Flair Bartending Lesson #40: Two Bottle Pop Open
This is another great Prop Flair that comes in handy when someone orders two beers. No bottle or tins – just two beer bottles and a Speed Opener.
1) To practice this move, start with the Speed Opener in your right hand. Holding it straight out from you, level to the ground.
2) Place a beer bottle on the middle of the opener.
3) Use your left hand to mimic holding the 2nd bottle just for practice. Imagine it is hanging just below the speed opener and pretend you are going to hold it firmly with your left hand.
4) In one motion, try catapulting the bottle forward with the speed opener, getting one full rotation and catching it with your right hand. This is the tough part of the flair move. The trick is to find the sweet spot between lifting the speed opener up and pushing it forward. Imagine the end of the speed opener is attached to point; think about pushing the opener forward like you are pushing a big lever on a machine. It should be equal parts up and away from you.
5) If it makes it easier when you’re starting out, you can catch the bottle with your left hand; just be aware that when you actually perform this move, your left hand will be holding a beer bottle and you’ll have to catch it with your right hand. You can still hold onto the speed opener in your palm as you use your thumb and forefinger to catch the bottle.
6) Once you are comfortable getting one full rotation on the beer bottle and catching it with the same hand, set that bottle down. Pick up the 2nd beer bottle and gently place the cap in your bottle opener. It should just hang there suspended at an angle towards you.
7) Grip the suspended bottle firmly with your left hand. Lift forward on the speed opener in the same way you’ve been practicing. This will open the bottom bottle.
8 ) Hang one bottle from the speed opener and place one on top of it. Grip the suspended bottle firmly as you catapult the bottle forward – with one rotation – and catch it with your right hand.
Practice getting a smooth throw and catch and the bottle shouldn’t foam over once you open it, though I often give it 5-10 seconds to settle, just to be sure. If you are having problems with the beer foaming up too much once you open it, you may be agitating the beer too much. Practice getting a more fluid throw and a gentler catch and you should be able to do this one without excess foam.
Get a case of beer and have fun practicing this one at home or for your friends.
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