Make a shot glass from an empty Tabasco bottle!

This is a relatively easy project, and only requires a few simple tools to complete.

This is the first time I've ever attempted to cut a glass bottle into two parts, and I was surprised by how easy it was. Unfortunately I didn't get a completely perfect break, as you can see in the photos, but I'm quite happy with it nonetheless.

Grab a glass cutter and your favorite drink, and let's do this.

Note: The frosted look of the glass in the main photo was achieved by simply keeping the glass in the freezer prior to taking the photo. Just in case anyone wonders! :)

Step 1: Score the Bottle

There are numerous jigs and fixtures online that you can either buy or make to help you score glass bottles.

For a small bottle like this, you can do it quickly and easily with just a block of scrap wood and a basic glass cutter.

For this 2 ounce Tabasco bottle, I trimmed a piece of scrap wood to be 2 5/8" tall, which was the perfect height for setting my glass cutter on to score bottle just above the label, but below the curve.

Be sure to put a drop of oil onto the cutting wheel (I used sewing oil.) Press onto the glass cutter and support block with one hand, while holding the bottle firmly against the block and flat on the table. Gently but firmly rotate the bottle against the scoring wheel.

Make sure you create an even score all around the bottle.

Step 2: Optional: Tap the Bottle

I'm not sure if this helps or not, but I gently tapped all around the scored line on my bottle.

Edit: As pointed out in the comments, this is not effective or helpful. Thank you, ironsmiter!

Step 3: Also Optional: Protect the Labels

To break the bottle, I used a combination of fire and ice, alternating heating and rapidly cooling the glass until the shock breaks the glass along the scored line.

This method alone would quickly ruin the paper labels on the bottle, so in order to keep them intact you need to protect them from both the moisture and the heat.

To do this, wrap on a tight layer of cling wrap followed by tight a layer of aluminum foil.

Just make sure the protective layers cover the labels completely, but leave the scored line uncovered.

Step 4: Fire and Ice (er, Snow!)

To heat and cool the bottle, I used a candle and a bowl full of real snow (we've got a couple feet on the ground where I live, so why not?)

Alternately, if you don't have fresh snow available, cool running water or a tub of ice water will work.

Rotate the bottle under the candle so the flame is focused on the scored line for about 20 seconds. Then plunge the bottle into the cold media (whatever you are using.)

Repeat until the bottle gently breaks apart. It took me about 5 or 6 cycles before my bottle popped apart and rewarded me with a puff of that excellent Tabasco-y aroma.

I then removed the aluminum foil and cling wrap to find the labels in perfect condition.

Photo 3 shows (or attempts to show) the crack spreading after the 3rd or 4th cycle.

Step 5: Clean and Sand the Edges

At this point the glass edges are ridiculously sharp. You can either gently rinse out the glass now, or sand the edges.

Since I live on the edge, I quickly rinsed and dried it first.

I then used some 220 grit sandpaper to gently remove the sharp edges of the glass.

You can coat the outside of the bottle to protect the labels with either lacquer or some other sealant, or just leave it as is. If you leave it as is but want to keep the labels intact, this will need to be a "wipe-to-clean" kind of item.

That's it! I hope you'll make your own.

Hey, I've got a 1-year pro membership for the first person to make one of these and post a photo of it in the comments. There's only one catch: you have to do it with a perfectly clean break, unlike me!

Good luck!