The Salty Dog

Writing cocktail recipes on the Bottle Pro Blog for over eight years, we somehow missed one of our favorite simple, sunny day drinks.  The Salty Dog is a refreshing three ingredient highball made with grapefruit juice.  Much like the Martini, the Salty Dog started with Gin as the base and then evolved into Vodka.  The origins of the Salty Dog are somewhat foggy though we know it started as the Greyhound (circa 1920) and somewhere along the way salt was added to the rim of the glass and Voila the Salty Dog was born.  Now I am the first to admit that when ordered in a bar, most often you will get a lack-luster cocktail made from low quality canned grapefruit juice and cheap vodka.  In making a worthy Salty Dog, it is particularly important to use only top shelf spirits and fresh squeezed grapefruit juice (we prefer pink).  The Salty Dog is one of those cocktails that is so simple to make and so refreshing that it is good any time of the year.

The Salty Dog

Select a tall Collins glass, Rim the glass with your favorite salt*.  Fill with cracked ice then add:

• Add 1 ½ Ounces of Top Shelf Gin or Vodka
• Fill With Fresh Squeezed Pink Grapefruit Juice

Stir and Discard the Straw

*A word on Salt. There are numerous finishing salts that work particularly well on a Salty Dog. We like Hawaiian Black Lava salt for its mild bite and nice contrast to the drinks pink color. Pink Himalayan salt is delicate and has a light citrusy character that plays well with the juice.  In a pinch good old Kosher Sea salt works well.