#35 Prop: Odd "Melted" "Kluk Kluk" Decanter: Aldebaran Whisky?

[GSchnitzer]

In the Star Trek universe, in order to constantly remind the viewer that the show takes place in The Future, even the everyday items had to look somewhat odd and otherworldly.  A typical example is the barware and glassware.

There is a bottle first seen in "Charlie X" in the Recreation Room as Janice Rand is playing cards and Lieutenant Uhura sings.  It is seen on a serving tray with a couple of martini glasses and a bottle of Saurian brandy:



The bottle is somewhat squat looking but what makes it look particularly odd is that it appears to be a bit crooked and melted-looking.  It's a bit hard to see, but the same bottle gets another appearance in "Dagger of the Mind."  Dr. Tristan Adams pours a glass of--something--Aldebaran whisky?--for himself, Captain Kirk, and Dr. Helen Noel.  He pours it from this same crooked, melted-looking bottle:



We see the bottle briefly again in "Journey to Babel."  You can see it at the reception for all the ambassadors and diplomats; it's 'way over at screen-right:


 
The bottle shows up a fourth time--in Mr. Scott's quarters in "By Any Other Name."  Mr. Scott attempts to get Tomar the Kelvan drunk--and the two of them partake from this same bottle.  This is probably the best look we get at the bottle:



The bottle shows up a fifth time--in the quarters of The Romulan Commander in "The Enterprise Incident:"



Lastly, it shows up again in "Let That Be Your Last Battlefield."   Captain Kirk, Mister Spock, and Commissioner Bele are enjoying some drinks.  You can see the bottle over on the credenza--along with some serving trays and a Saurian brandy bottle:



These are known as "Kluk Kluk" decanters (in Danish) or "Cluck Cluck" in English.  The name of the bottle comes from the sound these odd-shaped bottles make when you pour from them.  It's sort of like a "glug glug" sound from a jug, but higher pitched.

The original, classic version of this bottle is made by Holmesgaard glass company in Denmark; it was designed by the glass artist Per Lutken.  (Over the years, other companies have made knock-off versions.)


Here are a couple of shots of my vintage 1960's-era "Kluk Kluk" decanter filled with Aldebaran whisky or whatever it was.









Not much of a story here.  Just a really cool exotic-looking bottle.

Slideshow at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/10901121@N06/sets/72157606505912349/show/

As always, please let me know if you have any questions.

Greg Schnitzer
Gaithersburg, Maryland

[Muddseye]

I pushed the button and didnt get any bacon....

[Angelus Lupus]

I have that exact bottle! Vintage one bought off ebay.
I always wondered what drink was in that bottle, 'though I thought Aldebaran whisky was green?

[GSchnitzer]

I have that exact bottle! Vintage one bought off ebay.
I always wondered what drink was in that bottle, 'though I thought Aldebaran whisky was green?

Maybe it depends on how old it is.

Yes, the one time we saw any Aldebaran Whisky (in TNG's "Relics") it was neon green.

In TOS, the bottle contained different colored fluids:

1. Amber (scotch) colored
2. Amber (scotch) colored
3. Grapefruit juice colored
4. Grapefruit juice colored
5. Deep blue colored
6. Red-orange cough syrup colored

So maybe it isn't Aldebaran Whisky at all. Or maybe it's Aldebaran Whisky Code Red.  Or Aldebaran Whisky Live Wire.  There's so much about the potent potables of the 23rd Century that we just don't know.

Greg Schnitzer
Gaithersburg, Maryland
   

[Angelus Lupus]

Good point well made I guess that means I'm free to fill my bottle with my own scotch and simply call it Aldebaran whisky
I really need to find some suitable 23rd/24th century glasses/tumblers to go with my collection of bottles.

[CaptainLordBat]

Greg my friend.....I am serious.  Find another hobby....spend time with your family...do something!!   

Have you examined all the screen shots of the ep credits so that we all know there are no mistakes in spelling or a missing pixel in a font?     

[GSchnitzer]

I really need to find some suitable 23rd/24th century glasses/tumblers to go with my collection of bottles.

Well, I sort of snuck in another prop in my pictures.  If you'll notice, next to my "melted" Aldebaran Whisky (or whatever it is) bottle, I have two martini glasses.  These have the conical shape typical of martini glasses, but the stem is actually just a bulbous glass base.  Well, these were also used in Star Trek--although I haven't gone through to find all their appearances.  You can see one of these glasses in "Court Martial."  Dr. McCoy orders a  drink at the "M-11 Starbase Club:"   



You can probably find this "23rd Century martini glass" on ebay.

Greg Schnitzer
Gaithersburg, Maryland

[Tony F]

How does that even stand up on a table?

[GSchnitzer]

How does that even stand up on a table?

Well, the base part of the martini glass isn't a sphere; it's more like a flattened sphere.  The glass stands up just fine.





Greg Schnitzer
Gaithersburg, Maryland

[Kapitaen Stephan]

Cool bottle, Greg.

But it looks rather fragile.

Those martini glasses are cool, too. Do look almost like my own Glenfiddich Whisky Tumblers.

When are we gonna see one of those on the show? Isn`t there any parts in any script were the Crew of NCC-1701 does celebrate?

-Stephan

[GSchnitzer]

Cool bottle, Greg.

But it looks rather fragile.

Those martini glasses are cool, too. Do look almost like my own Glenfiddich Whisky Tumblers.

When are we gonna see one of those on the show? Isn`t there any parts in any script were the Crew of NCC-1701 does celebrate?

-Stephan

I don't know when or if we'll see this bottle and the martini glasses.  I recently acquired these (after we shot "Enemy:Starfleet").  So you probably won't see them until sometime later.  On the other hand, we did some pick-up shots for "Blood and Fire" during our "Enemy: Starfleet" shoot--and I was able to work in a prop that I didn't yet have when we did the principal photography for "Blood and Fire" back in June of last year.  So, who knows--we might yet get a chance to work in this bottle for some "Enemy: Starfleet" pick-up shot.

The bottle is actually surprising sturdy despite its bent and crooked shape.  The glass is pretty thick--like an old Coke bottle.  If you look at the shot of Tomar from "By Any Other Name," you'll see that the bottle has some heft to it and is actually a bit more rugged than you might think.

Greg Schnitzer
Gaithersburg, Maryland   

[Angelus Lupus]

The reason the bottle is tougher than it looks is because at first glance it looks like it's four corner and one central 'tube' with space between. That's what I thought when I first saw the pictures and bought mine, but in fact there's glass connecting each 'tube' to the centre.
I'm not explaining it very well, but that's how come it's actually a solid bottle.