Classic Salty Dog Cocktail Recipe

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The Salty Dog recipe is categorized as a highball cocktail. It is the combination of either gin or vodka and grapefruit juice over ice. I will teach you how to make a classic drink with variations like a bartender! Sound like an expert to your friends and family with all these Salty Dog variations.

How To Make A Salty Dog

The ingredients for a Salty Dog cocktail recipe are as follows:

1 1/2 ounces (either 1 shot or 6 counts) of Gin or Vodka
5 oz Fresh Grapefruit Juice
Coarse Salt
Ice

The Salty Dog is traditionally served in either a Collins glass or a highball glass. A Collins glass typically holds 8 fluid ounces. A Rocks glass holds between 5 and 10 fluid ounces.

Most people have a preference on if they would prefer vodka or gin in their drink because they both have very different flavors . To create your salted rim, wet the rim of the glass with grapefruit or lemon juice and dip it in salt. Fill the glass with ice and set it aside. Combine the ice, liquor, and grapefruit juice in a cocktail shaker. Shake the tumbler until you feel it turning cold in your hand. Then strain the mixture in to the glass of ice. You can garnish The Salty Dog with any citrus fruit or cherries.

Greyhound vs Salty Dog

There are several variations to this cocktail recipe. Some people know this drink as “The Greyhound”. That usually means that they want the drink made with vodka and that they don’t want salt on the rim. Some people will specify a brand of vodka when ordering a Greyhound by saying something like “I would like an Absolut Greyhound” or “A Grey Goose Greyhound.” Others will order a “Cherry Greyhound”, which refers to the flavor of vodka you will be using to make their drinks.

If you have a friend or family member request “An Italian Greyhound” that means you should add half a shot of Campari Bitters to the tumbler. A “Fuzzy Greyhound” has 1/2 a shot of peach schnapps and club soda added to the tumbler mixture. A “Racing Greyhound” is mixed in the tumbler with at least half a can of Red Bull energy drink.

Salty Dog Recipe With Tequila

Others may want to try this salty dog drink as “The Salty Chihuahua.” This means that the customer would like tequila used instead of gin or vodka when you mix up her drink.

When you add Midori Melon Liqueur to any drink, you are giving the recipe “Balls.” Therefore, if someone wants to drink “Salty Balls” from you that means you will add a shot of Midori Melon to the tumbler. Some will also add orange juice to this recipe.

If someone wants  “a vodka and grapefruit juice” or “gin and grapefruit juice” ask her if she wants salt or sugar on the glass’s rim. You should also ask her if she wants her drink “on the rocks” or “straight up”, meaning with or without ice respectively. I have also had others request that I serve their Salty Dogs in chilled martini or wine glasses with sugared rims. Do not put ice cubes in a martini or wine glass; it causes them to tip over.

The Salty Dog cocktail is an important recipe for bartenders to know. Always serve and drink responsibly.

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