Citrus stripper, citrus stripper. Say that five times fast. I don’t think this is an essential bar tool, but it’s one of my favorites. Perfectly adapted to its purpose and effortless to use, a single stroke across the skin of the fruit gives you an elegant garnish of colorful peel and a fragrant mist of citrus oil. The twist isn’t just for show, though. Rubbing the inside of the empty cocktail glass with it will leave behind a film of oil, adding fragrance and flavor to your drink. Of course, if the drink contains the juice of the same fruit, this is probably a waste of effort, but for cocktails such as martinis (ordered with a twist) and negronis (use orange peel), I think it’s a subtle but important enhancement. And, of course, it’s pretty.
I bought this citrus stripper (and my two others) at Williams Sonoma for about $14. It’s not available in their online store, but you can buy a very similar one online from Sur la Table, www.surlatable.com, for $7.95.
