Have you ever had a Salty Dog? Not to be confused with the one that jumps in the ocean (ha), this summertime sipper is made with grapefruit juice, vodka, and yes, salt. It's a zingy little drink that's pretty to boot!

Photography Credit: Nancy Mitchell

A Salty Dog is the perfect hot-weather drink: bright, citrusy, and fresh, with a little verve from the salt—basically, perfect for patio sipping. It’s like a grown-up screwdriver!

Our Favorite Videos Get Recipe »

THE INGREDIENTS FOR A SALTY DOG

If you’ve never had a Salty Dog, the ingredients might sound a little strange. Vodka, grapefruit, and salt? Really, that’s a thing? It is!

It’s so simple and unexpectedly delicious that it may become your summer go-to.

FUN FACT ABOUT THE SALT

Leave out the salt rim and you have a Greyhound, an equally nice cocktail.

I like the salt rim of the Salty Dog (the etymology here is fairly obvious) for two reasons:

It looks fancy Salt adds dimension to a drink, just as it does to a dish.

Use a salt with a large, rough grain (like kosher salt) for the best results.

A QUICK NOTE ABOUT GLASS SIZE

You’ll notice this drink doesn’t call for specific amounts of vodka and grapefruit juice. Instead, you’re instructed to fill the glass with ice, and then roughly halfway with vodka. This makes for an easy recipe (nothing to measure!), but it also means the size of your glass is especially important.

A glass around 8 to 10 ounces is good. Anything more, and you’ll probably run out of grapefruit juice, or end up drinking a truly massive amount of vodka.

WHICH VODKA TO USE

I like Tito’s, but any nice mid-range vodka will do. Since you’re mixing with grapefruit juice, there’s no need to go super-premium.

LOVE A GOOD COCKTAIL? HERE YOU GO!