11 Drinks That Came in Impossible-to-Open Bottles
Here's a look at 11 drinks with bottles that were so tricky to open, they nearly ruined the refreshment inside.
- Alyana Aguja
- 3 min read
Packaging can make or break a drinking experience, and sometimes it makes opening the bottle feel like a battle. From marble-sealed Ramune in Japan to the notoriously tough caps on Topo Chico and Jones Soda, certain drinks became infamous for their frustrating bottles. These designs often aimed to stand out, but instead left many thirsty customers struggling for that first sip.
1. Ramune (Japan)
Image from Wikipedia
Ramune is famous for its glass marble seal, which requires pressing down on a plastic plunger to release the drink. Many first-time drinkers struggle to figure out how to push the marble without spilling the soda. The unique design is fun once opened, but it has frustrated countless people worldwide.
2. Orangina (France)
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Orangina’s signature curvy glass bottle looks beautiful but is notoriously hard to open without a strong grip. The small, tightly sealed cap often slips in sweaty or wet hands. Its “shake before drinking” instruction adds to the mess if you struggle with the cap.
3. Grolsch Beer (Netherlands)
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Grolsch uses a swing-top cap that feels more like solving a puzzle than opening a beer. While environmentally friendly and reusable, it can be difficult to pry open for first-timers. The tight seal often resists even after you figure out the clasp.
4. Fanta (Mexico Glass Bottles)
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Mexican glass Fanta bottles are capped so tightly that even strong hands and a proper opener can struggle. The thicker glass and pressurized carbonation make the caps cling stubbornly. It often takes more than one attempt to finally enjoy the soda.
5. Calpis Water (Japan)
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Calpis bottles are sealed with ultra-thin but tough plastic caps that refuse to twist off easily. Many consumers end up cutting or prying the seal to get to the drink. The struggle often overshadows its sweet, milky taste.
6. Guinness Foreign Extra Stout (Caribbean and Africa)
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This stout comes in bottles with caps crimped so tightly they can shred cheap openers. Fans of the beer often warn newcomers to arm themselves with a sturdy tool. Once inside, though, the reward is a strong and flavorful stout.
7. Bundaberg Ginger Beer (Australia)
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Bundaberg’s pull-ring caps often require an awkward amount of force to snap open. Many people have broken nails or scraped fingers trying to pry it up. It’s a clever marketing gimmick, but also a common source of annoyance.
8. Ting (Jamaica)
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The grapefruit soda Ting is a Caribbean favorite, but its glass bottles are sealed with tough metal caps. Locals joke that you need a machete to open one when no bottle opener is around. The cap clings so tight that it can ruin the excitement of the first sip.
9. Orangette Sparkling Juice (France)
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This sparkling juice used heavy glass bottles with twist-off caps that often refused to budge. Even when using cloth or rubber grips, many people found it almost impossible to twist. The difficulty added a level of frustration to an otherwise refreshing drink.
10. Topo Chico (Mexico)
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Topo Chico’s mineral water is beloved worldwide, but its bottle caps can be incredibly stubborn. The carbonation pressure keeps the cap sealed tighter than most sodas. People often share tricks online on how to pop it without bending an opener.
11. Jones Soda (USA)
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Jones Soda’s quirky flavors come in bottles with extremely stubborn twist-off caps. Many customers report scraping their hands or resorting to wrenches to crack them open. The creative packaging sometimes feels like more effort than the reward.