Releasing flavors: Mashing fresh fruits, herbs (like mint), and spices at the bottom of a glass or shaker to release their essential oils and juices into cocktails.
Crushing ingredients: It can also be used to crush ice or other solid ingredients for drinks.
Common cocktails: Muddlers are essential for preparing classic cocktails such as Mojitos (for mint and lime) and Caipirinhas.
Design features: Modern muddlers often feature a durable head (like the grooved plastic head seen in the image) for efficient crushing and an ergonomic handle for comfortable use.