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. :-)