Introducing Our New 4-Prong Performance Hawthorne Strainer

 

What is a 4-Prong Strainer?
Types of Cocktail Strainers
4-Prong vs. 2-Prong Strainer
How to Use a 4-Prong Bartender Strainer
Cocktails to Make with a Hawthorne Strainer
Elevate Your Bar/Final Thoughts

Hey, friends! We’re thrilled to announce the latest addition to our premium barware collection: our brand-new 4-prong performance Hawthorne strainer.

Designed with both professional bartenders and home mixology enthusiasts in mind, this style of cocktail strainer combines stability with a classic design.

We definitely heard our community when they asked for a more stable, beginner-friendly strainer that doesn’t sacrifice professional quality. So we’ve created a tool that delivers precision and sturdiness for the less-seasoned cocktail makers (or those who just prefer the feel).

It doesn’t really matter if you’re crafting your first cocktail or your thousandth– Everyone wants a smooth experience with the equipment they like best. I mean, who doesn’t love options?

 

What is a 4-Prong Strainer?

No matter the style, the Hawthorne bar strainer is an essential tool in any well-equipped bar. Named after the Hawthorne Café in Boston where it was popularized in the late 1800s (but not given that name until much later), this strainer works on cocktail shakers and pint glasses to keep ice and other larger particles out of drinks.

Just like our standard 2-prong strainer, this new 4-prong strainer features a tightly-wound spring coil that filters out solid ingredients while allowing your perfectly mixed cocktail to flow through.

And despite its different look, this all-purpose strainer still features an ergonomic handle, just like its two-pronged counterpart.

 

Types of Strainers

Hawthorne Strainer: Designed specifically for cocktail shaker tins (or even pint glasses), it keeps out ice shards and muddled ingredients like herbs and fruit pulp. It typically features 2 or 4 prongs but sometimes has none.
Fine Mesh Strainer: Featuring tightly-woven mesh, this popular strainer is used in conjunction with the Hawthorne strainer to double strain finer chunks of ice, small bits of fruit and seeds, and pulp. It’s also a great kitchen tool for soup, kombucha, and tea!
Julep Strainer: This strainer design basically looks like a giant spoon with small holes all over it and is made specifically for stirred drinks made in mixing glasses.
If you have a drink with muddled ingredients, this style of strainer will allow bits of herbs and fruit through– This is one reason the julep is usually only used for spirit-forward only cocktails that don’t include chunks of herbs, fruit juice, etc.
However, the exception to this is the Mint Julep, where you do want mint to make it into your finished drink.

 

4-Prong Strainer vs. 2-Prong Strainer

While traditional Hawthorne strainers often feature two prongs that rest against your mixing vessel, our new design adds two additional stabilizing prongs. This seemingly small change makes a significant difference:

Greater stability when pouring
Reduced likelihood of the strainer slipping while pouring
More consistent seal against the cocktail shaker edge
Easier handling for beginners without compromising professional performance

Both versions feature our signature high-quality stainless steel construction, but the 4-prong design can provide that extra confidence when straining—especially for those who are still perfecting their technique. The perfect strainer fit makes all the difference in achieving a clean pour, after all.

Our standard 2-prong version is still a great professional bartending tool, though! I don’t want to dissuade you from using it because it’s really a personal preference based on the feel and how you hold your shaker tin.

 

How to Use a 4-Prong Bartender Strainer

Using a 4-prong bartender strainer might feel a bit different at first—especially if you’re used to the traditional 2-prong model—but trust me, it becomes second nature after just a few pours. And it really is the perfect tool for beginners.

To use, place the strainer over your shaker tin or mixing glass with the coil spring nestled snugly inside.

The four prongs should rest securely against the rim to create a tight seal, offering better a strainer fit and reducing any wiggle room that could allow unwanted ingredients like ice shards or pieces of herbs into your final drink.

The flexible spring adapts slightly to different vessel sizes, while the durable metal spring construction ensures a reliable fit that filters out solids without clogging or bending under pressure.

Simply hold it in place with your index finger, tilt, and pour—letting only the liquid ingredients pass through cleanly and effortlessly.

 

Cocktails to Make with a Hawthorne Strainer

The versatility of our Hawthorne strainer makes it perfect for a wide range of cocktails, particularly those containing ingredients of varying densities that need to be properly filtered.

And like I mentioned, while designed primarily for cocktail shakers, this fantastic strainer also works well with pint glasses and even standard mixing glasses.

Some cocktails to try with your new strainer:

Margarita: Strain out the ice while letting the perfect blend of tequila, lime, and orange liqueur flow through.
Clover Club: Capture the tiny egg white particles while letting the silky, pink mixture shine. (You’ll also want a fine strainer for this one.)
Espresso Martini: Ensure a smooth finish by straining out potential coffee grounds and ice chips.
Paper Plane: Perfect this equal-parts cocktail with a clean, precise strain.

 

Elevate Your Bar with Our Martini Strainer

Ready to take your cocktails to the next level? Of course you are!

Whether you’re shaking up weekend Margaritas or perfecting your Martini technique, this essential tool deserves a place in your bar tool kit. Among the primary types of strainers, this one really stands out for its professional-grade quality and user-friendly design, helping you craft the perfect pour every time.