How to Double-Strain a Cocktail

Whether you’re new to cocktail making or a cocktail enthusiast, there’s one technique that every home bartender needs to know: double straining.  Tired of those ice shards or fruit pulp ruining your drink? Then double straining is going to change the quality of your drinks.

What Is Double Straining?

Double straining is pouring a shaken cocktail through two strainers at once, a Hawthorne strainer on the shaker and a fine mesh strainer over the glass, to catch ice shards, pulp and other small bits. It’s also called fine straining.

Why Double Strain Your Cocktail?

Double straining keeps ice shards, fruit pulp and other unwanted bits out of your glass. It ensures that your drink is as smooth as desired and free of any unwanted bits, with the bit-free finish you’d expect in a bar.

Do You Need to Double-Strain Every Cocktail?

No. You don’t need to double strain every cocktail, because not every cocktail is shaken, and a drink poured over crushed ice or any other type of ice doesn’t need it either.

Rico, Bartender and Absolut Global Brand Ambassador, explains that when you shake drinks with citrus juice in a Cocktail Shaker, such as a Kamikaze or Cosmopolitan, “You create a very crisp, fresh and crunchy texture. Whereas if you stir a drink, you’re going to create a much smoother velvety texture.”

“Anything which is just pure alcohol (such as a classic Martini or Negroni), you might want to stir that just to get a velvety texture,” suggests Rico. “But when it comes to drinks with fruit juices and syrups, shake the hell out of them – smash them up. Get everything blended together and you’ll get a nice texture.”

“I’m not into shaking stuff like a Bloody Mary. I think you need to control the dilution, and you don’t want to really water in a Bloody Mary,” says Rico.

Which Cocktails Should You Double Strain?

Double strain shaken cocktails made with muddled ingredients, fruit pulp or purée, or any drink that should be free of ice shards.

Classic and popular cocktails like the Cosmopolitan, the Espresso Martini, and the Pornstar Martini are often double strained. They’re shaken and served without ice in the glass, and double straining keeps ice shards and small bits out. Double strain any shaken cocktail served without ice, especially one made with muddled ingredients, fruit pulp or purée.

What Tools Do You Need to Double Strain a Cocktail?

To double strain a cocktail, you need a cocktail shaker, a Hawthorne strainer and a fine mesh strainer.

Before we dive into the actual technique of double straining, you’ll need to arm yourself with a few basic tools. Here’s what you’ll need:

1. Cocktail shaker: Whether you want to make a classic Margarita or an Espresso Martini, a good cocktail shaker is essential.As Rico explains, when you’re holding a shaker, you want to “Shake it, don’t tickle it”. So, give your cocktails a proper shake.
2. Hawthorne strainer: This strainer fits over the top of your shaker and holds back larger pieces of ice and muddled ingredients.
3. Fine mesh strainer: This small, handheld strainer catches the tiny bits that slip through the Hawthorne strainer.

What Are the Different Types of Cocktail Strainers?

The main types of cocktail strainer are the Hawthorne strainer, the julep strainer and the fine mesh strainer.  Let’s break down how they differ and what each one does in the double straining process:

1. Hawthorne strainer: This strainer has a coiled spring that fits neatly over the top of your shaker. This allows you to attach it to the shaker and just pour with one hand while holding the strainer in place. The spring can be adjusted to control the flow of liquid.
2. Julep strainer: This strainer looks like a large, perforated spoon. While it’s traditionally used for straining stirred cocktails like the classic Manhattan, it can also be used in place of a Hawthorne strainer if you prefer.
3. Fine mesh strainer: This small, handheld strainer comes in various sizes and functions like a tea strainer. It catches the fine particles that the Hawthorne strainer or julep strainer misses, for a smoother finish.

Jump to 2:30 to watch Rico demonstrates the different strainer types:

How Do You Double Strain a Cocktail?

To double strain a cocktail, shake it with ice, then pour it through a Hawthorne strainer on the shaker and a fine mesh strainer held over the glass at the same time.

Here’s a step-by-step guide to double straining cocktails:

1. Shake it up: Start by shaking your cocktail as you normally would in your cocktail shaker. Make sure to give it a good, vigorous shake to properly mix and chill the ingredients. A good guide is to shake for a slow count of ten seconds until ice cold.
2. Set up both strainers: Place your Hawthorne strainer over the top of your cocktail shaker. Hold your fine mesh strainer over your chilled serving glass.
3. Pour through both: Pour the cocktail from the shaker through both strainers at the same time, so it passes through the Hawthorne strainer and then the fine mesh strainer into the glass.The Hawthorne strainer catches the larger ice chunks and muddled ingredients, and the fine mesh strainer catches any remaining fine particles. That’s the double strain: one pour, two strainers.
4. Garnish and serve: Your strained cocktail is now in the glass. Garnish as desired, and prepare to impress your guests with outstanding bar-quality drinks.

One final word: double straining might take a bit of practice to get the hang of, but it’s worth it. It keeps the ice shards and pulp out of your glass.

Ready to get double straining? Explore our cocktail recipes.