Salty Dog is a gin and grapefruit highball distinguished by salt. The salt is the garnish-like accent, so the drink does not need fruit garnish.
Lightly salt the rim of a highball glass if desired. Fill with ice, add gin and grapefruit juice, stir until cold, and serve without additional garnish.
Serve in a highball glass over ice with a light salt rim or a small pinch of salt. Do not add a grapefruit wedge.
Pair it with oysters, fried fish, chips, ceviche, or grilled shrimp.
The Salty Dog is closely related to the Greyhound, with salt creating the defining difference.
Best for brunch, aperitif service, and bright warm-weather drinking.
Grapefruit juice supplies acidity and bitterness, gin adds botanicals, and salt sharpens the citrus while softening bitterness.
Tart, bracing, salty, and clean.
Vodka can replace gin for a more neutral version.
12%
⚠️ Alcoholic beverage: not suitable for minors, pregnant individuals, or designated drivers. Please enjoy responsibly.
Start from the ingredient that shapes this recipe before moving into broader style, method or glassware lists.
Drinks where Grapefruit Juice shapes the recipe structure.
Same ingredient inside the Refreshing style.
Same ingredient prepared with the same method.
Next paths
Choose the next route by style, method, glass or ingredient.
Browse all recipes A–Z
See more from this style
Explore cocktails built the same way
Find serves in this glass
Explore drinks where Grapefruit Juice shapes the recipe.
Learn the spirits, liqueurs, and mixers in our index
