Best Cocktail Strainer in 2023 - Cocktail Strainer Reviews and Ratings

The OXO Steel Cocktail Strainer has a simple and stylish design that looks great anywhere you use it. The all-steel construction has a short handle that works naturally in your hand, which makes it a good choice for beginners too. Tis strainer has a raised lip on it that prevents any messes from being made while you are making drinks. The finger rest is non-slip and provides additional support and stability even if your hands are wet.

Cocktail Strainer Reviews

Every bar, whether professional or a home bar, needs to have a good quality cocktail strainer so you can make excellent tasting mixed drinks. Strainers are used to prevent the ice from getting into the glass.

There are three basic types of cocktail strainers that are used to fixed drinks, the Hawthorne, The Julep and the Mesh strainer. Ideally, you will want to get all three, but even having one type can increase the quality of the drinks you prepare for your family and friends.

Choosing the right cocktail strainer can be a little challenging when they seem to be the same. There are some things you should take into consideration when you are researching the different brand names and types on the market.

We spent over 27 hours researching and testing 10 different kinds of cocktail strainers and found that sturdiness, high quality steel construction, and long lastingness were most important. This buyer’s guide is full of information on the three types of cocktail strainers and how to choose the best one for your specific drink mixing needs. The right information will ensure that you make a decision that you will be pleased with and that will meet your needs.

1. OXO

Best Overall Cocktail Strainer

OXO SteeL Cocktail Strainer (2 Pack)

5/5 Product Rating

If you’re looking for a cocktail strainer with a simple yet stylish design, you have found it right here. The OXO steel cocktail strainer is a popular choice among professionals and amateurs alike.

Its all steel construction provides a durable and long lasting piece of bar equipment. The short handle works with the natural positioning of your hand, making it very easy to use, even for beginners.

The raised lip on the strainer prevents you from making messes while making drinks. The non-slip finger rest gives added stability and support even with wet hands. You can wash this strainer easily and safely in the dishwasher or by hand.

This cocktail strainer fits into most shakers and bar glasses. This quality strainer will be a perfect addition to your bar supplies and since it is from OXO, a well known and trusted name in kitchen supplies, you can be confident that you have purchased an exceptional bar supply that will last decades with the proper care.

– Sarah Lytle

2. HIC

Best Overall Cocktail Strainer – Runner Up

HIC Harold Import Co. Cocktail Hawthorne Strainer, 6 Inch x 3.75 Inch, 18/8 Stainless Steel

4.7/5 Product Rating

If you are looking for a good quality cocktail strainer to add to your bar equipment, take a look at this HIC stainless steel strainer. It is constructed from 18/8 stainless steel that is rust and corrosion resistant.

Due to the steel construction, there is no danger of this tool absorbing odors or transferring any flavors. This is the perfect strainer to use to create delicious mixed drinks. It fits into almost any shaker or bar glass to provide drinks without ice or muddled bits of fruits in them.

The dishwasher safe capability allows for easy cleanup. It is easy to use even for a beginning bar tender. You’ll be able to make perfect Mint Juleps, Old Fashioneds, and any other drink that is not supposed to have ice or bits of fruit in it after it has been mixed.

– Sarah Lytle

3. True

True Fabrication Cocktail, Medium, Hawthorne Strainer

4.5/5 Product Rating

This quality-made stainless steel strainer is the perfect addition to your bar supplies. The two prong design works with any shaker so removing ice is super simple.

You’ll be able to make a multitude of delicious mix.

You’ll be able to make a multitude of delicious mixed drinks easily and correctly when you have this quality strainer in your supplies.

If you are looking for the perfect gift for the drink enthusiast in your life, this quality, steel cocktail strainer will be a perfect start.

– Sarah Lytle

Summary of Our Top Picks
Cocktail strainers are a necessary part of making mixed drinks. There are several different types of strainers on the market to choose from. This is the tool that can help up your drink making game. The three strainers that we have reviewed above are all Hawthorne strainers which are the most commonly used strainer. They are all similar in looks and perform the same function, which is to strain ice and fruit bits from the drink as it is poured into the glass.

When looking for the right strainer for your needs, you want to ensure that it is an all-steel strainer that is resistant to corrosion and rust, and that it is sturdily made for durability and long lastingness. If none of the strainers above fit what you are looking for, read the buyer’s guide below to learn more information about the different types available and what to look for in a quality piece of equipment.

4. Winco

5. Pedrini

6. Swissmar

7. Fine Mesh

8. Premier

9. Uber

10. Modern

Cocktail Strainer Buying Guide

A cocktail strainer is a popular bartending tool that is used to strain out ice and other solid materials such as fruit bits from the drink as it is poured into the glass. They are also called bar strainers. Bartenders use the strainer after the drink has been mixed or shaken in the cocktail shaker. Using the strainer will remove the things that should not be in the glass when it is served. Having the right cocktail strainer can make a big difference in the quality of your mixed drinks.

Types of Cocktail Strainers

There are three main types of cocktail strainers; the Hawthorne, the Julep and the Fine Mesh. Each type of strainer has its own best uses. To have a fully functional bartending experience you will want to get all three strainers, but when you are just getting started, you can do really well with just the Hawthorne which is what our top three choices above are. Below, we have listed the three different kinds of strainers available and provided you with information about what to look for with each type.

Hawthorne Strainer – The Hawthorne strainer is used anytime a cocktail has been shaken with ice. The coils can be adjusted to how fine you want the straining process to be. Hawthorne strainers have a flat piece of metal that is perforated and lined with a large spring coil that catches ice and other solids as the liquid is poured through it.

The Hawthorne is named after a popular brand that made bar strainers. It is the most popular type of cocktail strainer that is found in most bars professionally and at home. Most experienced bartenders feel the Hawthorne strainer is the best choice since it can be adapted to different sized tins and cups and is the best choice for speed as well.

Another benefit to this type of strainer is that it is inexpensive. A couple of drawbacks to the Hawthorne strainer is that is can be difficult to clean if there are fruit bits and other solids stuck in the spring, and the spring can be damaged if care is not taken when cleaning it.

Comfort, durability and quality should be at the top of the list of considerations when looking for the perfect strainer for your needs.

Julep Strainer – This bar strainer looks like a giant spoon with holes in it. The original use for this type of strainer was to hold it over a glass of Mint Julep that had ice in it, so you didn’t end up with ice touching your teeth or ending up in your face as you took a sip.

Nowadays it is used to get the ice out of the glass before the drink is served. In many ways the Julep strainer can be looked at as the first drinking straw of sorts.

It is fairly easy to use and could be a good choice for beginners who are learning to strain the ice from their mixed drinks.

It is not used as often as the Hawthorne but there is still a place for it in the bartending tool kit. It does take a little longer to use the Julep strainer than it does the Hawthorne.
Fine Mesh Strainer – The mesh strainer is used in bartending but can also be used to make tea which is why it is also sometimes called a tea strainer. This strainer is constructed of fine metal mesh that can strain out even tiny pieces of pulp from the liquid.

It is often used a long with the Hawthorne as a double strainer. The liquid passes through the Hawthorne first and anything left is filtered out by the fine mesh strainer. If you are making a drink with an egg in it, you will definitely want to use a mesh strainer.

It is the perfect strainer to help aid the Hawthorne or Julep strainer and will help you produce super smooth drink without a trace of anything but liquid in it.

Learning to Use a Cocktail Strainer

If you are new to making drinks, you may think that using a cocktail strainer is very complicated but it is a relatively easy tool to use once you get used to doing a couple of different things with your hands at once. There are many things you can do to learn how to use your cocktail strainer to make drinks quickly and easily.

The idea is to fit the strainer over the shaker or mixing glass and pour the liquid out of the shaker while holding the strainer over it. The liquid pours through the strainer and into the glass free of ice and any bits of fruit or stuff in it.

It may feel like you are fumbling at first but keep practicing and it will become second nature to use the cocktail strainer in conjunction with the shaker and serving glass.

Conclusion

Creating the perfect cocktail can be a challenge without the proper tools. This is why it is important to choose the perfect cocktail strainer for all your drink making needs. With all of the choices on the market, it can get confusing to decide which ones are high quality and which will break the first time they are used, especially if you are just starting out on your drink making journey.

Using the proper cocktail strainers will help you produce drinks with the ideal consistency, feel and flavor. There is a big difference in a drink that has been prepared without a cocktail strainer and one that has been poured through the strainer. Your friends and family will be very impressed with your drink making skills.

Whichever strainer you want to get started, the main thing to remember is to look for a cocktail strainer that is well made, resistant to rust or corrosion, and from a reputable company known for producing quality bartending tools.

The information in this buyer’s guide has been provided to help you understand the different cocktail strainers available so you can decide which one or ones you want to add to your own bar. Now that you know what each type of strainer does and how to use them, you can make a decision as to the best type of strainer for your needs and preferences.