The Hawthorne strainer
The Hawthorne is the strainer with a coil spring around the rim. It fits the wide opening of a Boston shaker, and the spring catches ice, fruit pulp and herbs. Hold it in place with your index finger as you pour. You can use your finger to press the spring more firmly against the strainer, a technique known as the gate, so less gets through.
This is the first strainer you should buy. It works with any shaker and, in a pinch, with a mixing glass too. Read about shaking itself in our article on shaking or stirring.
The julep strainer
The julep strainer is a perforated spoon that fits into a mixing glass. Place it dome-side up on the ice, hold it in place with a finger and pour the stirred cocktail over it. It's named after the Mint Julep, where it was originally left in the glass to hold back the ice while drinking.
For stirred cocktails such as a Negroni or Manhattan, the julep strainer is the neat choice: it catches only the ice and lets the clear drink pass through. Read about the mixing glass in our article on the mixing glass.
The fine strainer and double straining
The fine strainer, also called a conical strainer, is a small tea strainer that you hold over the glass while pouring through the Hawthorne strainer. It catches ice chips, citrus pulp and bits of mint, giving a shaken cocktail a smooth, clear surface. This is called double straining and is standard for cocktails served in a coupe, such as a daiquiri or a frothy sour.
For drinks served over ice in a highball glass, you don't need to double strain; a little pulp is part of the drink. Find all strainers in cocktail strainers.
The right tools
The Bar Professional Hawthorne strainer fits any Boston shaker, with a tight spring. The copper julep strainer is for the mixing glass. Find them all in the cocktail strainer collection.
Bar Professional Stainless Steel Hawthorne Cocktail Strainer
Bar Professional Copper Julep Strainer
Good to know
Do you need a strainer with a cobbler shaker?
No, the cobbler has a built-in strainer in the cap. It is coarser, though, so for a cocktail in a coupe, hold a fine mesh strainer underneath.
How do you clean a strainer?
Rinse immediately after use, remove the spring and rinse it separately. Pulp that dries in the spring is difficult to remove.
Which strainer should you use for a cocktail without ice?
A Hawthorne or julep, depending on whether you shake or stir. If there’s no ice in the glass, you don’t want shards, so double-strain.
Frequently asked questions
What’s the difference between a Hawthorne and a julep strainer?
The Hawthorne has a spring and fits a shaker; the julep is a perforated spoon for the mixing glass. Browse our cocktail strainers.
When should you double-strain a cocktail?
For shaken cocktails served without ice in a coupe, such as a daiquiri or sour. The fine mesh strainer catches ice shards and pulp.
Which cocktail strainer should you buy first?
The Hawthorne. It works with any shaker and, in a pinch, with a mixing glass too.
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