This summer we're serving up cocktails made with fresh squeezed grapefruit. It's a single ingredient that's tart, refreshing, and equally perfect for laid-back dinners as it is rowdy pool parties.
We love salty-sweet grapefruit cocktails of all kinds, and thankfully, you've got options:
- A classic Greyhound cocktail is made by shaking up 1 part vodka or gin to 3 parts grapefruit juice and serving over ice. That’s it! It’s super delicious and refreshing, especially when made with freshly squeezed grapefruit juice.
- A Salty Dog cocktail uses that same grapefruit-vodka ratio, and adds a salted rim. It’s a small touch that makes a big difference in the flavor of the final product.
- The Italian Greyhound is another lesser-known vodka grapefruit cocktail that adds Campari to the mix (YUM)
- A Sea Breeze cocktail also uses vodka and grapefruit juice, with the pretty addition of cranberry juice as well.
- And one of our favorites ever: a Paloma cocktail uses tequila or mezcal instead of vodka or gin.
This version is closest to a classic Salty Dog, but mixes up the ratios just a bit, adding a squeeze of agave syrup and some grapefruit-flavored sparkling water to top it off. I love the fizziness this provides, and it allows me to modify the drink and make a low-alcohol cocktail if I want to keep things light, without sacrificing the delicious grapefruit flavor.
Tips for the best Salty Dog cocktail
When a recipe is this simple, it’s all about the quality of your ingredients, so I highly recommend using freshly-squeezed pink grapefruit or ruby red grapefruit juice here, instead of the bottled kind. It makes a major difference, and it’s one simple step that makes this recipe feel special, despite its simplicity.
I personally love the addition of a little agave syrup in this since it balances the tart flavor of the fresh grapefruit juice. Feel free to swap in simple syrup, or omit altogether if you like your drink less sweet.
Salty Dog Cocktail
10
2
Camille Styles
Ingredients
- 6 ounces fresh grapefruit juice
- 3 ounces vodka
- Squeeze of agave
- Grapefruit sparkling water for topping off (I like Rambler)
- Kosher salt for rim of glasses
- Grapefruit slices for garnish
Instructions
- Salt the rim of 2 glasses and fill with ice (see post above for instructions).
- In a cocktail shaker filled with ice, shake up grapefruit juice, vodka, and a squeeze of agave.
- Pour cocktails into prepared glasses, top with sparkling water, and drink!
