Corkscrew recommendations

[Diderot]

I recently bought a Le Creuset cantilever corkscrew but had to send it back as it kept pushing corks back into the bottle. And last night my trusty £20 two-arm broke. I have a number of waiter's friend type ones, but hate them.

Any recommendations for better cantilevers or even electric ones?


TIA

[blingybongy]

This is the one you need.
A true PH suggestion.
https://uk.alessi.com/products/the-jester-corkscre...

[sherman]

Diderot said:

I recently bought a Le Creuset cantilever corkscrew but had to send it back as it kept pushing corks back into the bottle. And last night my trusty £20 two-arm broke. I have a number of waiter's friend type ones, but hate them.

Any recommendations for better cantilevers or even electric ones?


TIA

Waiters friends are the best. Just learn how to use it properly. The ones with the hinged metal arm are best as they dont bend and crack the cork as you pull it out.
As a barman I have opened alot of wine in my time.

Pulltap's Genuine - Slider 900 Red - Professional Corkscrew https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B08CS6HDNG/ref=cm_sw_r...

[toasty]

These are great, cheap as chips and easier than the waiter's friends.

[21TonyK]

blingybongy said:

This is the one you need.
A true PH suggestion.
https://uk.alessi.com/products/the-jester-corkscre...

Christ, I thought mine was expensive!

https://www.flintandflame.com/product/rhineland-so...

OP: persevere with the waiters friend as recommended above

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l_kpPLSWyCM&ab...

[anonymous-user]

I have used this Lakeland opener for years and years, without any issues. It's your standard winged/two lever corkscrew:

https://www.lakeland.co.uk/63044/CellarDine-Winged...

It gets recommended here: https://www.independent.co.uk/extras/indybest/hous...

I have tried various 'Waiters friend' corkscrews in the past, and I hate them. I find them awkward to use, and occasionally they slip off the top of the bottle while you are levering, and you stab yourself in the hand if you are holding the next of the bottle two high up... Or maybe I'm just a clumsy oaf.

[ReverendCounter]

21TonyK said:

OP: persevere with the waiters friend as recommended above

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l_kpPLSWyCM&ab...

Increasing the playback speed to 1.5 will also benefit.

[Mammasaid]

Surely as a PH member, this is the only Corkscrew you need?

https://www.co.monterey.ca.us/government/governmen...

[dapprman]

sherman said:

Waiters friends are the best. Just learn how to use it properly. The ones with the hinged metal arm are best as they dont bend and crack the cork as you pull it out.
As a barman I have opened alot of wine in my time.

Pulltap's Genuine - Slider 900 Red - Professional Corkscrew https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B08CS6HDNG/ref=cm_sw_r...

That's the sort you need if you're willing to persevere with a waiters friend. I just have a traditional one but my late father had one similar to this. I used it a few times when visiting my mother and the ability to start start pulling out with the lever part half way along makes a big difference.

[Audis5b9]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

I've been converted to the pump type. Quick, easy and fun!

This is the one I have

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Pressure-Bottle-Quntis-Re...

[Master Bean]

I bought my brother this and he says it's very good. It is massive.

https://www.condorcycles.com/products/campagnolo-b...

[LordHaveMurci]

I’ve had a Screwpull Lever corkscrew for about 25yrs, cost a few quid but it’s still doing it’s job & does it rather well!

Also have an EasyFish which rarely gets used but is a bit of fun occasionally!

Edited by LordHaveMurci on Wednesday 30th March 21:39

[Diderot]

Thanks chaps, legends you are.

Will go through these and have a think.

[LooneyTunes]

There’s no one best type…probably own at least a dozen different makes/models and they all have their strengths and weaknesses. The ones I use most are:

Pulltap waiters friend for travel / informal (one lives in each of my suitcases)
Laguiole (nicer version of above) the one I use most at home
Le Crueset Classic Pocket used occasionally (mainly garden)
Durand for old corks

Also have a Le Crueset Lever (LM250/equivalent) I think looking at current range), works well and is nicest lever model I’ve used but I just prefer the others. Like the poster’s above its 20+ years old now. It has some theatre to it so it has its moments. Surprised you’ve had problems with this style. Are you using it with natural corks or are they synthetic/reformed ones (which can be harder)?

Edited by LooneyTunes on Wednesday 30th March 21:42

[RUSTILLDOWN]

I’ve used the below for years… highly recommend as even the mrs can open a bottle now!

https://www.iwantoneofthose.com/gift-home-office/q...

Edited by RUSTILLDOWN on Wednesday 30th March 21:42

[HappyMidget]

Honestly a waiter's friend is by far the best. Many years of bar work with many different kinds of cork removers and I always fall back to the friend. Even better if it has the disk cutter style foil cutter rather than a knife foil cutter.

[miniman]

We all have one of these, right?

[HappyMidget]

miniman said:

We all have one of these, right?

Yes, and he uses a waiters friend

[LooneyTunes]

HappyMidget said:

miniman said:

We all have one of these, right?

Yes, and he uses a waiters friend

Or one of these:

[dontlookdown]

toasty said:

These are great, cheap as chips and easier than the waiter's friends.

This way my go to for years. But it works a lot less well on plastic corks than on cork ones. There is too much friction between the Teflon coated screw and the plastic cork. So for everyday use I just go for a barman's friend these days.