Vintage Strainer

The Martini has been stirred in the mixing glass, the ice has done its job, and now the clear, cold drink needs to be poured into the glass without a single ice cube tagging along. That is exactly the job a Vintage Strainer is made for.

The Expert's Description

A Vintage Strainer is a cocktail strainer designed to sit on top of a mixing glass, holding back the ice while the stirred drink is poured directly into the serving glass.

The shape is also known as a julep strainer and comes from the classic American bar, where it was originally used to hold back ice and mint leaves in a mint julep. Today it is a staple whenever a drink is stirred rather than shaken - think a Martini, an Old Fashioned or a Negroni, where you want to keep the drink's clarity without dilution from extra ice.

Design & Material

The perforated bowl with its distinctive pattern of holes is shaped to follow the curve of a mixing glass and rest steadily on the rim, while the handle gives a secure grip as the drink is strained into the glass.

Use & Care

Place the strainer on top of the mixing glass after stirring, hold it in place with your thumb, and pour the drink straight into the serving glass. Rinse it right after use so it does not pick up flavour or colour from previous drinks, and let it air-dry.

Specifications

Name: Vintage Strainer

Did You Know?

The julep strainer's perforated design dates back to 19th-century American bars, where it was invented specifically to hold back ice and mint when a mint julep was strained straight from the cup into the glass.

Mixing a classic stirred cocktail? See our range of Gin for inspiration for your next Martini.

See our full range of Barudstyr, or browse our Cocktails range.

Frequently Asked Questions about Vintage Strainer

What is a Vintage Strainer used for?

It is used to strain out the ice once a cocktail has been stirred in a mixing glass, so only the clear drink ends up in the serving glass.

Which cocktails suit a stirred drink with a Vintage Strainer?

Stirred classics like the Martini, the Negroni and the Old Fashioned, where you want to avoid the air and dilution a shaker adds.

How do I keep the strainer clean?

Rinse it right after use and let it air-dry so it does not carry flavour from previous drinks.

Can the Vintage Strainer be used with an ordinary shaker?

It is primarily designed for a mixing glass, but it also works well on top of a Boston shaker if you prefer the perforated design over a Hawthorne strainer.

Is a Vintage Strainer essential in a home bar?

If you stir your cocktails rather than shake them, it is one of the tools you will reach for the most.

Where can I find more to style my home bar?

Take a look at our range of Gin, the starting point for many of the classic stirred cocktails.