Customer Reviews

Metrokane Vertical Rabbit Lever Style Corkscrew with Foil Cutter, Velvet Black

5 star:		(33)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(7)

 

 

This is the newly designed "Vertical Rabbit" wine opener. I purchased The original version about 5 years ago. It worked OK, but was cumbersome and awkward to use. This new design is TERRIFIC !!!!!!

Here's what you do to open a bottle:
1. Squeeze and Rotate the supplied foil cutter to cut the top of the foil off
2. Slide the black opener over the top of the bottle with the silver handle raised
3. Grasp the opener firmly as you push the silver handle down...then pull it up again....POP....the cork (real or synthetic) is out!!!
4. Repeat (3) again to eject the cork from the opener
(NOTE: gorilla strength NOT required)

My first reaction was, "THIS CAN'T BE THAT EASY!"...but it is, because the same thing has happened over and over since then.

Finally, for storage the new design stands up on a shelf...or lies down in a drawer (unlike its bulky predecessor). The clear plastic storage case can also be used because it contains a replacement corkscrew.

This is a no-brainer must-get...Highly Recommended!!

Not long ago I wrote a review of the Screwpull Revolutionary New Lever Pull. I've since also acquired a Metrokane Vertical Rabbit and I'm so happy with it that I feel compelled to write a review on it as well.

While the Screwpull is lovely and sculptural, the Metrokane is sexy and fun. The former is priced from $130 to $150 on Amazon, and the latter is $50 to $60. Each comes with a foil cutter, but the Metrokane also comes with a replacement screw. The Screwpull arrives in a very attractive leather presentation case which would look good anywhere, whereas the Metrokane arrives in a hinged plastic container which you could probably throw away. The taller and more angular Screwpull seems to be largely made of metal and has a noticable heft; the Metrokane handle is made of metal, but the body is plastic. It doesn't feel nearly as substanial as the Screwpull, but I don't find that to be a problem. Both pullers stand upright and would look fine perched on a table or sideboard.

As of this writing, the taller and more angular Screwpull seems to be offered only in satin with black accents, and the curvy Metrokane in black, gunmetal gray, and the one I bought, candy apple red. The Vertial Rabbit, true to its name, has a hint of an eye on either side so when looked at in profile, it gives the appearance of a rabbit. I probably should deduct a star for too much cuteness, but that's part of the fun of the Rabbit.

The operation of the two is somewhat different. The base of the Screwpull ia sprung open and must be squeezed to hold it onto the bottle. The lever is then thrown more than 180 degrees to pierce the cork, and then brought back the same amoount to remove it from the bottle. The cork is removed from the device by throwing the lever back and forth once more. Simple, fluid, magical.

Rather than being held open, the Metrokane base is held closed by a spring. Not a big deal. In contrast to the Screwpull, the lever is pulled up (or cocked) before placing it over the neck of the bottle. The throw, however, is engineered to be only 90 degrees versus the Screwpulls 180+ degrees. and falls into place at each end of the throw with a satisfying "clunk". The removal of the cork from the bottle and from the device is the same as with the Screwpull.

For some reason, I find it a little easier to remember to remove the cork from the Metrokane. It may be because when it is removed from the bottle, the handle is in the cocked position and it's obvious the process isn't yet complete.

Which is the better choice? I'm delighted with both for entirely different reasons and use them interchangably. I can't comment on longevity since neither has given a hint of trouble. I don't consider either easier to use, although it could be argued that the Metrokane with less than half the throw of the Screwpull might be easier, plus I really think I'm more likely to remember to remove the cork afterward with it. The Screwpull with its elegance, metal construction, heft, and presentation box would perhaps be the better choice for an impressive gift; whereas the Metrokane at 1/2 to 1/3 the price and with an extra screw is far and away the better value. Choose either one and you'll be happy.

This corkscrew works better than any other that I have used. It pulls corks out with ease, then ejects them with minimal effort - the Achilles heal of most corkscrews. The only down side is the price. If you drink wine regularly, you'll never regret your purchase. It works just as well on plastic "corks" as real ones - something many lever-style corkscrews can't claim.

This wine opener is the closest thing I've ever seen to a push-button way to open wine bottles perfectly every time. We don't bother to remove the foil cork-covers, because it'll pull the cork right through them (so far no exceptions). Hold it over the neck of the bottle, gently push the lever down, then gently lift the lever up. There is no forcing, alignment, pressure, or strength required. It works so well because as you press-down on the lever, gears cleanly turn the screw into the cork. It's just as easy to get the cork off the rabbit.

My wife wanted us to get one, and I admit I was a skeptic of automatic bottle openers. I received an electric wine opener as a gift and used it only once before throwing it out as junk. I found all of them frustrating compared to a good old standard hand-operated sommalier's screw-lever. Even after my wife was using our rabbit, I was spending time with my screw-lever. Then I watched her use it, ONCE. She stuck it right over the bottle with the foil on. I mistakenly tried to warn her, thinking the foil would foul it up. Before I knew it the cork was out, and she was explaining how you don't need to bother with that. The next bottle we opened I insisted on using the rabbit myself. Now the rabbit is the opener I reach for every time.

If you are looking for an easy wine opener, buy one now, you won't regret it.

I bought one of these late last year and it broke after very little use. Not the normal problem that a new screw would resolve but a much more significant failure. I sent it to Metrokane (the manufacturer)for replacement with a $10.00 bank draft as instructed under it's 10 year warranty and have got nothing in return. I have exchanged emails with their service department multiple times. They respond saying they are sending it right away and then they don't. Each time ie is a different reason/excuse. They never actually volunteer this information but instead I wait for 3 or4 weeks and send an email and that's when they come up with a excuse. This cycle has happened 3 times now and I have been waiting nearly 3 months.
Do not buy this product and do not deal with MetroKane!

The Rabit has been used everyday for the last 8 months and worked great but it finally gave up. It would no longer eject the cork from the screw.
Before it totally stopped working we noticed a small metal piece that came out of the unit. Subsequently a similar piece came out and it stopped working. The material that broke was from a molded metal part. This specific type of material has very little mechanical strength and I expect it to happen again.

We mailed it back to Metrokane and included $10. A replacement came 3 days later.
NOTE: Warranty normally requires the customer to pay for the return freight and the company will ship a repaired/new unit to the customer free of charge. In this case the added cost is for us has been $16.80.
I would have given it 5 stars but had to deduct 2 for the unusual $10 warranty charge.

UPDATE
The replacement we received after paying $16.80 for the replacement failed after only 7 months. I have degraded the quality to one star. It will be going in the trash.
DON'T WASTE YOUR MONEY.

I got these corkscrews for my groomsmen. They make great gifts and are much easier to store and use than the previous rabbit corkscrews which have the two extra arms you need to deal with.

I HIGHLY recommend buying these from "The Wine Barn" here on Amazon. They have the best prices and their service/employees are top-notch. They deserve your business. ( no, i do not work for them :) )

The mechanical action for removing and ejecting the cork works well, as advertised, BUT -
It takes more effort than I had expected and
it is hard for a person with small hands, such as my wife, to get a good grip on the body while useing the lever, and
the foil cutter can be tricky with some bottles.
It is an improvement on the basic "waiter's corkscrew" I was useing, but still not the perfect answer.

Simple engineering mechanics obviously escapes the Rabbit team. Pulling the handle up to remove the cork places stress on your hand due to the design of the CHEAP PLASTIC black hinged plate being inline with the force of the lever. A simple reverse of this design to the hinge in the front would have fixed this issue and made it a fairly good product. Oh and plastic junk on a 50.00 corkscrew REALLY ???? not metal?

The vertical rabbit works as stated, fast and easy uncorking. Good for arthritic hands that have trouble with traditional corkscrews. But the red gloss finish has developed faded spots in the paint. It looks like my rabbit has contracted a disease. It has been stored in the plastic case so it's not kitchen splatters.