Donay Bottle
All Bottled Up
Summer at Berkeley, Lecture 7
“All Bottled Up”
“I never see the glass half empty because I drink out the bottle” - Ellen DeGeneres
As with all good things in life, our time abroad has come to an end. It’s been fun to ramble in the countryside, exploring the works of the world’s master turner, a true virtuoso of the lathe. Although, John Berkeley would insist that there have been better turners than he, before and after. He would say that he just chose to apply his formidable skill to making puzzles, which set him apart and led to the way things ... turned out. I may beg to differ, but that's just me.
The Studded Bottle by John Berkeley for Donay
This final lecture will serve as a meta-toast, if you will, as we crack open a bottle to share round in celebration and admiration. John Berkeley’s Bottle, of course. After recreating the catalog of Professor Hoffman’s Victorian era puzzles, John and Donald Goddard decided to create a few puzzles of their own, using classic and new mechanisms. We’ve mentioned the Donay Apple and Pear, and the Castle Money Box Mk II, but there is one more to mention before we’re done. The Bottle was one of the three bespoke puzzles that the Berkeley / Donay team entered into the International Design Competition the year following the inaugural Apple. It is an elegant blackwood bottle, with a smooth full body and tapered neck that rises up to a boxwood stopper. The neck spins freely from the base, and the goal is to get the bottle open and claim the prize.
Despite appearances, I don't actually recommend "hitting the bottle"
John relates that the bottle went through numerous steps in its development and required a skilled and tricky construction. There is an internal cylinder which must revolve freely, and one of the original designs featured a mechanism similar to the Lighthouse, with a secret pin hidden inside the stopper cap. There was a hidden access point around the bottle collar, and this was disguised by placing decorative screw plugs all around. This “Studded Bottle” was a unique, fully functional prototype with a satisfying and clever mechanism. Ultimately, John was still not satisfied, and felt that despite the complexity, it was still too easy or obvious to deduce what needed to be done. In the final version he removed the studs and created an internal locking mechanism that was completely invisible, although he did place a tiny clue. The hidden mechanism itself caused certain problems which he solved by bending the bottle into its unusual shape, in a final nod to the idea of form following function.
Le Grand Louis by Franky Marshall
Inside the Bottle can be found another bottle, a reward for the thirsty puzzler. John sized these to hold a variety of miniature spirits bottles - mine contains a tiny bottle of orange liqueur. I admit I didn’t use the original, which must be finely aged by now, but I stuck to the “spirit” of the prize in crafting this toast. It comes by way of New York City bartender Franky Marshall, who loves to use the famous fine French liqueur Grand Marnier in her cocktails. She is a cognac connoisseur, so naturally gravitates toward this particular orange liqueur, classically made with a cognac base since 1880 and named after the founder’s granddaughter. It was linked to the newly established Hotel Ritz in Paris, where it was served as a signature spirit during the Belle Epoque.
Orange you a little curious about it?
Marshall’s take on the classic spirit is like a Grand Marnier martini, using dry vermouth to soften the sweetness and enhance the flavors of vanilla, toffee, orange flower and citrus. It’s an absolutely delicious way to appreciate this often overlooked, rich and robust liqueur. Here’s to decadent spirits, that shouldn’t be kept bottled up. A toast to the master turner, may his legacy be forever appreciated. Cheers!
Uncorking this pair
Le Grand Louis by Franky Marshall
2 oz Grand Marnier (Cuvee Louis-Alexander preferred)
¾ oz dry vermouth
1 dash orange bitters
Lemon peel, rosemary sprig
Stir ingredients together with ice and strain into a favorite glass. Express lemon peel oils over the glass, and garnish with the rosemary sprig.
For prior lectures from the Summer at Berkeley series:
And a final photo of the components of the original bottle, courtesy of John himself. Of course it's a bit of a spoiler, but perhaps that can be forgiven for such a rare piece of puzzle history.
