Henry Tuke has launched their new Champagne sabre in the breathtaking gardens at the historic cellars of Champagne house Canard-Duchêne in Ludes, France.

Guests at the event witnessed the founder of Henry Tuke, Tom Tuke-Hastings smash the World Record, by sabering 35 bottles of Canard-Duchêne’s Cuvée Léonie in one minute.

The Henry Tuke Champagne Sabre is hand forged from stainless Damascus steel in England and has solid sterling silver fittings and a shagreen grip.

Even the stand is special, with the base made out of ancient oak reclaimed from the original Roman docks in London and dendrochronologically dated to 70AD.

Canard-Duchêne, founded in 1860, is one of the premier Champagne houses. They have been intimately linked to sabrage and the sabre has been on their coat of arms for the last hundred years.

Champagne sabering or sabrage became popular in the Napoleonic wars and since then cavalrymen and bon viveurs have been knocking the tops off Champagne bottles.

It works due to two main factors: The pressure inside the bottle and the bottle being made in two pieces.

By running the sword blade along the bottle along the two fault lines, when it hits the rim, it creates a crack.

The pressure in the bottle and the follow through of the sabre rapidly expand this until it separates from the bottle and flies across the room.

The pressure and any expelled wine clears the mouth of any small glass particles, though the first glass should be checked for debris just in case.

The sabre retails for £27,000 and is available from select stockists and direct from Henry Tuke: www.HenryTuke.com.