Hawthorne strainer

A Hawthorne strainer is a flat metal disc with a ring of spring coil around the edge and small locating prongs or a flat lip that rests on the rim of a shaker tin. The spring flexes to fit different tin sizes and traps ice cubes, and often larger fruit pieces, while letting the liquid pour through freely.

It is the standard partner to a Boston shaker, since Boston shakers have no strainer built in. Some bartenders also use it directly on a mixing glass for stirred drinks, though a julep strainer is more traditional there. The spring coil is the part that does the real work, so its condition determines how well the strainer performs over time.

Look for a tightly wound spring that sits flush against the tin with no gaps, since a loose or rusted spring lets ice chips slip through into the glass. Rinse and dry it after use, because the coil can trap fruit pulp and mildew if left wet in a drawer. For drinks with muddled fruit or herbs, pairing it with a fine mesh strainer catches what the spring misses.