{"id":7075240,"date":"2026-10-04T04:52:26","date_gmt":"2026-10-04T04:52:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/fivemor.com\/?p=7075240"},"modified":"2026-10-04T04:52:26","modified_gmt":"2026-10-04T04:52:26","slug":"cocktail-strainers-a-quick-guide","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/fivemor.com\/?p=7075240","title":{"rendered":"Cocktail Strainers, A Quick Guide"},"content":{"rendered":"


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Hey there! Today, we\u2019re talking all about cocktail strainers: The different types, what they\u2019re for, and how to use them. They\u2019re the cocktail shaker\u2019s best friend and are super important in your mixology journey, so let\u2019s explore this essential tool.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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A cocktail strainer<\/a> is a must have<\/em> for any home bar or professional business that mixes and serves drinks. Whether you\u2019re a career bartender or hobbyist, knowing the different strainers and how to use them is key in creating the smoothest drinks.<\/p>\n

There are 3 primary types of cocktail strainers, each working with the other equipment in your bar tool kit in specific ways.<\/p>\n

Table of Contents<\/strong>:<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

What is a Hawthorne Strainer?<\/h2>\n
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The most common type of strainer is called a Hawthorne<\/a>. You\u2019ll find this indispensable tool in pretty much any and all professional bar settings; if you use a Boston shaker, mixing glass, or pint glass for mixing up drinks, you\u2019ll absolutely need one in your home bar as well.<\/p>\n

A Hawthorne strainer<\/a> is (typically) stainless steel and has a handle that leads up to a flat, round plate with several holes along the top. Above the holes sits a removable round coil n a semi-circle, which catches shards of ice and chunks of fruit.<\/p>\n

We actually make two versions here at A Bar Above; both have an ergonomic handle for less hand strain, are durable enough to stand up to a busy bar, and features tightly-coiled springs (some are really loose, meaning they don\u2019t catch much!).<\/p>\n

Because they\u2019re only one piece without welds, the simple design won\u2019t break or rust. Plus, it comes in several different colors\u2013 beautiful and<\/em> practical!<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Other Benefits of the Hawthorne Strainer<\/h2>\n

There are a lot of reasons the Hawthorne is so popular\u2013 it\u2019s easy to use in a variety of vessels. Here are some reasons we really love it:<\/p>\n

Ergonomic Design<\/h3>\n

If you suffer from any kind of hand injury or ailment like arthritis, then you know how painful it can be to use poorly-made equipment with your hands all day long. With smooth edges and a comfortable grip, the patented design of this strainer will have you pouring finished cocktails comfortably and with ease.<\/p>\n

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Versatile<\/h3>\n

The really cool thing about this mixed drink strainer is that it\u2019s sized to fit over any standard cocktail shaker tin (Boston style), pint glass, or mixing glass on the market. (More on straining from mixing glasses in a minute).<\/p>\n

Like I mentioned before, the coils are tight, which also means you can fit the strainer snugly into the shaker tin and not worry about spillage. Designed to fit comfortably over a glass or tin and be held in place with one hand, it makes bartending or serving drinks at a party extra easy.<\/p>\n

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Our 4-prong variation of the Hawthorne strainer, Copyright A Bar Above<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

High-Quality<\/h3>\n

At A Bar Above, we take a lot of pride in our bartending tools and make them with food-safe, high-quality stainless steel 304.<\/p>\n

Other Types of Strainers<\/h2>\n
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Mesh Strainer<\/h3>\n
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A fine mesh strainer<\/a> is so handy\u2013 every professional bartender or cocktail enthusiast should have one for creating silky smooth drinks.<\/p>\n

So what is it used for? For cocktails, use this type of cocktail strainer in tandem<\/em> with a Hawthorne strainer to double strain<\/strong><\/a> your cocktail ingredients and remove more particles from your finished product\u2013 like bits of pulp, fruit seeds, and muddled leaves.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s great in the kitchen, too; it\u2019s the perfect tool for making soup stock and can also be used as a tea strainer or for kombucha or baking ingredients.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Here\u2019s how you use it: Place the mesh strainer in your cocktail glass, and pour the liquid through the Hawthorne first and into the mesh. This double-straining<\/a> ensures the smoothest cocktail without unwanted chunks of ice, fruit pulp, or herbs.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Julep Strainer<\/span><\/h3>\n
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A julep strainer<\/a> is named after the drink it was designed for, the Mint Julep<\/a>. This strainer<\/a> was originally made for drinkers of the Mint Julep so they didn\u2019t get a bunch of ice in their faces when drinking it. Nowadays, it is used mostly for spirit-forward cocktails that are stirred<\/a> in mixing glasses<\/a>; this classic tool removes larger shards of ice, seeds, bits of fruit pulp, or chunks of herbs from the finished drink while still allowing in some ice shards and muddled ingredients.<\/p>\n

When making certain cocktail recipes with muddled ingredients, you actually want<\/em> to include some of the \u201cdebris\u201d\u2013 like bits of mint leaves or fruit pieces, and the holes of the julep strainer allow this more than the Hawthorne bar strainer does. It also lets in more ice chips, which is nice in an extra cold Martini.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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A Bar Above 4-Piece Bar Set, Copyright A Bar Above<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Shakers<\/h3>\n
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Another method of straining a drink is by \u2018breaking the shaker<\/a>\u2018 which is when you strain through the small crack made by a Boston shaker<\/a> so the ice doesn\u2019t fall into the drink. It is tricky to do but removes the need for a strainer\u2013 of course, there is more possibility that things will pass through, even bits of ice.<\/p>\n

There are also shakers that have a built-in strainer<\/a>, like the cobbler shaker<\/a>; in our opinion, they typically just don\u2019t work as well as using a separate strainer. We worked really hard to make ours easier to use with a better strainer that actually strains. Others on the market have lids that are hard to remove & get stuck easily. Plus, the strainer design isn\u2019t very big, so it gets clogged often.<\/p>\n

So I guess the lesson is if you are going to use a cobbler, use ours! We\u2019ve really worked to address these issues. But if you may still find it useful to use a fine strainer at times.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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3-Piece Strainer Set, Copyright A Bar Above<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Pick the Perfect Strainer<\/h2>\n

If you\u2019re looking for a beautiful, reliable, ergonomic, and high-quality cocktail strainer, definitely check out ours\u2013 sold individually or as a set if you want to take your mixology skills to the next level\u2013 as well as all our whole arsenal of bar tools in our shop.<\/p>\n

We take a lot of pride in crafting our products; they\u2019re designed by an experienced bartender for bartenders, mixologists, and at-home enthusiasts, so you know great care has been taken in their design. Plus, they come in a range of gorgeous colors: stainless steel, gold, black, and antique copper.<\/p>\n

So when you\u2019re stocking your cocktail bar, make sure to grab our strainers and everything you need to go with them so you can make some delicious drinks!<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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