco has something similar; it's easy-peasy and takes about 10 seconds to open a bottle of wine.

WELL worth it.

[cellio]

Thanks!

'stretchy fish' corkscrew

[grouchyoldcoot.livejournal.com]

I saw the most amazingly cool corkscrew at a party a few months ago. It was shaped like a fish, and I believe it would fail your test because Step 1 was to screw the screw in the fish's mouth into the cork. Step 2 was the cool part, though- you pull on the fish's tail and it elongates like an accordian by a factor of 3 or so. As it stretches, the 'jaws' close a little and pull out the cork. The trick is that you apply a small force over the whole distance of the stretch; the fishhead applies a 3x larger force over a short distance to pull the cork. It was amazing!

Re: 'stretchy fish' corkscrew

[cellio]

Ooh, that does sound neat. And sometimes entertainment value is more important than expedience. :-)