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    Home » Drinks » Vodka

    Published: Mar 28, 2023 by Lisa · This post may contain affiliate links.

    Sparkling Salty Dog

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
    Multiple salty dog cocktails in low ball glasses.
    Grapefruit cocktail in low ball glass.
    Pink drink with salted rim.
    Grapefruit soda being added to salty dog.

    Bright and refreshing, this Sparkling Salty Dog is going to be your new summer go-to cocktail. This easy drink gets a double dose of grapefruit flavor with fresh grapefruit juice and sparkling grapefruit soda water. Don't forget the salted rim - it marries the sweet and tart together perfectly. Mix one up in minutes!

    Salty Dog drink in low ball glass garnished with grapefruit wedge and mint.

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    Bubbles make everything better and that is no exception with a Sparkling Salty Dog Cocktail. This cousin to the traditional Greyhound Cocktail is filled with fresh grapefruit juice and vodka, sweetened with a touch of agave, and topped with pink bubbly water. Add a salted rim, and this drink has all of the flavors to make your taste buds happy.

    The Sparkling Salty Dog is perfect for brunch, adds pizzazz to a shower, or simply makes happy hour shine. Don't take our word for it, shake one up for yourself and see what we are talking about.

    Jump to:
    • Why you'll love this recipe
    • Ingredients
    • Instructions
    • FAQs
    • Expert Tips for making the best Salty Dog
    • Substitutions and Shortcuts
    • More Great Recipes
    • Recipe
    • Substitutions and Shortcuts

    Why you'll love this recipe

    ✔︎ It's balanced! The salted rim is a game-changer in this cocktail. The salted rim, tart juice, and bubbles taste amazing together.

    ✔︎ It's elevated! This tasty drink is so easy to make but adds a special touch to brunch or happy hour.

    ✔︎ It's refreshing! Grapefruit Soda water adds bubbles to the drink which makes it bright and effervescent.

    Ingredients

    This easy drink only uses a handful of ingredients.

    Bottles of vodka, agave, grapefruit soda, a grapefruit and salt on a pink board.

    Ingredient Notes:

    Vodka: Use your favorite brand. There is no need to use "martini" quality vodka, but go a step above rail vodka for a smooth drink. 8 Degrees and Driftless Glen are a few of our favorites.

    Grapefruit Juice: Freshly squeezed juice is a must for this drink. Most bottled juices are bitter in flavor, which will make your drink bitter as well.

    Agave: Just a touch of agave adds the perfect amount of sweetness to the grapefruit juice.

    Grapefruit Soda Water: Sparkling grapefruit soda can be found with the other mixers at the store. Fevertree and Q are our favorite brands.

    Instructions

    The hardest part of making this drink is squeezing the fresh juice.

    Hand pouring vodka, grapefruit juice and agave into ice-filled mason jar.

    Fill a shaker with ice and add the vodka, fresh grapefruit juice, and agave.

    Cocktail in mason jar, hand rimming glass with grapefruit wedge and pouring cocktail into glass.

    Cover the shaker and shake until the agave is completely incorporated. Rim a glass with a grapefruit wedge and invert it on a salt filled plate. Strain the contents of the shaker into an ice-filled low ball glass and top it with sparkling grapefruit soda water.

    FAQs

    How do you make a mocktail Sparkling Salty Dog?

    This low-alcohol drink lends itself perfectly to making a mocktail. Simply omit the vodka and add more grapefruit juice and sparkling soda water. The results are delicious.

    Do I really need freshly squeezed juice?

    Grapefruits are one of the easiest citrus fruits to squeeze for juice and for this drink it is an absolute must. Bottled juice is not only more bitter from the preservatives, the color is not nearly as vibrant. The few extra minutes required to get the fresh juice are well worth it.

    How is a Salty Dog different from a Greyhound?

    A Salty Dog has a salted rim and a Greyhound does not. Although it may appear to be a small difference, the salted rim makes the drink taste entirely different. Try it for yourself and see!

    Pouring grapefruit soda into slated rim glass.

    Expert Tips for making the best Salty Dog

    ✘ Don't skip the agave. Although it is a small amount, that little bit of sweetness completely balances the cocktail.

    ✘ Use a lot of ice when you are making this drink. Cold drinks are the best drinks.

    ✘ Use quality soda water. The taste of Fevertree and Q Mixers cannot be matched. They are worth every penny and are the difference between a good cocktail and a great one.

    ✘ Use Diamond Crystal Kosher salt. It gives you the texture and the taste but isn't as salty as other brands. Yes, there is a difference in the level of sodium in salt.

    Substitutions and Shortcuts

    ▶︎ Are you a gin lover? This Sparkling Salty Dog can be made with vodka or gin and get fabulous results!

    ▶︎ We love the depth that agave gives to this drink, but simple syrup can be used as a sweetener as well. (P.S. You can make your own simple syrup at home!)

    ▶︎ Grapefruit flavored La Croix or plain club soda can be used in place of the Grapefruit Soda water if you don't have time to run to the store.

    Low ball glass filled with salty dog cocktail.

    More Great Recipes

    We love grapefruit cocktails! Check out some of our other favorite pink drinks or search through all of our vodka recipes.

    • Grapefruit Martini
    • Sparkling wine being poured into fluted glass with grapefruit juice.
      Ginger Grapefruit Mimosa
    • Grapefruit Margarita in a chili rimmed lowball glass.
      Spicy Grapefruit Margarita
    • low ball glass with salted rim filled with drink and grapefruit wedge with pitcher behind it.
      Grapefruit Aperol Cocktails
    
    
    Did you make this recipe? We'd love to hear your thoughts! 
    
    Please rate the recipe and leave a comment below. Your feedback helps us and your fellow readers! 
    
    
    

    Recipe

    Salty Dog in low ball glass.

    Sparkling Salty Dog

    Garnish With Lemon
    Bubbles make this citrus-flavored Salty Dog bright and refreshing!
    5 from 3 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 5 minutes mins
    Total Time 5 minutes mins
    Course Drinks
    Cuisine American
    Servings 1 drink
    Calories 168 kcal
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Equipment

    • Mini Measuring Beaker Set
    • Cocktail Shaker
    • Low Ball Glasses
    • Citrus Juicer

    Ingredients
      

    • 1½ ounces Vodka
    • 2 ounces Grapefruit Juice
    • ½ ounce Agave
    • 2 ounces Sparkling Grapefruit Soda Water
    • Kosher Salt
    • Grapefruit Wedges

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    Instructions
     

    • Pour kosher salt on a small plate. Rim a low ball glass with the grapefruit wedge and invert glass on salt filled plate.
      Kosher Salt, Grapefruit Wedges
    • Fill a shaker with ice and add vodka, fresh grapefruit juice, and agave. Shake vigorously to combine. Shake until agave is completely incorporated in drink.
      1½ ounces Vodka, 2 ounces Grapefruit Juice, ½ ounce Agave
    • Fill salt rimmed glass with ice and strain contents of shaker into glass. Top with Sparkling Grapefruit Soda water and stir to combine.
    • Garnish drink with a grapefruit wedge and serve.

    Notes

    Ingredient Notes:
    • Vodka: Use your favorite brand. There is no need to use "martini" quality vodka, but go a step above rail vodka for a smooth drink. 8 Degrees and Driftless Glen are a few of our favorites.
    • Grapefruit Juice: Fresh is a must for this drink, bottled juice is bitter in flavor and will make your drink bitter as well. This inexpensive citrus juicer makes squeezing your own juice easy. 
    • Agave: Just a touch of agave adds the perfect amount of sweetness to the grapefruit juice.
    • Grapefruit Soda Water: Sparkling Grapefruit juice can be found with the other mixers at the store. Fever tree and Q are our favorite brands.

    Substitutions and Shortcuts

    ▶︎ Are you a gin lover? This Sparkling Salty Dog can be made with vodka or gin and get fabulous results!
    ▶︎ We love the depth that agave gives to this drink, but simple syrup can be used as a sweetener as well.
    ▶︎Grapefruit flavored La Croix or plain club soda can be used in place of the Grapefruit Soda water if you don't have time to run to the store.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 6ouncesCalories: 168kcalCarbohydrates: 17gProtein: 0.4gFat: 0.1gSodium: 14mgPotassium: 94mgFiber: 0.1gSugar: 16gVitamin A: 4IUVitamin C: 18mgCalcium: 8mgIron: 0.3mg

    Nutrition info not guaranteed to be accurate.

    Did you make this recipe?Tag us on Instagram or leave a comment!
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    About Lisa

    Hi, I’m Lisa! Looking for the party? It’s probably at my house. Nothing brings me more joy than sharing good food with friends and family. That and a seriously good cocktail.

    Reader Interactions

    5 from 3 votes (3 ratings without comment)

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    MEET LISA AND ANNA

    We're the creative juices behind Garnish with Lemon. In the past 10 years, millions of people have sipped & snacked on our recipes. Need easy, delicious party food and drinks for your next shindig? You’ve come to the right place.

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