The Julep Strainer: Using the Right Tool for Stirred Drinks

Most bartenders use Hawthorne strainers for everything, but julep strainers exist for a reason: they're designed specifically for straining stirred drinks from mixing glasses, and they work better for this purpose.

A julep strainer is a perforated, bowl-shaped strainer that sits inside a mixing glass. You hold it in place with your index finger while pouring, creating a seal that catches ice while letting liquid through. The curved shape matches the interior of a mixing glass perfectly, which a flat Hawthorne strainer doesn't.

The Hawthorne strainer, with its spring coil, was engineered for shaker tins. It creates a tight seal on the straight sides of a tin but sits awkwardly on the curved rim of a mixing glass. You can make it work, but you're using the wrong tool for the job.

Functionally, both will catch ice, so why bother? Because the julep strainer makes the process smoother and more controlled. The curved bowl nestles naturally into the glass, requiring less awkward hand positioning. It's genuinely easier once you get used to it.

The technique is simple. After stirring, place the julep strainer bowl-down into the mixing glass. Press gently with your index finger to hold it in place, then pour. The strainer stays in the glass throughout.

This isn't about being pretentious or following arbitrary rules. It's about using tools as they were designed. If you're making stirred cocktails in a proper mixing glass, a julep strainer is the right choice. If you're shaking drinks in a tin, use a Hawthorne. Match the tool to the task.