The cocktail strainer is a revolutionary tool behind the bar and has become a true staple. Whether stirred or shaken, a strainer of SOME sort has to be used to serve a cocktail without the “dirty” ice (which means the ice used in preparation). There are different types of strainers that are used globally. BUT, there are ways to strain a cocktail without a shaker as well. Why mention this? Well, I feel it is important, especially if we are bartending at home and do NOT quite have the tools necessary to strain our drinks with either a Hawthorne or julep strainer.
TYPES OF STRAINERS
These are the two main types of cocktail strainers used:
Julep Strainer: This strainer is typically used for stirred drinks with a mixing glass. The reason being, is that it fits nicely with most mixing glasses. It also looks great when combined with a crystal mixing glass!
Hawthorne Strainer: This type of strainer is customary with a set of tin on tin shakers or Boston shakers or Parisian shaker (see Cocktail Shaker post). Simply, this is a full-metal strainer that has a metal coil at the end of it to keep out pieces of fruit and ice chips when straining into fresh ice
HISTORY
Cocktail strainers can be considered “modern” inventions only because of the reason that tea strainers are their precursors in drink history. Tea has been strained for many different years by the ancient Chinese through kettles and strainers long before liquor and cocktails even came into human consciousness!
As aforementioned, the strainer is used to keep muddled fruit and ice out of the finished drink to be poured over fresh ice and to the patrons’ hands. Same goes for tea, as it can really only be enjoyed when the tea leaves are NOT directly in the drink!
The Julep Strainer was the first rendition of a strainer used exclusively for cocktails, around the mid-19th century. It wasn’t until late 1800s however, that the spoon-like tool became more popularized. Known in the turn of the 20th century as an “ice spoon”, this strainer has become the less-used cousin of the Hawthorne strainer that we have come to know and rely on behind the bar.
The Hawthorne strainer is customary at just about any bar you go to nowadays, and for good reason. Its convenience and ease of use has won over many bartenders over the years and it is a tool that is most definitely here to stay. The Hawthorne strainer wasn’t named for some person who was called “Hawthorne” (his name was actually William Wright). It was actually said to have been called that originally because it was used and first seen at The Hawthorne Café in Boston, Massachusetts in the mid 1800s.
Today, the Hawthorne Bar, newly placed close by to the original site, pays homage to the old-school Café of the time and is one of the most recognized bars in the Boston area.
So, the trusty strainers that we so much use and love behind our bars have a quaint and simple history. Just as its simple history, is its useful nature. To this day, the overall design of both the Julep and Hawthorne strainers has not changed since its inception back in the late 19th century!
As with anything that is simple, effective, and WORKS, why change it?
Jonathan Echavarria 