Best Corkscrew?

Moses Botbol · Post by **Moses Botbol** » Wed Mar 14, 2007 4:51 am

Can someone post a link for this corkscrew?

Al B. · Post by **Al B.** » Wed Mar 14, 2007 6:20 am

Here you go.

http://www.thewinesociety.com/tws/Searc ... r=05Search

But you can only order one if you are a member of The Wine Society. (I'm not.)

Alex

Gizzyeq · Post by **Gizzyeq** » Wed Mar 14, 2007 6:39 am

No pics of it there...anyone have a pic of it?
I use this one which is similar to a pulltaps but a lil sexier imo heh

Does anyone use the Ahh-So for older corks and such? I'm so incapable of using the prong type I've yet to get a single cork out with it

Here's a great video if anyone hasn't seen it of Francois Audouze opening up some really old bottles
now if anyone can make or find a video of opening up a bottle with the Ahh-So I'd be eternally greateful

Al B. · Post by **Al B.** » Wed Mar 14, 2007 8:07 am

Sorry about the link. When I copied it, I was looking at a picture of the corkscrew.

To get to see the picture, use the search screen that the link takes you to. From the "product type" drop down choose "accessories" and then click search.

The corkscrew is under "The Society's Bottlescrew". Click that and you'll get to the picture.

Alex

Post by **Andy Velebil** » Wed Mar 14, 2007 9:20 am

I use the Ah-so for all older corks. You have to be patient with it, but it pays off. Its worth seeking out for those old Port bottles....or just get some Port Tongs and never worry about corks again 8)

Johannes Stadler · Post by **Johannes Stadler** » Wed Mar 14, 2007 9:23 am

I also tried the Ah-So once unfortunately not for an old bottle (i have none) but for a regular one. It worked allright, but I think you really have to get used to the handling.
Another nice thing is that with the Ah-So you can also get a Cork back inside.

Moses Botbol · Post by **Moses Botbol** » Wed Mar 14, 2007 9:26 am

xaverin wrote:I also tried the Ah-So once unfortunately not for an old bottle (i have none) but for a regular one. It worked allright, but I think you really have to get used to the handling.
Another nice thing is that with the Ah-So you can also get a Cork back inside.

A screw is the best, no pun intended...

Julian D. A. Wiseman · Thu Apr 12, 2007 9:46 am

My many-years-old screwpull needs replacing. An ah-so will be purchased. There are several types on the market: do people have a preference between them?

Todd Pettinger · Post by **Todd Pettinger** » Thu Apr 12, 2007 9:55 am

Julian,

I bought what amounted to the cheapest one in the store. $8 Cdn. There were some for $35 Cdn, which had wood handles, sheaths, etc. In retrospect I found I would have probably picked the mid-line model (around $15-18 IIRC) as the prongs seem a bit stronger/less flexible. Although I have only had mine two weeks or so and have opened 4-5 bottles with it, i will likely go back eventually and get that one. The prongs on mine are a bit weak.

Like with everything, I suspect that you "ghet what you pay for" in terms of quality - up to a point. After that point you are paying for a name or fancy features that are esthetically pleasing (gold inlaid mahogany handle, diamond chips in the sheath, etc.) 8)

Hope this helps!
Todd

Julian D. A. Wiseman · Thu Apr 12, 2007 10:26 am

I’ll take that advice as “choose the strongest prongs”.

Todd Pettinger · Post by **Todd Pettinger** » Thu Apr 12, 2007 10:58 am

jdaw1 wrote:I’ll take that advice as “choose the strongest prongs”.

Yeah, sorry for the verbose reply

- get the strongest ones without paying stupid amounts for things that are not necessary.

My "weaker" prongs work fine, but I feel that a bit more strength would be beneficial.

John Danza · Post by **John Danza** » Thu Apr 12, 2007 12:53 pm

Unfortunately, my experience with the Ah-So opener is exactly the opposite of Andy's. I've never gotten a cork out with one. The tongs either cause cork problems because of scoring the sides, resulting in pieces of cork in the wine, or they end up pushing the cork into the bottle because of a very tight seal between the cork and the bottle that prevented the tongs to get between them. This is especially true with the old Port corks where the bottom is wider than the top. That style of cork can more easliy move down into the bottle than out of the top.

I think the best corkscrew of Port corks would be a very long worm that completely pierces the cork but doesn't distort it (as an auger would).

John

Michael Ferrier · Post by **Michael Ferrier** » Fri Apr 13, 2007 3:10 am

I have used an Ah-So for many years with considerable success. I prefer the alternative name of wiggle 'n twist as that better describes how to use it. I recently bought another one which does not work as well. The critical factor appears to be the length difference of the two prongs - if one is too long in relation to the other it is hard to get the rocking motion going; equally if the length difference is too short it is hard to get started.
On the one that works well the difference between the two prongs is 4mm and the length of the longer prong is 55mm

Scott Anaya · Post by **Scott Anaya** » Fri Apr 13, 2007 2:07 pm

Wow Richard Henderson's wife. I would love to see a video of that opening technique. Maybe you can make it an instructional one for us?

Does it work cleanly and easily every time

Al B. · Post by **Al B.** » Fri Apr 13, 2007 4:50 pm

I've more or less given up using my Ah-So as I found that the scoring it leaves on the sides of the cork sometimes made it very difficult to read the branding unless you could line the arms up with gaps in the cork where there was no branding.

Instead, I have gone back to an old fashioned T corkscrew with a very long, teflon coated thread. It works really well, even with fairly old corks.

Alex

For The Love Of Port

Best Corkscrew?

Where to Purhase

An ah-so will be purchased.

I’ll take that advice as “choose the strongest prongs”.

Re: I’ll take that advice as “choose the strongest prongs”.