Once upon a time a father sat his son on his lap and said, “Son, one day you will have a bottle of wine, but you will not have a corkscrew to open it with. You will look around for some sort of apparatus with which to free the wine from the bottle.”
“Daddy, should I use a knife to push the cork into the bottle?”
“Ha. No. That’s a horrible idea. Use your shoe!”
And so began the legend of the wine-bottle-shoe-trick. But many were dubious. Was this just a story? An old wives’ tale told by frat boys with an urge?
It turns out: No! You can really open a wine bottle with your shoe*.
How do we know? Smart, fearless Mother Jones reporter Tim McDonnell made it happen (watch the video above).
Here’s how:
- You need a solid-soled shoe. No work-out soft-soled BS.
- Find a really sturdy wall. We’re talking brick.
- Have courage and strength.
- The shoe must be perpendicular to the wall.
- Have faith, and take several determined, precise swings.
- The cork should slowly emerge over the course of several swings.
- Keep your face and other vulnerable bits away from the impact zone (SCIENCE).
- The force of the liquid inside the bottle will force the cork out.
- Drink!!!
*Mother Jones does not endorse that you try this at home in any way. Please drink in moderation. And don’t drive.
