Swissmar Stainless Steel Cocktail Strainer

I have tried tons of cocktail strainers over the years, ranging from the cheap $1.00 two and four prong strainers found in most cocktail sets (from the major bartending retailers), to the expensive $50 strainers.In strainers I look for a few things: tight spring coils, smooth even pour, proper balance (so the strainer can rest freely on top of the tin), nice grip (I should be able to pick up the tin+strainer and strain effectively with one hand), and relatively small size.The spring on this one is nearly perfect. Small, tight coils so only the smallest of ice shards can make it through. The cheaper strainers often have widely-spaced springs allowing larger chunks of ice through, and the pour is often uneven, which can lead to a mess when pouring into a small-mouthed cocktail glass (collins, cordial, etc.).The pour from this is perfect. Smooth, even pour with no mess. I love this.The size, balance, look, and construction are great. It has weight to it, and is perfectly balanced (balance point is where the ends of the spring nearly meet near the handle, which means it will rest freely on top of the tin). In contrast, the Pedrini strainer is terribly unbalanced and annoying to use.There are two flaws, though, which is why I've given this four stars.The measure from the outermost edge of the spring to the base of the handle is 93mm. The diameter of a standard 28oz shaker tin is also 93mm. One might think, "wow, that's perfect!", but the effect is that you cannot push the strainer forward without lifting the handle up and over the lip of the tin. This is mostly impossible without the aid of a second hand, and quite annoying. Cheap $1 strainers really shine here; one-hand use is a breeze with them.Grip. There is no gripping aid on the top surface, which is terribly important due to the flaw I just mentioned. Most strainers have a little fin that's used to push the strainer forward, or maybe a little rubber nub, or maybe an indentation in the top. This strainer has none of those, and instead it's just smooth steel on top. The tightness of the coil plays into this as well; this strainer has significantly higher resistance than most other strainers, so it requires more force to keep it pushed towards the lip of the tin. So, I hope you have a strong index finger!I'd buy this again, and I'd recommend it over any of the strainers in this price range. The flaws are annoying, but the quality of the pour keeps me coming back. I'll still keep my $1.00 strainer in easy reach, though.

This is a very good strainer. The long handle looks really classy but can get in the way a little bit if you work in a high volume bar and move fast. I bent the handle up at a 45 degree angle to the strainer and now I really like it. there is no tab on the top to help push the strainer forward for a finer strain, but that doesn't matter to me as I use this I RSVP Endurance Stainless Steel 3 Inch Conical Strainer (1, 1 LB)  for any cocktails or fresh fruit juice that needs to be fine strained.

Does exactly what I need it to do, strains. Fits perfectly in solo cups for mixing when the shaker is in use or dirty.

Better ones out there. It's light and cheaply made. They put stickers all over it so get out your Goo Gone. Went right in to the junk drawer.

This has turned out to be a really nice addition to my bar. It is very nice quality and fits well in both a standard pint glass as well as my stainless shaker.

I work at a cocktail bar and this strainer is as good if not better than the ones I use. Small enough to fit inside of a pint glass and large enough for a stainless steel cocktail shaker. Highly recommended.

Works as advertised.

Really fine quality. Thick steel that feels nice and solid. Very happy with the purchase. Nice addition to my bar area.

Great addition to a home bar.