Bar Sets
Stainless Steel Wine Saver gift Setby Vacu Vin Inc. (0649350) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
  | | customer review: My wife and I typically have a glass of wine at dinner. The Vacuvin product works very well. After pouring some wine, we seal the bottle after each use, vacuuming out the air, and the rubber stopper works well enough that we can lean the bottle on its side and put it back into the wine refrigerator. I am very glad I discovered this product recently. It really saves wine from going stale. | Metrokane Rabbit 6-Piece Wine-Tool Kit, Blackby Metrokane (6010)  customer review: From a design standpoint, this is a very good product. But the documentation is pathetic, and was clearly never tested with new / real users. There is no explanation of how it's supposed to work. That understanding is very helpful: with it, you'll never have trouble, and will marvel at the clever design. Let's get started.
| Have a bottle of wine handy on which you've already used the supplied (and very good) little foil cutter to remove the foil over the cork. Take the unit in your hand and look at the movable parts. The overhead lever that swings outward / downward and then is reversed / brought back over the top - moves the spiral corkscrew up and down. To see this, operate the overhead lever with one hand while holding the clamping "side handles" with the other. When you move the overhead handle the corkscrew rotates. Why is the corkscrew turning? Because it's forced to do that as it goes through a "guide" (the metal collar with gray plastic center). The gray plastic piece has an internal spiral track that forces the corkscrew to rotate as it passes through. Here's the critical point: as long as the guide mechanism is locked in place and can't move up or down, the guide forces the corkscrew to rotate when going through. What if this guide were locked in place on the `down-stroke,' but could move vertically on the `up-stroke'? Then the guide would force the corkscrew to rotate on the way down (so the corkscrew would penetrate the cork), but the guide would stay attached to (and _not_ rotate) the corkscrew on the way up - thus pulling the cork. When the unit is operated correctly this is exactly what happens. But how? Look more closely: Before using the Rabbit's `side-handles' to hold the wine bottle neck, the guide is locked in place by two protruding spring-loaded latches and can't move vertically. Try it: it won't budge. (You can actually see these small latches projecting over the top of the guide and keeping it from moving - by looking in the area above and to the far rear of the guide, near the smooth rod.) On the other hand, when the clamping handles are squeezed onto the neck of a bottle, these latches above the guide _retract_, releasing their hold on the guide so it can move upward. Do this now: Take your bottle of wine and, with the overhead lever rotated to its fully outward / downward position, place the guide directly over the cork and grip the neck of the bottle _firmly_ with the clamping side handles. Look at the latches described above: they have retracted, and no longer restrain the guide from moving upward. This has no effect during the down-stroke / cork penetration phase, since the guide is already as low as it can go. Because the guide can't move, it forces the corkscrew to rotate when you operate the overhead lever - thus penetrating the cork. Perform this down-stroke. Now watch what happens when the overhead lever is pulled back to withdraw the cork (while you at the same time continue to grip the bottle neck firmly with the side levers). Because the guide can now move vertically with the corkscrew, it imposes no rotation on the corkscrew. The corkscrew stays inside the cork as the overhead lever is moved outward / downward, and the cork is extracted. Do it. You now have the cork out of the bottle, suspended above the bottle neck, and are still gripping the side handles around the bottle neck. Release your hold on the side handles and move the Rabbit away from the bottle. The cork is still attached to the corkscrew. Re-grip the side handles with one hand and once again operate the overhead lever, bringing it all the way back to its fully closed position again (as if you were on the original down-stroke into the cork). As you get to the very end of the stroke, you will feel resistance and will hear a click: the latches have snapped back into place over the top of the guide, locking it in place. The guide is once again `captured' - and cannot move vertically. The cork is still attached to the corkscrew. Finally, move the overhead lever back yet again to its fully open position (as if pulling the cork from the bottle). This time the latches _don't_ retract (because you're not using the side handles to grip the bottle neck) - so the latches again keep the guide from moving, and this forces the corkscrew to rotate `in reverse' as it passes upward through the guide. The corkscrew backs out of the cork and the cork drops off. It takes all of a few seconds once you get the hang of it. Understanding the operating principles should help. None of this is well explained (or, indeed, explained at all) in the almost non-existent documentation. Steve Ferris Vacu Vin Crystal Wine Servers, Set of 2by Vacu Vin Inc. (1854050)  customer review: Surprisingly happy with these spouts.
| There is a double/layered sharp lip which forms a channel and tapers back down toward the bottle. Any drip left at the tip of the inner lip drains back into the bottle via this channel, somewhat like what some clothing detergent bottle designs do. A clever, elegant design; the sort of thing that "floats my boat" as an engineer. A few details that may be helpful to know: The lips are quite sharp and can hurt your fingers a bit when you push a spout into a bottle. Haven't cut myself yet, but it can seem close to doing so. You may want to use a wash cloth or similar to help. I sometimes use a small anti-slip pad that I have at hand (used to put under cutting boards, mixing bowls). I managed to melt the outer lip of one slightly in the dishwasher. The spout was put in a utensil basket on the lower shelf near the heating element, and I forgot to disable the heated drying cycle. Still seems to do its job so far. The spouts are not foolproof; I have managed to be overconfident with them once or twice and had a drip or two escape. Knowing this, just a bit of care makes your pours perfect every time. If you like good wines like my wife & I do to the last drop, assuming no sediments, you'll need to remove the spout for the last as it can trap about a teaspoon behind. Metrokane 6-Piece Deluxe Rabbit Wine Tool Kitby Metrokane (6017)  customer review: This is a wonderful product initially. It's easy to use and the cork just slides out effortlessly. However, the screw that it uses soon wears out. This can happen in as little as 3 to 6 months or so depending on how much wine you drink. I assume that the teflon coating wears off or the tip dulls. In any event, it then becomes increasingly difficult to use until it starts pushing the cork in the bottle. They throw in one extra screw, but additional ones are outrageously priced--$10 on Amazon. Nice margin for the manufacturer. There were at one time Chinese knock-offs in the marketplace that had the same characteristics, but at least they were cheap, $10 or 15 if I remember correctly. This product costs a lot of money for its short lifespan. | Long Bar Spoonby KegWorks  $1.75 customer review: Well, it's a spoon. It's a piece of shaped metal, and it definitely does the job. I'm a Barista and I picked up a few of these to help out here and there, and they definitely have made my life easier. The red caps will crack and come right off if you abuse them, but they're just for pretty anyway. My only gripe is I found these at Bed Bath and Beyond for less than it is here, and they're usually overpriced on their items. Otherwise, it's a great product. | Oxo SteeL 7-Piece Barware Setby OXO (1058010)  customer review: I love the look and compact design of this bar set. I have a small apartment, so every addition must be thought about carefully. This is a perfect addition to any kitchen, and pairs well with a boston shaker. OXO products always come through with style as well as well crafted items.
| I highly reccomend this to anyone looking for a bar set for their home or next party. enjoy! Restaurant - Hotel - Diner Call Bellby KegWorks  $6.95 customer review: This bell was a little more expensive than others, but it is heavy duty, not plastic. Has a nice, loud ding. The ones sold for dog door bells are part plastic. | Libbey Munich 7-Piece Beer Setby Libbey (80774)  customer review: My boyfriend brews his own beer and I couldn't be more pleased with his newfound hobby! To show him my love and support, I bought this set so that he could share with his friends in style..I also thought that it would be great for drinks during the summer too! I'm very pleased with this product..it's a very lovely set and I love how much the pitcher can hold..it also pours smoothe without any spills or drips down the side. The sturdy thick bases on the glasses also provide good standing support. It was overall a good choice! | Julep Bar Strainerby Kegworks.com  $2 customer review: The product worked well but I felt I paid to much for the quality I received. | Screwpull Trilogy Table Model and Foil Cutter Gift Setby Screwpull (50062001000061)  customer review: With the included foil cutter, this Screwpull model cork remover is a smart, quick and easy product to use, as well as a great gift. The foil cutter is a safe way to remove the foil cap on all wine bottles with ease and the cork screw removes the cork from the bottle without pulling as well as ejecting the cork without touching it. This may not be the fanciest cork screw, but it is an innovative, high quality means of all wine bottle cork removal. | Anchor Hocking Heavy Base Rocks Glass, Set of 12by Anchor Hocking (3178EZ)  $16.99 customer review: I sent these back because they were so poor quality. They looked as if 1/3 of them were seconds. Many of the rims had noticeable imperfections, I guess where they poured the glass. Fortunately Amazon was good as always and took them back. | Chef'n VeggiChop Vegetable Chopper, Arugulaby Chef'n (VC-860AR)  customer review: I just got the Vegichopper yesterday, so the review is based on one use---but the results are conclusive so far as I'm concerned. I chopped each of the following separately: celery, onion, zucchini, bell pepper, and garlic. Four pulls is usually enough. Just as with an electric food processor, too much chopping produces a purée: on one pass I got a little red pepper purée from 7 pulls. So check as you go.
| The product is EXTREMELY well-designed: for example, it has a guard for the blades, and if the guard's on, the blades won't turn. Lid seats firmly, and cleanup is rinsing off the blade unit, rinsing out the bowl, and wiping the bottom of the lid. The great thing is the compact size: easy to store (good for small apartments), easy to get out of storage, easy to use, and easy to like. Chef'n Emulstir, Emulsifier and Salad Dressing Maker, Arugulaby Chef'n (104-011-011)  When it comes to salad, "dress" to impress! With homemade salad dressings that is! Mix in your favorite ingredients for a healthy treat that will have your guests reaching for seconds. | Screwpull Elegance Lever Model Corkscrew Gift Setby Screwpull (LM-2000)  customer review: Well constructed and easy to use, great value. Getting the cork off of the corkscrew is the feature I like the best. | Vacu Vin Wine Gift Setby Vacu Vin Inc. (6889450)  $29.99 customer review: This is another one of those must have things for the wine person... The vacu vin keeps the wine fresh for a longer period of time. If you just recork your wine then it will go bad quicker, this prolongs that time. Really!!! The cork screw works great even for my wife who has small hands. | Danesco Stainless Steel Spoon Straws Set of 4by Danesco (8341230)  $10.95 customer review: The straw section is very narrow and the spoon is flat so it doesn't hold the drink. | Metrokane VIP 7-Piece Bar Tool Set, Black (plus Caddy)by Metrokane (7402)  customer review: Bought as a christmas gift for my son in law, very nice item, good quality, he loved it. | Harold Imports Stainless Steel Bottle Pourers 2-pc.by Harold Imports (5502)  $8.65 customer review: Great price, no leaks on either booze or olive oil. I wish I'd ordered twice as many | MIU Stainless-Steel Bar Tool Setby MIU France (123-21B)  customer review: This great little set is perfect if you don't have a lot of space. The tools are wonderful and you have everything you need to mix drinks for your next get-together. The bucket is a little small, but overall it is a great set. The only gripe is the price--I got mine for less than $20 at Tuesday Morning and it is the exact same set. | Pinzon 8-Piece Stainless-Steel Barware Setby Amazon (ZF-001)  customer review: I don't mix cocktails very often, so I am rating this mostly based on its looks. I like having nice things in my kitchen and stainless steel dominates. This set is extremely good looking and I love the fact that you can store tools in the compact bucket.
| Unfortunately all the complaints that other reviewers have posted here are true. The knife cannot cut, the bottle opener is difficult to use and the ice bucket is not insulated. However, for someone like me who only uses bar tools occasionally it's practical enough and has a very reasonable price. And did I mention the esthetical value? | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||