What Drink Has Salt Around It? From Margaritas to Micheladas

January 9, 2026 •

3 min read

The margarita, reportedly invented in the 1930s, is perhaps the most famous answer to the question, "What drink has salt around it?". Beyond this tequila-based classic, many other cocktails and beverages are famously served with a salted rim to enhance their flavor profile. This savory touch is a simple but effective technique that elevates the drinking experience, balancing sweet and sour notes while adding a pleasing textural contrast.

Quick Summary

Several popular cocktails and beverages feature a salted rim, including the classic Margarita, the grapefruit-based Salty Dog, and the savory, Mexican beer cocktail Michelada. The salt enhances other flavors, reduces bitterness, and adds a textural element to the drink. Rimming a glass is a straightforward process that can be customized with various salts and spices to complement the specific drink.

Key Points

Margarita: The most famous salt-rimmed drink, featuring tequila, orange liqueur, and lime juice.
Salty Dog: A refreshing cocktail made with gin or vodka and grapefruit juice, defined by its salted rim.
Michelada: A savory Mexican beer cocktail that uses a salt and chili powder rim.
Flavor Enhancement: Salt reduces bitterness and amplifies sweet, sour, and umami tastes in a cocktail.
Rimming Technique: Moisten the rim with citrus, then roll it in coarse salt on a plate, angling the glass to prevent salt from falling inside.
Customization: Rims can be customized with different salts, spices, and citrus zests to create unique flavor combinations.
Half-Rim Option: Rimming only half the glass provides a choice for drinkers who may not want salt in every sip.

Classic Salt-Rimmed Drinks: An Overview

While the Margarita is the most iconic, several other drinks utilize a salted rim. The technique is particularly popular with citrus-forward cocktails, where the salt can temper tartness and bring out brighter, fruitier notes.

The Margarita

The quintessential tequila cocktail, a Margarita is a mix of tequila, orange liqueur (like Cointreau or Triple Sec), and lime juice. It is almost universally served in a glass with a salt rim, which balances the sweetness of the liqueur and the sourness of the lime. Some variations include fruit-flavored Margaritas, which also benefit from the contrasting salty flavor.

The Salty Dog

This refreshing, vodka or gin-based cocktail is a variation of the Greyhound, which contains only the spirit and grapefruit juice. The Salty Dog adds a salted rim, earning its distinct name and creating a drink with a perfect harmony of tart, savory, and sweet notes. Freshly squeezed grapefruit juice is recommended for the best flavor.

The Michelada

A Michelada is a spicy and savory Mexican beer cocktail that features a complex array of ingredients, including beer, lime juice, assorted sauces (like hot sauce or Worcestershire sauce), and spices. The drink is served in a chilled glass with a rim of salt, often mixed with chili powder (Tajín) for an extra kick. There are many regional variations, with some including Clamato or soy sauce.

The Purpose and Art of the Salt Rim

There is a science and an art to adding a salted rim to a drink. The salt serves multiple sensory purposes beyond simply adding a salty flavor.

Flavor Enhancement: Salt has the ability to reduce bitterness while amplifying sweet, sour, and umami flavors on the palate. For cocktails like the Margarita, this means the lime and orange notes become more prominent, while the bite of the tequila is mellowed.
Textural Contrast: The coarse, crystalline texture of kosher or sea salt provides a satisfying crunch with every sip. This texture is a crucial part of the overall drinking experience for many imbibers.
Presentation: A perfectly rimmed glass adds visual appeal, signifying a classic cocktail is being served. A half-rim is often preferred, allowing drinkers to choose whether to get a sip of salt with their drink or not.

Comparison of Common Salt-Rimmed Drinks


Feature	Margarita	Salty Dog	Michelada
Base Spirit	Tequila	Vodka or Gin	Mexican Lager Beer
Key Flavor	Lime and Orange	Grapefruit	Spicy, Savory, and Citrus
Salt Rim	Classic coarse salt or flavored salt	Coarse salt	Salt and chili powder (e.g., Tajín)
Flavor Profile	Sweet, sour, and salty	Tart, savory, and refreshing	Spicy, tangy, and savory
Best For	Happy hour, Cinco de Mayo	Brunch, warm weather	Daytime drinking, savory pairings

How to Create the Perfect Salt Rim

Creating a professional-looking salt rim is simple with a few basic tools. The key is to keep the salt on the outside of the glass, preventing it from falling into the drink and making it overly salty.

Prep your plate: Pour coarse kosher or sea salt onto a small plate or saucer. For a spicy rim, mix in some chili powder.
Moisten the rim: Use a lime or grapefruit wedge to rub the rim's outer edge. Alternatively, a paper towel dipped in water or citrus juice can be used.
Dip the glass: Holding the glass at a 45-degree angle, gently roll the moistened rim through the salt. This coats the rim without getting excess salt on the inside.
Remove excess: Gently shake off any loose salt before pouring the drink.

There are many opportunities for creativity when it comes to rim salts. From mixing citrus zest for a brighter aroma to using smoked salt for a deeper flavor, the possibilities are vast. Some cocktail enthusiasts even add herbs like rosemary or basil to their rim salts for a more complex experience.

Conclusion

The practice of serving drinks with a salted rim is a time-honored tradition with a solid scientific basis. Whether it’s the invigorating kick of a spicy Michelada, the balanced elegance of a Margarita, or the refreshing simplicity of a Salty Dog, the salt adds a layer of complexity and enjoyment. By understanding the classic applications and learning the technique for rimming a glass, you can create a perfectly balanced and beautifully presented cocktail at home, adding a professional touch that will be appreciated with every delicious sip.

Jacobsen Salt Co. offers a variety of premium salts suitable for cocktail rims and seasoning drinks for a more elevated flavor profile.

Frequently Asked Questions

The most common drink served with a salt rim is the Margarita, a cocktail made with tequila, orange liqueur, and lime juice.

People put salt on the rim of a drink to enhance the cocktail's flavor profile. The salt lessens bitterness and heightens the perception of sweet and sour notes, adding a pleasing textural contrast.

A Salty Dog is essentially a Greyhound with a salted rim. Both drinks are made with gin or vodka and grapefruit juice, but the addition of salt gives the Salty Dog its distinct name and flavor.

Coarse kosher or sea salt is recommended for cocktail rims because the larger crystals provide a better texture and don't dissolve too quickly. Avoid using iodized table salt.

A Michelada is a Mexican beer cocktail made with beer, lime juice, assorted sauces, and spices. It is traditionally served in a salt and chili powder-rimmed glass.

Yes, many other ingredients can be used for rimming, including sugar for sweeter drinks like a Sidecar, or a mix of salt and spices like chili powder for a Michelada.

To make salt stick, you first moisten the rim of the glass with a citrus wedge (like lime or lemon), then dip the moistened rim onto a plate of salt to coat it.