Salty Dog Cocktail Retro Drink Recipe

Classic Salty Dog Cocktail Recipe

I’m a fan of a simple summertime cocktail that is both refreshing and exciting… Drinks that aren’t overly complicated to make, but that still have seasonal ingredients and some unique flair. We love the retro 1950s Salty Dog, which is a variation of the iconic Greyhound typically made with gin and grapefruit juice. This version swaps gin with vodka for a stronger and slightly less sweet taste. Because a classic Salty Dog cocktail recipe is made with vodka and is served in glasses with a salted rim, it’s also similar to a fun and delicious grapefruit margarita.

Ingredients You Need

We keep this Salty Dog drink authentic by using only 5 ingredients. You simply need:

Ruby red grapefruit juice – for a great tart and tangy flavorVodka – use top shelf quality for the best tasteClub soda – makes this a delightfully bubbly cocktailSimple syrup – adds sweetness to balance the grapefruit juice and vodkaKosher salt – for rimming the glass

Plus ice for serving the beverage chilled on the rocks.

How to Make a Salty Dog

There are only, like, 3 or 4 steps to make this classic easy cocktail recipe. Some “steps” are so simple I think they hardly count as steps! First, salt the rim of each glass: Set out two small shallow plates. Place salt in one dish and a thin layer of simple syrup or agave syrup in the other. Dip the edge of a highball glass in the syrup, then dip in salt. Roll slightly as you dip to thoroughly coat the rim. Next, fill the glass three-quarters full of ice. Add the grapefruit juice, vodka, club soda, and 1 teaspoon of simple syrup. Stir the drink with a cocktail swizzle stick. Taste, and then add a little more simple syrup if desired. Lastly, add a fresh grapefruit wedge to the rim. Serve immediately while cold.

Recipe Variations

There are several fun ways to jazz up this classic Salty Dog drink…

Substitute kosher salt with flaked Fleur de Sel or a flavored salt you like.Add a pinch of cayenne pepper to the salt before coating the rim of the glass. This gives the cocktail a kick of heat that goes great with the sweet, tangy and salty flavors!Use sparkling grapefruit-flavored water instead of plain club soda.Drizzle a bit of agave syrup to the top of the drink before serving for even more sweetness.Make as a nonalcoholic mocktail by simply skipping the vodka and adding a bit more grapefruit juice and extra splash of sparkling water.As-is this Salty Dog cocktail recipe is enough to prepare one drink. Of course you can make as many as you like for two or a crowd! Pro Tip: add the amount of grapefruit juice and vodka needed to make however many drinks you like, and mix together in a cocktail shaker. Then add 6 ounces of the mixture to each glass, and top with a generous splash (1 ounce) of the bubbly water.Make it blended! This turns into basically a grapefruit margarita recipe by subbing the bubbly club soda with regular water or more grapefruit juice. Add all ingredients to a blender and serve as a refreshing boozy slushy.