Salt is an essential ingredient in kitchens across the world. When added to food, the mineral can enhance the flavors and textures of other ingredients, making dishes taste richer, bolder, and just flat-out better. So, why would it be any different when it comes to cocktails? While the concept of a salted drink might evoke memories of overly brined Dirty Martinis, adding a hint of salt to your cocktail shaker can bring balance and even cut down the amount of sweetener you need.
To learn more about the importance of salting cocktails and which drinks can benefit from it, we tapped Trey Sanford, bar manager at Anchorage, Alaska’s South Restaurant + Coffeehouse.
As Sanford explains, most cocktails — even the classics — can benefit from a pinch or two of the stuff, as it dulls volatile compounds like citric acid while helping to enhance flavor. In his experience, he’s found that cocktails made with salt tend to need less sweetener and can achieve more balance than their non-salted counterparts. While salt is most often incorporated into sour cocktails, Sanford argues that it should be used in more spirit-forward builds.
“Whether it’s a few dashes of saline solution in a Whiskey Sour, a pinch of smoked salt in an Old Fashioned, or flaky sea salt in a Gin & Tonic with cucumber and pink peppercorn, most of your classics can benefit from the flavor enhancement,” he says. “In fact, I can’t think of a single drink that wouldn’t benefit from it.”
