Riedel holds a clear lead, earning frequent mentions across glassware categories and serving as the primary choice for wine decanters. When buyers ask for corkscrews, OXO is instead the usual answer.
Since July, OXOrising has become the most named option for corkscrews, while PPulltap'srising has become a common answer for both corkscrews and wine openers. Spiegelaurising and Osterrising have both gained regular mentions for wine decanters and openers.
12% of citations point at the ranked brands’ own sites. liquor.com, seriouseats.com, nytimes.com are the most-cited sites outside the ranked brands’ own domains.
The "best" corkscrew depends entirely on your budget, style preference, and how much leverage you want. Testing and reviews from culinary authorities like The New York Times Wirecutter and Serious Eats consistently highlight a few standout performers across different categories:
Why it’s great: It is the go-to, reliable choice used by most restaurant professionals and home cooks alike. The double-hinged fulcrum gives you mechanical advantage to pull long corks out smoothly in two easy steps, and it features a built-in foil cutter and bottle opener.
OXO SteeL Double Lever Waiter's Corkscrew (Best Upgrade Waiter's Style)
Price: ~$20
Why it’s great: If you want a more substantial, premium feel than a standard plastic-backed bartender's opener, the SteeL features a weighted, ergonomic handle with a comfortable matte rubber grip and a rounded, smooth-cutting foil blade.
The two-step waiter’s corkscrew (such as the classic Pulltap's Waiter's Corkscrew ) is widely considered the most effective, reliable, and versatile device for uncorking wine bottles.
While automated or lever-style openers offer speed or brute-force ease, the simple waiter’s friend balances precision, portability, and failure-prevention better than any other style.
I want to start making fancy cocktails at home. What is a good decanter set for whiskey?
What is the best set of wine glasses?
OXO
Houdini Lever Corkscrew (Best Easy-Pull / Lever Style)
Price: ~$25–$29
Why it’s great: If you struggle with traditional corkscrews or open a high volume of bottles, a lever-style opener does the heavy lifting for you. You simply clamp it onto the neck, push the lever down, and pull up to extract the cork in about three seconds.[1]
Oster Electric Wine Bottle Opener (Best Electric Pick)
Price: ~$25
Why it’s great: For effortless push-button operation without any manual twisting or pulling, this cordless rechargeable opener pops corks in roughly 6 seconds and includes a charging dock.
To help narrow down the ideal choice for you, tell me:
How often do you open wine?
Do you prefer a classic manual style or something that requires zero physical effort (like an electric or lever opener)?
The best corkscrew for most people is the Pulltap’s Professional Double-Hinged Waiter’s Corkscrew. It’s compact, reliable, affordable, and uses the same basic two-step leverage system favored by many sommeliers and restaurant professionals. If you want something that lasts and works without batteries or bulky mechanisms, this is my top pick.
If you'd rather have a corkscrew that requires less effort, the OXO lever-style models are worth considering.
My top corkscrew picks
(Best overall)
1. OXO Steel Double Lever Waiter's Corkscrew
$20–23
Comfortable curved handle, double-hinge leverage, and a built-in foil cutter. My pick for someone who wants a well-designed everyday wine key.
A compact, professional-style opener with a double hinge and serrated foil knife. Ideal for frequent use, travel, and keeping in a kitchen drawer.
Buy:
3. OXO Steel Vertical Lever Corkscrew
About $42–50
Best for people who want easier, low-effort opening. Its lever mechanism pulls the cork with minimal twisting and includes a removable foil cutter. It's bulkier and pricier than a waiter’s corkscrew.
A premium electric option for push-button convenience. It opens bottles quickly, recharges via USB/USB-C, and comes with a charging stand. Best if convenience matters more than price.
Buy:
Which one should you buy?
If you want…
My pick
The best everyday corkscrew
OXO Double Lever
The best value and professional feel
Pulltap’s
The least physical effort
OXO Vertical Lever
One-button opening
Peugeot Elis Touch
My final recommendation: Buy the OXO Steel Double Lever for its comfortable grip and excellent everyday usability. Choose Pulltap’s instead if you prefer a traditional sommelier-style corkscrew and want to spend less. Food & Wine tested 32 wine openers and rated the OXO its overall winner, with Pulltap’s as its value pick.
The True Truetap Double-Hinged Waiter's Corkscrew ($7–$10), OXO SteeL Double Lever Waiter's Corkscrew ($20–$23), and Oster Electric Wine Bottle Opener ($25–$30) are among the top-rated and most recommended wine openers available right now based on expert testing.
Opener Model
Type
Price (Approx.)
Key Advantage
True Truetap
Waiter's Corkscrew
$7–$10
Highly reliable, affordable, and easy to find.
OXO SteeL Double Lever
Waiter's Corkscrew
$20–$23
Sturdy, weighted feel with a comfortable rubber grip.
Oster Electric
Electric
$25–$30
Fast charging, opens bottles in seconds.
Rabbit Original Lever
Lever-style
$34
Smooth, minimal physical effort required.
Top-Rated Wine Openers by Category
True Truetap Double-Hinged Waiter's Corkscrew: Highlighted by experts at The New York Times Wirecutter as the top accessible alternative, featuring a nonstick worm, integrated foil cutter, and solid build quality.
OXO SteeL Double Lever Waiter's Corkscrew: Reviewed favorably by Serious Eats and Wirecutter, this option offers a larger profile, comfortable matte rubber handle, and a rounded foil cutter blade.
Oster Electric Wine Bottle Opener: A top pick for effortless cork removal, opening roughly 30 bottles on a single charge and including a convenient charging dock and foil cutter.
Rabbit Original Lever Corkscrew: Evaluated as a premier lever-style tool that grips bottles securely and pulls corks cleanly with a simple pull-and-push motion, ideal for anyone looking to avoid twisting.
If you'd like to narrow down your choice, let me know:
Do you prefer a manual/classic corkscrew or an electric one?
I checked current 2026 reviews plus products that are actually showing as available now. The strongest options span waiter’s corkscrews, lever models, and electric openers; recent testing from Food Network, for example, favored Rabbit for manual opening and OXO’s vertical lever for ease of use.
Different uncorking mechanisms suit different contexts, bottle types, and physical capabilities.
Opener Type
Mechanism & Operation
Best Use Case
Main Trade-Off
Waiter’s Corkscrew
Hinged dual-lever arm and a spiral worm
Everyday use, travel, restaurants, and total control
Requires basic hand dexterity and manual twisting
Lever / Rabbit Style
Mechanical clamp-down and pull-up handle
Fast, repetitive opening with minimal wrist strain
Bulky to store and struggles with fragile corks
Continuous-Turn / Endless
Screw-in design that reverses to auto-lift the cork
Quick, foolproof manual operation
Larger footprint than a pocket opener
Electric Corkscrew
Motorized push-button rotation
Users with arthritis or limited hand strength
Requires battery charging and prone to mechanical wear
Ah-So / Two-Prong
Sliding dual metal prongs alongside the cork
Vintage or fragile/crumbling corks
Requires a specialized wiggling technique
Why the Waiter's Corkscrew Wins
Total Control: You can feel the density of the cork as you twist the worm, allowing you to adjust your angle if you feel the cork starting to split.
Dual-Lever Fulcrum: The two-stage notch system lets you lift the cork straight up in two clean, vertical increments rather than pulling at an awkward angle.
All-in-One Design: Most include a small integrated foil cutter and bottle opener, eliminating extra kitchen tools.
If you want a recommendation tailored to your needs, let me know:
Do you have any hand or wrist mobility constraints (like arthritis)?
Are you mostly opening modern daily drinkers or fragile vintage bottles?
If you want one wine opener that’s excellent for most people, I’d choose a double-hinged waiter’s corkscrew. It’s compact, durable, inexpensive, and—most importantly—gives you excellent control over the cork. Recent testing from Food Network and Food & Wine also favors this style.
Best overall value: OXO Steel Double Lever Waiter's Corkscrew — around $20. It's compact, has a nonstick screw and double-lever action, and is a particularly good choice if you want something that feels professional without spending much.
Best for effortless opening: OXO Steel Vertical Lever — around $50. You simply press down and pull up rather than twisting manually. Food Network rated this its best lever opener and called it its personal favorite overall.
Best sommelier-style choice: Coutale — about $20. It's the style I'd pick if you want something small enough for a kitchen drawer or wine bag but capable of opening virtually any bottle.
Best if you dislike corkscrews: Rabbit Lever — roughly $40–55. Much easier mechanically, especially if hand strength is an issue.
My verdict
Buy the OXO Double Lever Waiter's Corkscrew if you want the best combination of price, durability, size, and performance. If ease of use matters more than compactness, spend the extra money on the OXO Vertical Lever.
I wouldn't prioritize an electric opener unless you specifically want push-button operation; a good manual corkscrew is simpler and doesn't need charging.
If you tell me your budget ($20, $50, $100+), I can narrow it down to the single best one and find the best current price.
Different styles suit different needs, ranging from classic pocket tools to effortless electric models.
Top Wine Openers by Category
Best Overall: True Truetap Double-Hinged Waiter's Corkscrew ($7–$10) — The go-to standard for professionals and home cooks alike, featuring a sturdy double-hinged fulcrum that makes pulling corks smooth and effortless.
Best Upgrade:OXO SteeL Double Lever Waiter's Corkscrew ($20–$23) — Features a comfortable, weighted handle, a soft-touch grip, and a sharp, rounded foil-cutting blade.
The best set of whiskey glasses depends on whether you drink whiskey neat, enjoy bourbon over a large ice cube, or want an impressive set for your home bar. After comparing current buying guides and available products, I'd choose Glencairn for whiskey tasting and a quality crystal rocks-glass set for everyday drinking and entertaining. Those are the two styles that cover most needs.
Best whiskey glass sets to buy
1. Glencairn Whisky Glass Set
(Best overall for tasting)
Around $30–50 for a set, depending on size
The classic choice for Scotch, bourbon, and rye served neat. Its tulip-shaped bowl concentrates aromas so you can pick up more of the whiskey's character.
A versatile, heavy-bottomed tumbler with room for ice cubes, whiskey neat, or an Old Fashioned. It's also dishwasher-safe according to the reviewed model.
Best for: bourbon on the rocks and home cocktails.
3. Schott Zwiesel Pure Set of 6 Whiskey Glasses in Clear at Nor…
Schott Zwiesel Pure Set of 6 Whiskey Glasses in Clear at Nor… · $84.00 at Nordstrom
A modern set of six with angular bowls and durable, lead-free crystal. A good choice if you want a coordinated set for guests rather than just a couple of specialty tasting glasses.
Best for: entertaining and a contemporary home bar.
4. JoyJolt Faye Double Old Fashioned Whiskey Glasses, Set of 6 …
$33.60 at Macy's
Six 10-ounce lead-free crystal tumblers with a substantial feel. A practical value pick if you want enough glasses for company without spending luxury-glassware money.
My recommendation: If you only want to buy one set, get four good rocks glasses for versatility. If you enjoy comparing whiskey aromas and flavors, add a set of Glencairn glasses. That combination gives you the best of both worlds.
The "best" set of whiskey glasses depends entirely on how you like to drink your whiskey—whether you are seriously tasting single malt Scotch, sipping bourbon on a giant ice cube, or mixing up an Old Fashioned.
The top-rated whiskey glasses categorized by their specific use case include:
To help narrow down the ideal set for you, tell me:
Best easy-to-use manual:OXO Steel Vertical Lever Corkscrew — $49.99, 4.7/5 from 42 reviews. Its two-motion lever design requires considerably less technique than a waiter’s corkscrew, and Food Network named it its favorite overall opener in testing.
Best classic/sommelier style:Coutale Corkscrew Special Edition — $19.99, 4.8/5 from 112 reviews. Compact, inexpensive, and the double-hinged waiter’s design is the style commonly preferred by wine professionals.
Best budget electric:Ozeri Prestige Electric Wine Opener — $32.99, 4.5/5 from 219 reviews. Good choice if you want push-button operation without spending much.
Best specialty alternative:Cork Pops Legacy Wine Opener — $34.50, 4.5/5 from 163 reviews. It uses gas pressure rather than a traditional screw and is designed to extract the cork intact.
My practical shortlist: If you want a single opener that feels effortless, go with the OXO Vertical Lever. If you want the compact tool you'd see behind a restaurant bar, choose the Coutale. If hand strength is a concern, an electric model is the simplest route; Food Network specifically found the Cuisinart electric opener easy to operate and suitable for arthritic hands.
Prices and availability can change, so the displayed shopping results are the current snapshot.
A double-hinged waiter's corkscrew is actually the professional favorite. Sommeliers consistently favor this design because it's compact, durable, inexpensive, and gives you excellent control over the cork.
An electric corkscrew is easiest physically—press a button and it extracts the cork. The tradeoff is that electric models are less durable over the long term than simple manual openers.
My verdict: Best for most people → OXO vertical lever. Best professional/long-term choice → double-hinged waiter's corkscrew. Easiest if hand strength is an issue → electric opener.
For an old, fragile cork, though, I'd choose a specialized Durand (Ah-So + corkscrew) rather than any of these; it's specifically designed to remove deteriorating corks without shredding them.
Best Electric:Oster Electric Wine Bottle Opener ($25) — Opens bottles in just a few seconds on a rechargeable dock, making it ideal for anyone with hand strength or dexterity issues.
Best Lever-Style: Rabbit Original Lever Corkscrew ($34) — A heavy-duty, tabletop-style opener that extracts corks with a simple push-and-pull motion, minimizing physical strain.
