Centuries-Old Way to Turn Booze Bottles into Mood Lighting
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An empty booze bottle with a sturdy base (something squatty will be less likely to tip than, say, a wine bottle)
Smokeless, odorless lamp oil
A funnel
Flat cotton wick for an oil lamp—about a foot for each
A "bottle wick," which is actually the stopper that will hold your wick in place in the neck of the bottle (be sure the one you select is wide enough that it won't fall through the opening). For clarity's sake, I'm going to call it a "wick holder" from here on out.
HOW TO MAKE THEM
1. Clean your bottles.
Once all the good stuff has been imbibed, clean out any lovely-looking booze bottles you'd like to turn into lanterns with soap and water and let them dry. Note: Not only do squatty, or otherwise broad-bummed liquor bottles look a little more polished than wine bottles (in my opinion), they're also naturally sturdier—and therefore safer. You don't want these tipping over! (Renters: Check your lease to be sure candles are A-OK to burn in your place before proceeding. There, I said it. )
2. Fill with oil.
A quick internet search will reveal just how many lamp oil options are out there (a lot). What you're looking for is something specifically designed for indoor use, or indoor/outdoor use—and also nontoxic, smokeless, and odor-free. Firefly is a good brand.
Using a funnel, fill the clean, dry bottles about 2/3 full with oil. Clearly label and store any leftover oil far away from foodstuffs—you don't want anyone mistaking it for a beverage.
Oh, you spilled a little? Fret not. Any small spills can be cleaned up with a solution of dish detergent and water (a water-based cleaner won't do diddly). And if you spill a lot of oil, there's hope for your carpet yet: Spread a layer of kitty litter, baking soda, or sawdust over the spot and let it sit for 30 minutes, till most of the oil is absorbed. Scoop it up and discard, vacuum the spot, then blot with some of the detergent solution and let it dry.
3. Prep the wick.
Cut a length of cotton wick so that it extends from the opening of the bottle down into a curlicue at the base (so, about 1.5 times the height of the bottle). A flat wick looks really nice, a little like ribbon, but nothing is stopping you from using a chunkier one—just be sure you can stuff it through your wick holder and that it's a tight enough fit to stay there.
Thread one end of the wick through the wick holder so that just a half-inch or so pokes through its top, then drop the long end in the oil, the wick holder into the neck of the bottle. Wait about ten minutes for the oil to soak all the way up the wick—you'll be able to see that it looks wet. Then tug on the exposed end until you see some of the soaked section emerge. Trim the exposed part of the wick to be 1/4-inch tall (any taller, and your flame might be unwieldy).
4. Find the perfect spot.
As mentioned, you'll want to put your bottle lantern somewhere kiddos and pets won't accidentally knock it over—where there are no fluttery curtains to drift into its path, no shelves above it to burn a spot onto. On a mantel, inside a decorative fireplace, or right on the tabletop would make sense (the whole short-and-squatty look doubles as a good idea in this instance, so dinner guests can see over and past them).
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