Salty Dog Vodka
A vodka Salty Dog combines vodka and pink grapefruit juice over ice in a salt-rimmed glass for a sharp, savory citrus highball.
Built to the standard modern spec; not yet tested in our kitchen. How we test.
The recipe.
Scaling adjusts quantities only. Prepare shaken drinks in individual portions.
Let’s make a good drink.
Moisten the outer rim of a highball glass with the grapefruit wedge and coat it with salt.
Fill the glass with ice and add measured parts vodka and grapefruit juice.
Stir gently, garnish with the grapefruit wedge and serve.
A thoughtful finish
- Salt the outside rim so loose salt does not fall into the entire drink.
- A half rim lets the drinker choose salted or unsalted sips.
- Check grapefruit juice for extra sweeteners before using it.
Common mistakes
- Packing salt onto the inside rim can make the whole drink unpleasantly salty.
- Adding tonic water changes the two-liquid formula.
- Using orange juice removes the defining grapefruit character.
A few good questions.
Is a Salty Dog made with vodka or gin?
Both versions exist; this assigned recipe is the vodka version.
What makes it salty?
The salt on the rim seasons each sip; it is not a measured spoonful stirred into the liquid.
Can I make it without the rim?
Yes, as a serving adaptation, though the salted rim defines the Salty Dog style.
Do I need grapefruit-flavored vodka?
No. This formula uses unflavored vodka with grapefruit juice.
Variations
- Half salt rim — serving adaptation — Salt only half of the outer rim so each sip can be seasoned to preference.
- No garnish wedge — garnish adaptation — Keep the salt rim and liquid ratio but omit the fruit wedge.
Where it comes from
A vodka Salty Dog combines vodka and pink grapefruit juice over ice in a salt-rimmed glass for a sharp, savory citrus highball.
Sources
- Absolut Drinks — Salty Dog, 2024 (company source) link
A little character in every sip.
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