A Pinch of Salt

It's long been understood by chefs and bakers that salt can enhance any dish, but salt is also a secret weapon in the world of mixology. By helping to balance and enhance cocktails in myriad ways, salt transforms cocktails by adding depth, complexity, and balance.

“Salt has been used in cooking for over 5,000 years, and just as food needs seasoning so do cocktails,” says Shannon Boudreau (The Lazy Gourmet). 

Let’s take a look at why salt is considered a magical ingredient in the world of mixology.

The science behind salt

Before we get into the creative possibilities, it's essential to understand salt’s scientific impact. Chemically known as sodium chloride, salt enhances flavors (such as citrus) by suppressing the perception of bitterness on our tastebuds and amplifying sweetness while simultaneously enhancing other taste sensations. This balancing act helps create well-rounded and harmonious flavor profiles in cocktails. Essentially, salt is the glue that holds a cocktail together.

“Salt can highlight savory notes as well as bring out flavors that might be hiding behind other components of a cocktail,” said Jamie Dodge, (Cul+ure Collective Hospitality Group) in an article for Liquor.com. 

“I don’t think salt has a place in every cocktail,” he says. “Some drinks should be left for the ingredients to speak for themselves, while others might need that little boost from saline to help showcase certain flavors.”

For example, salt can temper the sweetness in a Manhattan or Negroni, while it can amplify the fresh citrus in a daiquiri or gimlet.

Bartenders can look at salt the same way they might bitters: a few drops can go a long way toward rounding out the rough edges of a drink.

“A lot of mixologists refer to bitters as the salt and pepper of cocktails,” Boudreau says, “but I believe salt is the salt of cocktails and bitters are more like pepper—both play an important role to a balanced, delicious cocktail.”

Salt can also help to increase the flow of saliva in the mouth, which in turn will make any drink feel slightly more viscous or rich, according to an article from Serious Eats.

However, the full effect salt has on a drink really depends on the other ingredients it’s joining: citrus becomes brighter, drinks with egg white become more aromatic, and beverages topped with sparkling wine get a bit sharper, according to an article from Punch.

“I've recently been experimenting with a more cooking-oriented approach to cocktail development, where certain elements in a cocktail act as seasoning agents as opposed to full blown ingredients," said Devon Tarby (Proprietors LLC) in an article for Eater. "Simply put, salt makes ingredients taste more like themselves," she continues. "Salt isn't just for savory cocktails, either. The addition of a small amount of salt helps brighten citrus and delicate flavors like fresh herbs and light fruits, dampens bitterness, and acts as an overall bridge between powerful booze and the more subtle non-alcoholic ingredients we tend to mix it with."

Harnessing the power of salt

When incorporating salt into a cocktail, there’s several ways to approach it.

“Salt is an underutilized ingredient in most bars. Just like in food, it can really enhance and bring out the flavors of all the ingredients in a cocktail,” says Gui Jaroschy (Unfiltered Hospitality).

The finishing touch

Granulated salt can be looked at much like sugar: utilizing it in its granulated form is much more limited given the fact that liquids mix better with liquids, which is why simple syrups are most often used in cocktail recipes rather than granulated sugar.

However, granulated salt still has its place in the cocktail world. Probably the most common use of granulated salt in cocktails is to rim the glass.

“Salt rims are nothing new, but they are a great way to add texture and another dimension to a cocktail,” Jaroschy says.

The most classic example is a margarita with its salted rim, adding a contrasting savory element to the drink's tangy sweetness. The salt rim not only provides a visually appealing presentation but also introduces a subtle salty note that complements and balances the overall flavor profile.

“I was never a fan of salt on the rim until I really understood what it was there for—making flavors pop—and it also makes you want to go back for another sip faster,” said Dodge in the Liquor.com article.

While salt rims are most popular in agave spirit cocktails (such as margaritas or palomas), a rim of cocoa nib, salt, and sugar can work beautifully with a bourbon cocktail.

Beyond the classic salt rim, granulated salt can also be sprinkled over a cocktail as a finishing touch.

Bartenders have also started experimenting with salt infusions to create unique and complex flavor profiles. By infusing salts with herbs, fruits, spices, or even smoke, mixologists can impart distinct characteristics into their cocktails. For example, a smoky salt infusion can add a hint of complexity to a whiskey-based cocktail, while a citrus-infused salt can brighten up a refreshing gin and tonic.

“We enjoy making flavored salts that don't just add salinity, but also help the drink tell a story,” says Jaroschy.

Salty solutions

On the opposite end of the salty spectrum, saline solutions, sprays, and tinctures have gained popularity in the cocktail world. These solutions offer precise control over the amount of salt added to a drink, allowing for consistent results. A few drops of saline solution (made by dissolving salt in water) can work wonders, enhancing the flavors and creating a more rounded and balanced taste.

To further explore the versatility of salt in cocktails, bartenders have also begun crafting salty syrups and tinctures. These concoctions add a concentrated burst of saline goodness to drinks. Salty syrups can be made by dissolving salt in simple syrup, while tinctures are created by infusing salt into high-proof alcohol. These additions open a world of possibilities, allowing mixologists to experiment with unique flavors. 

Fat washing

Rounding out the salty cocktail styles is fat washing, a technique that adds a savory flavor to spirits. To fat-wash your alcohol, you add a liquid like sesame oil or melted butter to a spirit at room temperature. Let it sit for a few hours, then chill everything in the refrigerator or freezer until the fat solidifies and can be skimmed off or better, strained through a cheesecloth. The spirit retains the flavors of the fat even after you've done the skimming. However, be aware that certain fat-washing recipes utilize oils or ingredients that may not necessarily have saltiness, which will produce a flatter flavor profile. As such, avoid using fats such as unsalted butter or uncured bacon.

“Think of what bacon would taste like if it was not salt cured. Or eating a piece of unsalted butter, there's not much flavor,” says Boudreau, “but as soon as you add salt, it becomes a completely different product.

“So, while fat washing without salt will add a richness and creaminess to your cocktail, it won’t exactly taste like much.”

Check out the above recipes to help get your bar program in on this salty trend. 

"I think it’s important for bartenders to experiment with salt, as it might open up an entirely new dimension as to how you put together cocktails and flavor pairings that might not have looked too interesting in the past,” said Staffan Alexandersson, (The Tasting Room) in an article for Tales of the Cocktail.

Cheers!

Beechfront View

 Photo and recipe courtesy The Mushroom Council

Ingredients

1½ oz Beech Mushroom and Citrus Cordial (recipe below)
½ oz lemon juice
3 dashes of Poi Dog Chili Peppah Water
2 oz club sodaChili-lime salt rim (recipe below)

Method

Ingredients for Chili-Lime Salt Rim

½ cup Maldon salt
1 T tajin chili-lime seasoning

Method

Lightly crack Maldon salt with a spice grinder or mortar and pestle. Add one tablespoon tajin to cracked salt. Stir to incorporate and store at room temp.

Ingredients for Beech Mushroom & Citrus Cordial

8 ea. lemons, peeled
1½ cups sugar
300 g beech mushrooms
2 cups lime juice

Method

Peach Bum

Photo and recipe courtesy Shannon Boudreau, the Lazy Gourmet 

Ingredients

2 oz coconut tequila
½ oz Aperol
5 dashes pineapple bitters
½ ea. white peach
1 ea. lime
1 ea. egg white
Saline spray (recipe below)
Dehydrated pineapple for garnish

Method

Ingredients for Saline Spray

20 g sea salt
80 g warm water 

Method

Caprese Martini

Photo and recipe courtesy Shannon Boudreau, the Lazy Gourmet 

Ingredients

2 oz vodka
¼ oz dry vermouth
¼ oz rose vinegar
5 ea. cherry tomatoes (yellow or red)
6 ea. basil leaves
¼ tsp sugar
Sprinkle of sea salt
Grated parmesan cheese, for garnish

Method

The Nutty Professor

Photo and recipe courtesy Shannon Boudreau, the Lazy Gourmet

Ingredients

1 oz Peanut Butter Fat-Washed Whiskey (recipe below)
½ oz Chocolate Galliano
½ oz Amaro
½ oz Baileys Original Irish Cream
4 dashes chocolate bitters
Sprinkle of cinnamon
Generous sprinkle Maldon Sea Salt
Chocolate shavings, for garnish

Method

Ingredients for Peanut Butter Fat-Washed Whiskey

½ lb peanut butter
500 ml bourbon (or preferred whiskey)

Method