Salty Dog Cocktail with Drink Syrups

The old fashioned cocktail called a Salty Dog is simple to make.   The saltiness of the rim mixed with the sweetness and tang of the grapefruit juice just makes it a totally delightful spring cocktail.  To enhance this drink even further add a dash of cinnamon vanilla infused simple syrup. Refreshing porch cocktail on a Spring day (like Earth Day or Mother’s Day)!

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Using Drink Syrups in Cocktails

The recipe below is for a classic salty dog cocktail. You can enhance the flavor even further if you want to try your hand at a shrub syrup or simple syrup made with fresh grapefruit.

Or try this homemade sour mix using fresh citrus juices to customize your drink syrup, whether you like grapefruit or prefer just lemon and lime juices.

DIY Shrub Syrups or Simple Syrups

Fruit shrub syrups are essentially simple syrups with infused fruit and added vinegar. They can add a depth and complexity that you might not get with a simple syrup and they are, of course, less sweet.  

Mixology is the art of making cocktails with unique flavors and additions and is actually similar to baking.  The core ingredients are always there in varying ratios and then you can get creative with flavor enhancement around this core.

Details around making your own shrub syrups or simple syrups can be found in this tutorial on mixology.

Recipe for a Salty Dog Cocktail

Salty Dog Cocktail

A refreshing citrus based cocktail (or mocktail). Make the classic with plain grapefruit juice, or use a citrus infused drink syrup to customize the flavor.

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Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 0 minutes mins

Servings 1

Calories 134

Author Dorothy Stainbrook

Equipment

• Cocktail Shaker
• Highball glass
• Small plate for rimming glass

Ingredients

1x2x3x

• small plate of kosher salt for rimming the glass
• 1 ½ oz vodka or gin
• 3 oz. grapefruit juice see notes for enhancment with syrups
• 2 oz sparkling water Optional

Instructions

 

• Use a lemon or lime wedge to wet the rim of a highball glass. Then dip the rim in the plate of salt.
  small plate of kosher salt for rimming the glass
• Add the vodka (or gin) and grapefruit juice to a shaker. Stir, don't shake. Pour over ice in the highball glass.
  1 1/2 oz vodka or gin, 3 oz. grapefruit juice
• Top off with some sparkling water (optional). Garnish with a grapefruit slice.
  2 oz sparkling water

Notes

Infusing drink syrups can be done as a simple syrup or a shrub syrup and here are some details on how to make your own drink syrups.

Infusions that would work well with a salty dog:

• infuse with cardamom 
• Infuse a simple syrup with cinnamon and vanilla for the sweetener
• Use a homemade sour syrup
• 2 oz Grapefruit Cardamom Shrub Syrup

Nutrition

Calories: 134kcalCarbohydrates: 9gProtein: 1gFat: 1gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 1gSodium: 12mgPotassium: 116mgFiber: 1gSugar: 6gVitamin A: 978IUVitamin C: 27mgCalcium: 22mgIron: 1mg

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