First time with a reclaimed bottle piece? A quick primer before your first pour.
Fill with water. Add water until it sits just above the bottom of the downstem — the glass tube that drops into the bottle from the bowl. On some bottles the glass is too dark or too heavy to see the downstem inside, so pour slowly and use the next step to check.
Test it. With no flame, inhale gently through the mouthpiece at the top of the bottle. You should hear a soft bubbling — that means the downstem is submerged and the water level is right.
Too much? If water splashes up into the bowl joint (the opening where the bowl seats), pour a little out and test again. You want bubbles, not a splash.
Empty after use. See Best Practice below — standing water gets funky and trapped pressure will push it back out onto your shelf.
Fill to just above the downstem
Rule of thumb: bubbles good, splashes bad.
Best Practice
— A growing list of habits worth keeping
— Empty the water after each use
Pour the water out after every session. Two reasons:
Pressure. Cap a bottle with water still inside and trapped air pressure will slowly push water back up the downstem and out onto your shelf. Not the kind of surprise you want behind the bar.
Your two options: leave the cap off (and let the odor escape), or — better — empty the water, give it a quick rinse per the care guide above, cap it, and put it back on the shelf. Hidden in plain sight, the way it's meant to live.
Handling reclaimed glass
These bottles were built for liquor, not for heat. Use a standard lighter or hemp wick at the bowl — never apply a torch to the body. If a piece is dropped or cracked, retire it; reclaimed glass doesn't forgive the way borosilicate does.
— Included with every bottle —
The Care Kit
Every piece on the shelf ships with the Care Kit in the box. No add-ons at checkout — it's part of the bottle.
— Care Card. Printed instructions, written like a cocktail recipe.
— Wooden Pick. Hand-turned, for clearing the bowl without scratching the glass.
— Soft Brush. Sized to reach the neck of a standard bottle.
— Smell-Proof Case. Lined and shaped to house the bowl alongside the kit.
Broke a brush? Lost the case? Replacement Care Kits available for $40.
Returns
Every piece is one-of-one and made by hand. For that reason we do not accept returns. If your order arrives damaged in transit, contact us within 7 days with photos and we'll make it right.
