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Bottle Locations

Empty bottles4
SourcesTalon’s Super Cucco game (child, Lon Lon Ranch), Anju’s Cuccos (child, Kakariko Village), Ruto’s Letter (child, Lake Hylia), Poe Collector (adult, 1,000 points)
First bottle you holdAnju’s bottle comes empty, Talon’s holds Lon Lon Milk Lon Lon Milk, Ruto’s holds a letter
Needed forRuto's Letter Ruto’s Letter, Fish for Jabu-Jabu, Bugs on soft soil, Blue Fire, fairies, potions, Poes

Ocarina of Time gives you four bottles. Three are collected as a child through side quests, and the fourth is earned as an adult by selling Big Poes. The bottles are interchangeable, and each holds one item at a time, so it pays to get all four before the Water and Spirit Temples. The table lists them in a sensible order, and the sections below give the steps.

Where the four bottles come from

#SourceAgeRequirement
1Anju (the Cucco Cucco Lady), Kakariko VillageChildReturn all seven of her Cuccos Cuccos to the pen
2Talon’s Super Cucco Cucco game, Lon Lon RanchChildWake Talon first, then find the Super Cucco Cucco
3Ruto's Letter Ruto’s Letter, bottom of Lake HyliaChildSilver Scale Silver Scale to dive
4Poe Collector, Ghost Shop in Hyrule MarketAdultBring in Big Poes until you reach 1,000 points
Empty Bottle

Bottle 1: Anju’s Cuccos in Kakariko Village

As a child, talk to the Cucco Lady at the Kakariko Village pen. Her seven Cuccos have wandered off. Find all seven and carry each one back to the pen. They are scattered around the village, on ledges, under crates and near the Skulltula House, and the Slingshot or a Deku Nut knocks down any that sit out of reach. Once all seven are in, she gives you an empty bottle. Cuccos that you leave on another screen will not remain where you put them, so bring them in as you find them. See Kakariko Village and Hyrule Market.

Talon

Bottle 2: Talon’s Super Cucco game at Lon Lon Ranch

You must wake Talon first. Malon’s Weird Egg hatches into a Cucco, and you use it to wake Talon, who is sleeping in front of Hyrule Castle. Once he is back at the ranch, go to Lon Lon Ranch and speak to him at the corral. He challenges you to find the Super Cucco among a flock for a fee of 10 Rupees. Pick out the right Cucco and carry it to him before time runs out to win a bottle full of Lon Lon Milk. See Lon Lon Ranch: How to Get Epona.

Ruto's Letter

Bottle 3: Ruto’s Letter at Lake Hylia

You need the Silver Scale from the Diving Game in Zora’s Domain. Go to Lake Hylia, dive to the bottom and open the chest on the lakebed to find a letter in a bottle. Take it to King Zora in Zora’s Domain. He reads it, steps aside to let you into Zora’s Fountain, and the bottle becomes yours and empty. You must hand over the letter to enter Jabu-Jabu’s Belly, so this one happens whether you like it or not. See Zora’s River and Zora’s Domain.

Bottle 4: The Poe Collector

This one is adult only. The Poe Collector lives in the Ghost Shop in the ruined Hyrule Market. Bring him Big Poe souls in an empty bottle. Each Big Poe is worth 50 Rupees and 100 points, and once you reach 1,000 points, he gives you an empty bottle in return. That means ten Big Poes. You need the Fairy Bow to shoot them, and Epona makes the chase far easier. Where each Big Poe appears is on Big Poes.

Keep one bottle free while you hunt. A Big Poe will not fit into a bottle that already holds an item, so empty the bottle before you start.

What you can store in a bottle

ContentsWhere it comes fromWhat it does
Red Potion Red PotionPotion Shop, 30 Rupees, and some chestsRestores all hearts.
Green Potion Green PotionPotion Shop, 30 RupeesRestores all magic.
Blue Potion Blue PotionGranny’s Potion Shop (adult), 100 RupeesRestores all hearts and all magic.
Lon Lon Milk Lon Lon MilkSuper Cucco prize at Lon Lon Ranch (child), Talon at Lon Lon Ranch (child, 30 Rupees), any cow you play Epona’s Song toTwo sips, each restores five hearts.
Fairy FairyFairy Fountains, grass, trees, some caves, Potion ShopRevives you automatically if you run out of hearts, or restores health when you use it.
Bug BugUnder rocks and in soft soil, or the Potion ShopDrop it on soft soil to reveal a Gold Skulltula or a hidden item.
Fish FishCatch one in Zora’s Domain or Zora’s River, or buy oneFeeds Lord Jabu-Jabu so that he opens his mouth. The fish dies if you wait too long.
Blue Fire Blue FireIce Cavern flames, or the Potion Shop for 300 RupeesMelts red ice, and thaws King Zora.
Poe PoePoe enemies in dungeons and the GraveyardSold to the Poe Collector.
Big Poe Big PoeBig Poes around Hyrule FieldBrought to the Poe Collector for the fourth bottle.
Ruto's Letter Ruto’s LetterBottom of Lake HyliaA quest item for King Zora.

The Fish stays alive only in a bottle for a limited time, so catch it close to the fountain. Save spare fairies and potions for the Ganon’s Castle climb. A bottle with a Big Poe in it cannot also hold a potion.

The Fish and Ruto’s Letter belong to the Jabu-Jabu’s Belly quest, covered in Inside Jabu-Jabu’s Belly. The bugs are used with Magic Bean Beds, and Blue Fire is needed in the Ice Cavern. Pricing is on Shops and Prices.

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