Cr(af)ted Tools
Hawthorne Strainer
A Hawthorne strainer is a flat disc with a coiled spring around the edge that fits into the mouth of a shaker or mixing glass. The spring catches ice chips, pulp, and herb fragments, delivering a clean pour into the serving glass. It is the tool that separates a professional-looking drink from one that has ice chips floating in it.
Why it earns its place
Ice chips in a finished cocktail dilute it faster than the intended serving ice and look careless. The Hawthorne strainer keeps the shaker's working ice out of the glass while letting the liquid through cleanly. Paired with a fine mesh strainer, it handles even the finest particles from muddled herbs.
When I reach for it
After shaking, when pouring into a serving glass. Works with both shakers and mixing glasses.
Where people usually go wrong
Straining over the same ice you shook with — that ice is already diluted and will continue watering down the drink.
"I like to use a spring-loaded Hawthorne strainer that fits snugly and doesn't rattle during the pour."
If you're only going to buy one
OXO Steel Cocktail Strainer
Fits most shakers securely, easy to clean, and the spring is tight enough to catch herb fragments without a second fine-mesh pass.
Cr(af)ted may earn a commission from qualifying purchases. Recommendations are chosen to support better Alcohol-Free Cocktails, not clutter your bar.
Questions I hear a lot
Do I need a Hawthorne strainer if my cobbler shaker has a built-in strainer?
For most drinks, no — the built-in cobbler strainer handles citrus pulp and ice chips well enough. The Hawthorne strainer becomes useful when you're using a Boston shaker (which has no built-in strainer), when you're muddling herbs and want extra filtration, or when you want to double-strain through a fine mesh for an especially clean, clear pour.
What's the difference between a Hawthorne strainer and a Julep strainer?
A Hawthorne strainer has a coiled spring and fits into the mouth of a shaker tin — it's designed for use after shaking. A Julep strainer is a perforated spoon that sits inside a mixing glass and holds back ice during a pour from a stirred cocktail. They solve the same problem in different contexts: Hawthorne for shaken, Julep for stirred.
What should I look for when buying a Hawthorne strainer?
A snug fit against the shaker rim, a spring coil that sits close enough to catch small particles, and prongs that hold it securely at different positions for different flow rates. Avoid strainers with a loose spring or a disc that wobbles — they let ice chips through. The OXO and Cocktail Kingdom versions are consistently reliable for home use.