Salty Dog My Way

This Salty Dog, comprised of ruby red grapefruit and vodka, is one of my absolute favorite cocktails. It’s pretty low-cal as far as drinks go and makes such a refreshing treat on a hot afternoon. The salt on the rim of the glass, mixed with the tart fruit juice, quenches my thirst like no other. Though it’s simple to make, the key to its success is using the best possible ingredients you can find (seriously, when is that not the key?) freshly squeezed grapefruit juice, top-shelf vodka, and real sea salt.

Grapefruits are in season right now, and there is just nothing juicier than a perfectly ripened grapefruit. Lucky for me, my very close friend has a plethora of Ruby Reds growing in her yard, so she brought over a huge basket filled with glorious fruit. She also brought a delicious new vodka for me to try. Normally I’m a Kettle One girl, but I have to say, this Ultimat Vodka is my new favorite. Usually, I will top off the vodka with the juice of one fruit per glass, but my friend’s grapefruits were so juicy that for us, one fruit actually served two.

So, here is the technical recipe for this cocktail. Truthfully, though, when I make this I never measure. I just pour the vodka and count to three or four (depending on my mood — or how many Salty Dogs I’ve already had), then top the rest of the glass with the grapefruit juice.