File this one under “over the top” embellishments. I saw a guy whack open a champagne bottle with a sword once on TV. I thought the method forced just the cork out of the bottle. Turns out it is a little more violent than that. According to WineToday’s description, the lip of the bottle is actually forced off. And there are champagne sabres designed for this very task. The back of the blade is used. Here are some other ones (a little cheaper). And a lovely one that looks well balanced. Since I usually run out of the room when champagne bottles are opened the normal way, this isn’t something I’m going to get into myself. But for high drama, what other flourishes can compare?