The Great Durand Cork Remover

[Neal.Mollen]

@Andrew_K

The corkscrew part is supposed to be screwed all the way in to where it touches the top of the cork. This allows it to penetrate all the way through most corks. It appears you are 1/2" from there and perhaps that’s why the bottom crumbled out.

Well observed

[Eric_Egan]

It was definitely screwed all the way in (otherwise I don’t think it would have worked properly at all?). I think I probably just started unscrewing the cork before i took the picture.

[Andrew_K]

If that’s the case, you are quite skilled to manage to realign the ah-so marks perfectly to a 90° angle! It can definitely still be used with a small gap.

[Stan_Y]

@Eric_Egan

I don’t care about the cork itself but I’ve only used the Durian about a dozen times,

I’ve heard that the Durian is an acquired taste . ($&@! spell checker!)

[Neal.Mollen]

@Eric_Egan

It was definitely screwed all the way in (otherwise I don’t think it would have worked properly at all?). I think I probably just started unscrewing the cork before i took the picture.

I don’t know what to tell you, Eric. I’ve used the Durand countless times and the experience you describe is alien to me. And every corkscrew I have ever used has from time to time left bits of cork in the bottle, and the older the cork the more likely that is to happen, regardless of the brand name.

Anyway, if you have found a more satisfying experience using other approaches, congrats!

[Stan_Y]

I’m too lazy to track it down but want to remember reading here that Francois Audouze disliked the Durand for similar reasons, much preferring his traditional tools, for cork aesthetics. And for tradition.

I need to post a picture of my favorite tool for removing occasional cork shards from the worm penetrating the bottom of a soft old cork. It’s a long skinny flexible red plastic spoon for Vietnamese desserts (che) that has a little ridge around the handle that very effectively grabs little pieces of cork.

[Neal.Mollen]

@Stan_Y

It’s a long skinny flexible red plastic spoon for Vietnamese desserts (che) that has a little ridge around the handle that very effectively grabs little pieces of cork.

Oh man, I would love to get a line on something like that!

[Stan_Y]

Standard issue at any number of Vietnamese dessert places around here. I wonder if I can apply for a utility patent for use with Durand-like devices and charge a hundred bucks for it .

[Neal.Mollen]

that thing is flexible? that’s the key criterion to me. I’d actually like one I can bend into a shape and have it stay put

[Stan_Y]

Not going to hold a bent shape unfortunately, so I guess not so good for bottles with a shoulder fill.

[Brandon_R]

One post was, “Duran Duran” and the other, “Durian” as you cite. I think he’s messing with us…which I applaud.

[Joe_G_a_l_e_w_s_k_i]

@Brandon_R

One post was, “Duran Duran” and the other, “Durian” as you cite. I think he’s messing with us…which I applaud.

I can promise you that if you go into the Costco thread and mention any minor issue about Costco, you will get a similar response as here.

[JBrochu]

@Brandon_R

“Duran Duran”

His mouth was alive, with juices like wine
And he’s hungry like the wolf

[wbkeene]

Father’s Day gift! Finally own one of these things.

[wbkeene]

Feel free to Insert “you drink wines too young for it to matter” jokes now

[Phil_T_r_o_t_t_e_r]

@wbkeene

you drink wines too young for it to matter

[JBierly]

Honestly - use the thing on any wines that are more than 6-7 years old. I have had corks crumble on 10 year old bottles with a standard opener.

[JuanS]

I believe the patent must have expired, because you can see cheaper copies all around…

[wbkeene]

I’m sort of going to miss the personal challenge of trying to remove broken corks from the bottle without one - sort of

[todd_waldmann]

The hilarity of complaining about the cost of a $145 corkscrew that will be used many many times when compared to the cost/value of a single bottle that most of us would be using the corkscrew for…