How To Use A Cocktail Strainer

When information technology comes to essential cocktail-making tools , a high-quality drink strainer is a must-accept. The ultimate cocktail is shine and glides downwards the throat easily. Without a strainer, guests may notice themselves swallowing small pieces of fruit or ice shards.

Needless to say, that'south non the experience we desire people to take when drinking our lovingly made cocktails!

What is a cocktail drink strainer?

Just as a chef uses a food sieve to make sure the texture and quality of a sauce is simply right, mixologists employ a drink strainer to pour a perfect cocktail.

Information technology'southward quite straightforward really; subsequently mixing ingredients in a cocktail shaker , the liquid is poured through the strainer, into the prepared drinking glass.

Virtually commonly, the strainer is used to prevent ice from falling into the cocktail.

Whatever other chunks that may exist floating almost in the shaker are also caught before they reach the drinking glass, like nutrient parts.

Dissimilar types of cocktail strainer

It may be a pretty simple cocktail accessory just there are really a couple of different types of drink strainer to choose from. The most popular are:

Julep strainer

aka. the original cocktail strainer.

In the 19th century, the Julep strainer emerged as the beginning bar tool designed specifically to separate crushed water ice from a potable. Co-ordinate to European Bar School , before the Julep strainer was invented, people were using tea strainers or spoons to concord back ice whilst sipping their beverage.

The Julep strainer is made of metal and shaped like a deep spoon, with a brusque handle, hence the alternative name 'ice spoon'. It has small holes that allow the liquid to pass through.

Hawthorne strainer

The preferred option for home hobbyists and bartenders alike, the Hawthorne strainer is a much more advanced tool.

It'southward designed to catch even the smallest chunks and shards of water ice, using a coiled spring attachment, also as having the standard holes in its metal caput and a prissy curt handle.

Dissimilar the Julep strainer, the Hawthorne strainer is flat, making it easier to press firmly against the rim of a shaker and preventing whatsoever gaps that might allow for unwanted bits of fruit or peel to slip through. It as well comes with small finger tabs around the edges to aid with grip.

At that place are some variations in Hawthorne strainers, with some having a double strainer functionality, more finger rests than others, larger springs, more holes, or holes in different places.

How to utilise a Hawthorne strainer

First, put the strainer on the elevation of the shaker or container that y'all'd like to strain, with the spring side facing into the shaker.

If your strainer has a tab to enable double straining, you can push this down too.

Next, start pouring but retrieve: the trick to using a Hawthorne strainer successfully is to pour slowly . When nosotros pour also fast, smaller shards of water ice can notice their way into the terminal potable.

What to await for in a strainer

If you're on the hunt for a drinkable strainer for your home bar, or as a professional piece of equipment, at that place are a few things to have into consideration:

Material - high-quality, food-form stainless steel is the best for avoiding rust and leaks.
Size of the head - ideally, your potable strainer will be big plenty to fit over a large cocktail shaker. If your strainer comes in a cocktail kit along with a shaker, y'all can pretty much guarantee the fit will be right.
Jump - is information technology tightly coiled? The tighter, the better as the closer the coils the more than volition be filtered out, particularly when it comes to ice shards and herbs.
Condolement - the strainer should be comfortable and easy to use, with finger tabs and a short handle. A handle also heavy or long could put the strainer off balance and arrive hard to hold in place.

The Mixology Crew model of Hawthorne strainer has been specially designed with a tightly-coiled jump, to ensure that even small pieces of fruit and ice shards are trapped. This prevents them from entering the finished cocktail as yous pour into the serving glass. We get great feedback on the standard of the strainer, but take a look at our Amazon reviews.

It comes every bit part of a 7-piece Professional Cocktail Shaker Ready that is dishwasher-safety and great for all skill levels. You can purchase your kit on Amazon and start practicing the art of mixology!