Salty Dog Cocktail

This Salty Dog cocktail is the taste of summer! It’s a fun twist on the Greyhound with vibrant grapefruit flavors.

Amazing Salty Dog Cocktail

The flavors of summertime breezes, ocean views, and palm trees waving above you are captured in this colorful cocktail. I still think that a classic margarita is one of my favorite summer drinks, but this Salty Dog comes in a very close second.

The two drinks are a lot alike! Both of them have salt-rimmed glasses and use tequila. Salty Dogs are usually made with vodka and gin, but I much prefer blanco tequila. I think it works perfectly in this sweet drink.

I used a sugar substitute instead of a simple syrup to keep it healthier and lower in sugar. It is easier on your blood sugar too.

Even if you aren’t sure whether you like the taste of grapefruit, you have to try this drink. It is so sweet that you can’t even tell how strong it is – and the grapefruit flavors are bright with a citrus zing.

Whenever I am hosting a party, I like to make Salty Dogs along with margaritas and see which one people like more. People love this drink and I’m sure you will too!

Ingredients Needed

This is a very simple drink recipe with a fun twist. I used tequila and kept it the star of the show without adding a second kind of liquor – but you can make it as strong as you like!

Here’s a bit more about what I used when I made two Salty Dogs:

• Blanco tequila: Use your favorite kind of tequila, which is always the base of a good mixed drink. I used 4.5 ounces of Blanco tequila, but any type of white tequila is perfect. Adjust that to make it as strong or mild as you want.
• Sweetener: Add 10 drops of your favorite liquid sweetener, like Stevia. If you don’t mind the sugar, you can use 1 tablespoon of simple syrup or agave.
• Fresh grapefruit juice: Use double the same amount of grapefruit juice as you did tequila. So for this recipe use 8 ounces of grapefruit juice.
• Club soda or lime club soda: I like my Salty Dogs to have a bubbly taste, so I always add a little bit of club soda. If you want to enhance the lime flavors, use lime club soda instead!
• Margarita salt: Rim the glass with either margarita salt or some fine-ground sea salt.
• Grapefruit slices: Garnish your glasses with some fresh grapefruit slices too.
• Ice: Don’t forget to have some ice ready! This is super important for a refreshing party-ready cocktail.

Kitchen Tools Required

If you have ever made a mixed drink before, then you probably already have everything you need.

Gather the following items before you begin:

• Cocktail glasses
• Sharp knife
• Cocktail shaker
• Shot glasses (for measuring)

How To Make A Salty Dog

Become your own favorite mixologist! This is one of the easiest drinks you will ever make.

Using a sliced wedge of grapefruit, wet the rim of each glass and dip it into salt. Add ice into the glasses until they are full.

In a shaker, add tequila, grapefruit juice, and sweetener. Add 1 cup of ice. Shake the shaker.

Pour it evenly into glasses and top the rest of the glasses with club soda. Stir it gently. Garnish with a grapefruit slice.

Enjoy!

Below are some common questions people have about how to make salty dog cocktails. Don’t see the answer you’re looking for? Leave a comment at the bottom of this post!

Why is it called a salty dog?

This drink is actually modified from another dog-sounding cocktail, the Greyhound. A Greyhound drink is basically gin or vodka with grapefruit juice.

A Salty Dog has some of the same ingredients, but it is sweeter and is served in a glass with margarita salt around the rim. It is called a Salty Dog because it has the same ingredients as a Greyhound (a type of dog) but with salt around the rim.

There are a lot of different versions of Salty Dog cocktails out there. Some are sweetened with syrup, others are not. The Greyhound is not sweetened. It is just vodka or gin with ice and grapefruit juice.

What type of alcohol is usually in a salty dog?

Usually, salty dogs are made with either vodka or gin, or a combination of both. I made my Salty Dog with white tequila and the result is incredible! It has a margarita flair that you’ll fall in love with.

When are grapefruits in season?

You can find grapefruit at the grocery store all year long, but the best ones are grown in Florida in Texas. Florida and Texas grapefruit season is from November to June.

How do you make a non-alcoholic Salty Dog?

It’s pretty easy to make a virgin Salty Dog. Just combine grapefruit juice, the sweetener of your choice, and your favorite sparkling water. You can even serve it in a cup with a salted rim and garnish it with a fresh slice of grapefruit.

What is the easiest way to rim a glass with margarita salt?

The easiest way to add salt to a glass is to add salt to a plate. Then, run a lime wedge around the rim of the cup. Finally, rub the cup into the salt. The salt will stick to the cup and it will have a delicious lime flavor.

Can I prepare this cocktail ahead of time?

If you want to make this tequila Salty Dog ahead of time, I suggest making 8 servings of it and storing it in a pitcher with a lid in the refrigerator. Most glass or plastic pitchers hold 2 quarts of liquid, which is about 8 cups.

My recipe in the recipe card will give you 2 cups, so just use 4 times the amounts on the card.

The cocktail will stay fresh in the refrigerator for a week. When you are ready to serve it, rim the glass with salt, add some ice, and pour.

If you liked this recipe, you’ll want to try these!

Here are some more of my favorite mixed drink recipes to make. Enjoy!

• Bourbon Apple Cider Cocktail
• Easy White Sangria Recipe
• Healthy Pina Colada
• Easy Watermelon Margarita
• Watermelon Kombucha Cocktail

Photos by Moriah Sawtelle and recipe by Erin Antoniak.