The Second Glass

Sabrage is an age-old practice started by Napoleon’s officers when they would ride into town after laying the proverbial ‘pimp-hand’ upon their opposition. The town’s people would reward them with a bottle of Champagne. Preoccupied with riding a horse, the officer would simply draw his sword and lop off the top of the bottle. So from Napoleon to your living room, here is a step-by-step approach to Sabrage.

Step 1: Grab a bottle of sparkling.

Step 2: Remove all the foil covering the cork.

Step 3: Unscrew and remove the muselet (wire capsule around the cork)

Step 4: Find one of the two seams running the length of the bottle. Bottles are made from two halves so where they meet and join with the lip of the bottle is the weakest point.

Step 5: Align the blade of a moderately heavy knife with the seam pointing the blunt end of the knife forward.

Step 6: Thrust the knife towards the point where the lip of the bottle and the seam meet (the weakest point of the bottle). Follow through with your stroke and await your accolades from your adoring fans as the top of the bottle shears off cleanly.