Sabrage - The Art of Opening Champagne Bottles with a Sword

Imagine celebrating a victory by slicing open a bottle of champagne with a sword. 

Sabrage is the art of opening champagne bottles with a sword.

This might sound dramatic, but it’s exactly how the tradition of sabrage, or sabering a champagne bottle, got started! Originating in the early 19th century, sabrage was popularised by Napoleon Bonaparte’s light cavalry, the Hussars, who would open champagne with their sabers in celebration. 

Legend has it that Madame Clicquot, the famous "Widow Clicquot" who helped pioneer champagne as we know it, often entertained Napoleon’s officers at her vineyard. 

As a farewell gesture, the soldiers would gallop off with a bottle of her champagne and saber it open on horseback, impressing both the hostess and any onlookers. Thus, the art of sabering became a tradition, symbolising elegance.

But there’s a science to it, too. 

A champagne bottle holds a pressure of about 90 psi, which is three times the pressure of a car tire. 

By sliding the saber along the bottle’s seam, right to the lip where the cork and glass meet, the impact causes a clean break. 

Done with perfection, the cork and glass collar fly off together, making for an impressive scene. 

For those skilled in the art, there’s little risk of broken glass entering the bottle, but the first pour is always checked to ensure it’s shard-free.

Today, sabrage remains a ceremonial act at high-end events and is a mark of skill for sommeliers worldwide. 

In fact, the Guinness World Record for the most champagne bottles sabered in a minute stands at a mindblowing 68 bottles! 

So, the next time you witness a sabrage, remember this tradition and the mix of history, legend, and science that goes into that perfectly opened bottle.

This article was written by our quizmaster Surya Narayanan.