5. Dime in a Bottle
class: closer | impressiveness: 5/5 | factors: multiple phases, double-or-nothing payout | requires: empty wine bottle, cork, dime, various table settings | watch full episode
This may be my single favorite combination of bar stunts. Each part is a solid trick on its own, but the combination of the two makes for an awesome one-two punch.
The Setup: Grab an empty wine bottle, drop a dime into it, and replace the cork back in the mouth of the bottle. Push the cork back in so it’s flush with the mouth.
The Challenge: Offer a free drink to anyone who can remove the dime from the bottle first, and then remove the cork second. There’s no trick phrasing here: you don’t need to smash the bottle, and there won’t be any eye-rolling cheesy fake answer at the end. It really can be done, and the solution is immensely satisfying.
Most people won’t be able to figure out even the first half of the scam. And those that do will almost certainly be stopped by the second half.
In fact, take a moment to see if you can figure this one out.
Don’t worry, I’ll wait…
Give up? Good. So will your victims.
To Remove the Dime: Grab a spoon and use the handle to jam the cork all the way down into the bottle.
Once the cork is rattling loose inside, it should be simple to shake it and pour out the dime.
This leaves you with the second problem: how to get the cork out of the bottle.
To Remove the Cork: Twist up a cloth napkin and insert it inside the bottle. Tilt the bottle so the cork falls into the folds of the napkin, then carefully begin pulling it out. Once the cork is surrounded on all sides by the napkin, you’ll only need to give it a good, solid tug to pull the cork out of the bottle.
You’re going to want to practice this part before trying it on your friends. There’s a bit of a knack to lining up the cork just so. And it’s going to take a bit of muscle to yank the cork out, depending on your bottle.
Watch Demonstration (External link)
If you have trouble making it work with the linen napkin, you can also try it with a plastic shopping bag. The thinner material may make it easier to pull the cork through.