Is the Viral Bat Halloween Wine Bottle Opener any good?

This time of year, you may be wondering what Halloween goodies to add to your reusable collection. You’ve probably seen the bat wine bottle opener on social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram. Some just showed how cute the gadget is, others made it dance to the viral song “Hit it! Hit it! Get it! Get it!” While it’s not an electric kitchen gadget, I was curious about how well the bottle opener worked, especially considering the potential for excessive use of the wings when opening bottles for guests at a Halloween party.

Advertisement

So I bought the Ototo 2-in-1 Gothic Wine and Beer Opener from Amazon to try it for myself. Its list price is $34.95 – however, at the time of writing, it was 14% off at $29.95 with an additional 20% off coupon at checkout, so you can get this item for less than list price. This gadget and other Ototo gadgets can also be found on the company’s website.

Right off the bat, this gadget seemed a little too fragile compared to other wine bottle openers I’ve used. It was light and felt a little weak in my hands. However, I wasn’t used to a wine bottle opener with silicone wings, so maybe that turned me off. However, I didn’t want to give too many negative reviews until I used it. Light does not necessarily mean weak.

Advertisement

I will say that the details are a nice touch. There are ridges in the ears that make them look like bat ears, as well as little vampire teeth that are enough to decipher what they are without worrying about accidentally scratching myself with them. I’d also be lying if I said I didn’t immediately pull the corkscrew up and down to make the bat look like it was dancing or flying. It’s a fun gadget, that’s for sure. My immediate question and slight concern is will he be able to pull the cork out of my last bottle of wine?

This wine bottle opener was quite simple to use, but because it is so flimsy, I first removed the paper from the top of the bottle that covers the cork. Then I simply placed the bottom of the corkscrew on top of the wine cork and applied pressure by turning the bat’s head clockwise. I moved slowly as I tightened the screw. I noticed that the screw was a bit shorter than I expected, so I had to screw the gadget all the way to the base to get the cork completely out without having to twist it around.

Advertisement

As the screw slid into the cork, the wings began to lift. Once I had screwed enough of the screw inside the cork, I pushed down on both sides of the wings and the cork easily slid up and out of the bottle. To remove the cork, I held it in one hand and twisted the bat’s head counterclockwise. Overall, it was a success and put a smile on my friends’ faces when I used it.

The biggest downside I found is the instability of the gadget. It worked great when tested, but I honestly can’t tell you how many uses it has. While other, sturdier wine bottle openers feel almost indestructible and have a thick handle to grip, this model is very delicate both when screwing the screw into the cork and when pulling the cork out. It makes more sense to work with it rather than forcing the tool to do all the work.

Advertisement

Additionally, I used the knife from my Micra Leatherman to see how easily it would scratch the black paint. It took a lot of force to create a crack, which is good news. However, I noticed that every time I moved the corkscrew up and down, a bit of the black paint chipped off at the top, and after testing the gadget, a lot more paint came off. Fortunately, this is not the place where the screw enters the cork, but I am still not satisfied with the aesthetics.

On Ototo’s website, this bat bottle opener has a rating of 4.8 from over 900 buyers, while on Amazon it has received a rating of 4.6 from over 6,000 users. Many of the positive reviews were from people who bought this product as a gift or just thought it was cute. However, one of the reasons I wanted to review this gadget was because some users commented that it felt flimsy when screwing it into a wine cork and pulling it out, and honestly, I have to agree with them. Don’t get me wrong, it’s a lovely addition to any kitchen, but I wouldn’t make it my main wine bottle opener, and after a few uses of the beer bottle opener, the paint will start to chip. I might just use it as a Halloween decoration and a centerpiece for a TikTok dance party.

Advertisement

The Ototo brand has lots of cute gadgets that can be added to the bat bottle opener to create an even scarier kitchen or addition to any Halloween party. In fact, you can buy bundle packs to save. One bundle option includes a bat bottle opener, bat kitchen scissors, and a skull meat slicer for $61.89. Another $54.85 bundle option includes the Bat Kitchen Scissors along with the Vampire Garlic Crusher and Skull Glass so you can take the spooky theme with you.

Advertisement

Plus, for year-round fun, there’s also a $30 Pinot wine bottle opener that looks like a parrot and a $20 crab-shaped silicone utensil holder. However, if you’re looking for a classic, the $20 Original Nessie Ladle and the $12 Baby Nessie Tea Infuser are sure to put a smile on your face. In fact, having had both Nessie products for several years now, I can confirm that some of the brand’s products will last a while in the kitchen with proper care.