The Antique Hawthorne Strainer, A Vintage Style for a Contemporary Tool
The strainer is a crucial part to every poured cocktail, whether stirred or shaken. Which strainer you use comes down oftentimes to preference. However, there are reasons to pick one over the other.
The types of strainers out there include the Hawthorne strainer, an old faithful, and the Julep Spoon. And we'd like to also include our unique vintage-style Antique Hawthorne Strainers to the mix.
The Grip
Each strainer stands out by how it's held. The grip and ergonomics of the strainer are what leads many people to choose which they prefer to use.
The Hawthorne Strainer
The Hawthorne strainer usually sits flush along the top and inside of the shaker tin, and most have a notch at the top. Your finger can sit on that notch and it helps hold the strainer in place as you tip the tins.
The Julep Spoon
The julep spoon sits in the glass at an angle, and your finger against the handle is what helps hold it in place as it tips. Our spoons have a curved handle, helping your finger have a better grip on the spoon.
People who use the julep spoon have differing preferences as to which way to set the julep spoon in, up or down. Oftentimes, these preferences can be based on the way the spoon feels in the glass, as all spoons have a different feel.
The Antique-Style Hawthorne Strainer
The design of the Antique-Style Hawthorne Strainer is notable, in that we created it with a notch for placing it on the edge of the mixing glass of shaker tin.
The strainer sits in the glass or tin at an angle like the julep spoon, with the notch holding the strainer to the glass or tin's lip. Your finger can hold the strainer down on the lip easily, which makes it one of the easiest strainers to hold in place.
The Strain
How each strainer strains makes a difference. The ultimate goal is to keep ice and fruit pieces from sliding into the glass. No ducks on the pond, as they say.
The Hawthorne strainer strains through coils and slots in the actual strainer. The julep spoon's straining power is through holes in the spoon as well as around the sides.
The shape of the spoon with its angle is said to be a better strain for us with mixing glasses. Hawthorne strainers are typically believed to fit and strain shaker tins better.
And that's where the Antique-Style Hawthorne Strainer comes in.
The angle the strainer sits in the glass or tins, plus the strainer coils helps keep ice and bits out of cocktails.
It's All Preference
Picking out the strainer you want to use for mixing glasses or shaker tins is all about personal preference. And if you are looking for a strong strain with an easy grip, we suggest checking out the Antique-Style Hawthorne Strainer. We have multiple finishes to choose from.
