Champagne bucket

Ein Champagnerkübel gehört definitiv dazu, um einen Champagner stilecht zu genießen und um eine Erfahrung zum Erlebnis werden zu lassen. Ob schlicht oder elegant – grundsätzlich soll er die Kühlung und die Handhabung des Champagners optimieren. Er darf nicht zu eng sein, damit die Wasser-/Eis-Mischung (ca.50/50 %) den Großteil der Flasche umgeben kann. Es gibt Champagnerkübel, welche zwar schön aussehen, aber von der Funktion her unzureichend sind.

In ice water, this Pommery Louise would only benefit from about 30% (and thus uneven) cooling- with classic (bulbous) champagne bottles, perhaps even only 20% cooling. More space is desirable. For best results, even cooling of at least 50-70% of bottle length is required. Many (often inexpensive) bucket designs bed a standard bottle beautifully.

A Bollinger standard bottle, for example, is cooled satisfactorily. A silver-plated bucket with an antique look is popular in the US market. It costs about 60 dollars.

Champagne can easily be stored (even for a few days) in the refrigerator (bottom shelf!) or pre-chilled a little. After 20 to 30 minutes in the ice water solution of the bucket, the champagne reaches the ideal serving temperature. The next bottle may already be waiting in the refrigerator for the simple replacement of the empty bottle in the bucket.

Some champagne houses also supply beautiful champagne buckets in addition to champagne. Of course, the champagne brand can then be seen on these buckets in a promotionally effective way. However, many champagne lovers as hosts would never conjure up, for example, a splendid Ruinart champagne from a bucket with obvious Mumm advertising - most likely an elegant (and fitting) Cordon Rouge.

ImageBuckets on stands are also practical. They save space on the table, and the dripping bottles from the ice bath also do not cause moisture on the tablecloth. By the way, a proper napkin is necessary when serving champagne from any kind of bucket - both for drying and for proper handling of the bottle when serving.

The next level is represented by large champagne buckets, which are more like large bowls. They easily accommodate two to three normal bottles at the same time. Magnum bottles also fit in wonderfully. However, a (high quality) 'bucket' of this type is rarely found in the trade and is comparatively expensive (high quality bowls can cost 100 to 400 Euros/US$ even in used condition - if they are made of silver, they cost much more). Although they are rarely used by most owners, they are undoubtedly a beautiful and prestigious decoration in the home.