How To Use A Bartender Strainer

What Is A Cocktail Strainer?

The cocktail strainer is an essential tool in professional bartending. Similar a sieve, it just allows liquid to pass leaving any unwanted fruit pulp and ice backside.

They come in a huge variety of designs, merely don't worry. We've taken the strain out of the procedure (terrible pun very much intended) by focusing on the three types of strainers worth having if yous're looking to milk shake up a storm behind the bar.

Must Accept Cocktail Strainers: The Hawthorn Strainer

A cocktail bartender in a white shirt pours an Espresso Martini through a Hawthorn Strainer - How to Use a Cocktail Shaker

If you think back to any time y'all've been served a cocktail at a bar, you lot'll probably have seen one of these.

Easily recognisable this strainer features a round metal plate with holes to allow liquid to pass, 2 'ears' used to keep it in identify over a shaker tin can or glass while pouring and a long spring round its base to concord back any fruit pulp and ice.

It's an industry standard and a get-to weapon of choice for shaken drinks.

We recommend the classic variation as an ideal starting point for new bartenders as information technology'due south like shooting fish in a barrel to utilise for all experience levels, however more than advanced variations of this strainer won't include the 'ears' told hold it in place so can be a bit trickier to utilize.

Use it to make: essential cocktails such every bit the Espresso Martini and Margarita

Must Have Cocktail Strainers: The Fine Strainer

A cocktail bartender in a white shirt pours an Espresso Martini through the sieve like Fine Strainer Strainer - How to Use a Cocktail Shaker

Like a tea strainer or miniature sieve, you'll need ane of these when y'all're shaking up berries or anything that's going to interruption down into smaller pieces that your cocktail strainer might miss.

It's an essential tool when serving martinis, or any beverage you want shaken and served 'nifty' (without ice).

Y'all might hear the term 'double strain' come up into play with a lot of classic cocktails, this implies the use of the fine strainer alongside the classic strainer to ensure no fruit lurid or broken ice makes its way into your drinkable.

Information technology's easy enough to do with do, belongings the tin and strainer in one hand while pouring through the fine strainer in your other, hence the term 'double strained'.

Use information technology to make: the archetype martini cocktail

Must Have Cocktail Strainers: The Julep Strainer

How to use a cocktail strainer - a julep strainer on a black background

The Julep strainer has a unique history, taking its name from the Mint Julep and dating back to when it wasn't so common to observe straws backside the bar.

Its shape and design is perfectly suited to being placed on acme of recipes that use a lot of crushed ice, enabling the drinker to enjoy every drop without spilling ice.

This strainer can be used with tins and mixing glasses, when positioned at the correct bending.

Notwithstanding, its practicality behind the bar has somewhat diminished over the years, and as such it is far from a necessity in your kit. But if you're looking to add that vintage impact of class to a drink it tin make for a great applied garnish.

How to strain a cocktail using a Cocktail Strainer

How to Strain a Cocktail

Once you've shaken upwardly your cocktail, y'all volition usually want to strain it. This is piece of cake with the right tools every bit mentioned to a higher place. Beneath is a footstep-past- pace process to ensure yous become the most out of your strainer:

1) Place the strainer facing bound down on to your shaker tin or mixing glass.

ii) With your dominant hand get to option upwardly the shaker tin or glass, leaving your index finger free to command the strainer on elevation.

Normally y'all volition find at that place is a small, raised piece of the strainer your index finger tin rest backside.

3) Using your other manus, pick upwardly the fine strainer and agree it slightly elevated above the glass you're serving the cocktail in.

4) Pour at a gentle and controlled rate through the fine strainer, you might find you need to gently shake the last part out of the tin can, as a lot of ingredients that crusade foam tend to come out last.

Desire to put your new skill to the test? Bank check out our recipes on the Clubhouse weblog.