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A glass of pink cocktail with ice, garnished with a grapefruit slice, a sprig of thyme, and a salted rim. Another similar drink is in the background.
Kristen Stevens

Salty Dog Cocktail (with vodka or gin)

A Salty Dog made with fresh grapefruit juice and vodka or gin, finished with a salted rim. It’s crisp, simple, and refreshing.
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Prep Time 5 minutes
Total Time 5 minutes
Servings: 1 cocktail
Course: Cocktail
Cuisine: American

Ingredients
  

  • Salt for the rim
  • 2 ounces gin or vodka see notes
  • 4 ounces grapefruit juice
  • Grapefruit wedge and fresh thyme to serve

Method
 

  1. Wet the rim of a glass by running a cut piece of grapefruit (or another citrus) along it, then dip the wet rim into salt. Fill the glass with ice.
    Salt
    A top-down view of a clear glass filled with small ice cubes, sitting on a white surface.
  2. Pour the gin or vodka into the glass, then top with grapefruit juice. Garnish with a grapefruit wedge and some fresh herbs - we especially like using thyme.
    2 ounces gin or vodka, 4 ounces grapefruit juice, Grapefruit wedge and fresh thyme
    A glass with a salted rim, filled with ice, a pink beverage, a grapefruit slice, and garnished with a small sprig of flowers and herbs.

Notes

Traditionally, a salty dog is served in a tall glass. The amounts listed in the recipe will fit, with ice, into a 10-ounce highball glass. But when I want a low-alcohol cocktail, I'll use a rocks glass, one ounce of alcohol, and two ounces of grapefruit juice; it's how you see the cocktail served in the pictures.
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