Whisky & Ember tools

Fine strainer

A small cone of fine mesh that catches what the Hawthorne lets through.

What it does

Five of the six recipes on this site say double strain. This is the tool doing the second half.

A Hawthorne holds back cubes. A conical fine strainer holds back what the Hawthorne cannot: ice shards and citrus pulp that would otherwise sit on the surface of the finished drink and keep melting into it. In the words of our free guide, you double strain “to keep ice shards out of the finished drink.”

How to use it

Double strain

  1. Hold the fine strainer over the chilled glass, or rest it on the rim.
  2. Pour from the tin through the Hawthorne strainer into the fine strainer.
  3. Tap the side of the strainer gently to let the last of the drink through.
  4. Rinse it straight after use, before pulp dries in the mesh.

What to look for

  • Conical, with fine mesh, roughly 7.5 to 10 cm (three to four inches) across
  • A rim that rests on the glass, so one hand stays free
  • Fine enough to catch pulp, open enough not to stall the pour

Used in

Paper Plane

Shaken, equal parts, served up. The second half of the double strain.

Whisky Sour

Shaken, served over fresh ice. The second half of the double strain.

Corpse Reviver No. 2

Shaken, equal parts, served up. The second half of the double strain.

Aviation

Shaken, served up. The second half of the double strain.

Necromancer

Shaken, equal parts, served up. The second half of the double strain.

More tools

This page has no affiliate links. Please drink responsibly.