This unique version of a Salty Dog cocktail uses carbonated grapefruit juice and beef jerky for garnish. Your new favorite Western Themed Cocktail has arrived.
While I was sure the drink has nothing to do with a dog, or a dog that been salted, my curiosity sent me to Google to research how the salty dog became a salty dog. Wikipedia tells us that a salty dog is a cocktail of gin or vodka and grapefruit juice served in a highball glass with a salted rim. The salt is the only difference between a Salty Dog and a Greyhound. A recipe for a similar cocktail with the name “Greyhound” appears in Harper’s magazine in 1945. “The cocktails were made of vodka, sugar, and canned grapefruit juice — a greyhound. This cocktail was served at a popular restaurant chain that was located at Greyhound bus terminals, called ‘Post House’.”
I recently dug out my cookbook “Shinin’ Times at The Fort” to browse for some western cuisine inspiration. As I was turning the pages , I really wasn’t looking for wild west drinks, but this recipe called Salty Dog with Saddle Leather caught my attention. I think it’s adorable that the saddle leather is a stick of buffalo jerky that garnishes the cocktail. The recipe in the book is simple, with canned grapefruit juice and vodka, and salt for the rim of the glass.
However, a while back I picked up some Bai Bubbles Pink Grapefruit Juice that I had yet to try. I also had some salmon colored Hawaiian Premium Red Sea Salt, in the pantry that I thought would be a nice compliment for that salty rim. The result? Delicious, sparkling fresh and fabulous. I love the true to grapefruit flavor of the Bai Bubbles product, and of course those bubbles make the cocktail a fizzy success. The Hawaiian sea salt was perfect compliment and the leather a unique conversation piece. I have included affiliate links for your convenience. Bai Bubbles has not sponsored nor compensated me for this post. I just happen to think it’s a really good product.
This cocktail has been on the menu of Denver's Famous Fort Restaurant since 1963. The "saddle leather" is a stick of buffalo or beef jerky garnishing each glass.
- 2 1/2 cups Grapefruit juice
- 6 ounces gin or vodka
- 1 tablespoon pink sea salt or regular salt
- 4 sticks buffalo or beef jerky for garnish
Dampen each glass rim and press the rims in salt. Pour all ingredients over ice cubes in 4 highball glasses. Stir well. Garnish with jerky and serve.
Carbonated Grapefruit Juice makes this a special treat.
The Fort Restaurant is a Denver landmark full of western culture, history, charm and western food. Do Rattlesnake, Quail Eggs Wrapped in Buffalo Sausage, Rocky Mountain Oysters and Bone Marrow get your attention?
For as long as I’ve lived here, (30 years) it’s been “the place” to take out-of-town guests for a taste of the Wild West. With its unique menu items and servers dressed like Kit Carson, The Fort reflects the years when trappers, settlers and Army explorers first traveled the Santa Fe Trail to our region.
Looking for more fun cocktail ideas? How about this:
Blood Orange Margarita
Salty Dog with Saddle Leather … It’s what’s for a Country Western Themed Cocktail
sue | theviewfromgreatisland says
May 17, 2017 at 9:12 pmI love a classic Salty Dog, and this one certainly piques my interest!!
Abbe@This is How I Cook says
May 18, 2017 at 5:45 pmI used to drink a lot of salty dogs but not one of them had saddle leather. That may soon have to change!
DAVID A says
August 20, 2019 at 9:29 amLooks like fun… I think I have everything which is a plus… I’ll keep ya’ll posted!
Lea Ann Brown says
August 20, 2019 at 1:10 pmHi David. Let me know what you think. It’s a fun idea for a cocktail.