Friday, 3 September 2010

I'm going to have a Sabrage lesson

Look at this silly thing I have signed up to do. I am stressed out these days with work and home, and I thought this looked like something I could do for 30 mins that would take my mind off everything. Will report later on how it went.

It can seem daunting when you are initially handed a sabre and a chilled bottle of Champagne with the expectation that you will sever the top of the bottle with the sword’s blade. Do not be downhearted! No-one has ever failed and all it needs is a firm wrist with a high elbow and you’ll be back at your table regaling your fellow guests with tales of how easy it really was.

When performed on a suitably chilled bottle of Champagne, the cork and glass annulus fly away, spilling little of the precious wine. The pressure of the Champagne always ensures that no glass falls back into the bottle. Today, the MaƮtre-Sabreur is always there to make sure safety is observed, and the cork flies away from spectators.

2 comments:

Steve Borthwick said...

Just make sure you hit the little glass nodule on the neck that's put there for this purpose, get's messy otherwise :) Impressive when it works though, great for garden parties!

bwj said...

Okaaaaay...I'll bite...WHY? As Samuel Johnson said re: a dog's walking on his hind legs. "...It is not done well; but you are surprised to find it done at all."

Just be careful, ho. Don't slash your wrist instead of the bottle's neck! (That's what I'd likely do---I'm a disaster with knives.)