In 1814, as Napoleon’s empire was crumbling, the fearsome Cossacks—cavalry warriors from the Russian and Ukrainian steppes—rode triumphantly into France alongside the coalition armies. While passing through the Champagne region, they stumbled upon a sparkling drink that would forever leave its mark on their history: champagne. Known for their exuberant celebrations, they raided local cellars and quickly adopted this effervescent wine as their drink of choice for victory.
But the Cossacks didn’t just drink champagne—they turned it into a warrior’s ritual. According to legend, they were the ones who popularized sabrage, the dramatic technique of opening a bottle with a saber. This impressive gesture became their way of marking military success or an important event. Some even claim it was a test of endurance for young warriors: if a soldier could drink three bottles of champagne poured into a horn in one go, he proved his strength and resilience.
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