Salty Dog

Salt makes pretty much any drink taste better. Case in point: the Salty Dog. Requiring just freshly squeezed grapefruit juice and vodka or gin, this classic cocktail is the low-maintenance drink of summer. The one nonnegotiable (other than the spirit and the juice) is the salt-rimmed glass. It’s the distinguishing factor between a Salty Dog cocktail recipe and a Greyhound cocktail recipe.

To make the salt garnish stick, run a wedge of lemon (a grapefruit slice works too) around the outside rim of the glass before rolling it in salt (kosher salt or sea salt works here; don’t use table salt, which can have bitter notes). The salt can go halfway around the rim or cover the whole circumference, that’s up to you. Next add your ice, vodka, and juice and stir to combine. If you like your drinks on the sweeter side, you can add a drizzle of simple syrup, but the beauty of this drink is its refreshing bite.

Serve this easy cocktail in any glass you’ve got around (an old-fashioned glass, wine glass, or highball glass all work), or pack it up in a thermos and cart it to a brunch at the beach.