Cocktail Saline
Bar Prep • mix
Description
Cocktail saline is a lightly concentrated salt solution used to season and enhance depth, mouthfeel, and savory balance in cocktails. It brightens flavors like citrus and sweet, and can round tannins in spirit-forward drinks without adding perceptible saltiness when used sparingly.
History
Saline as a cocktail ingredient became popular among modern bartenders in the 2000s–2010s as a way to add umami/savory lift to drinks without altering sweetness or acidity. It’s now a common bar prep for both classic and contemporary cocktails.
Instructions
Step 1.
1. Ingredients: 1 cup (240 ml) filtered or distilled water, 1 tablespoon (about 15–18 g) fine sea salt or fine kosher salt (use table salt sparingly due to iodization/anti-caking agents).
Step 2.
2. Heat the water in a small saucepan until it’s very warm but not necessarily boiling (about 70–85°C / 160–185°F) — heating helps dissolve the salt completely and makes sterilization easier.
Step 3.
3. Remove from heat and add the salt. Stir until completely dissolved and the solution is clear.
Step 4.
4. Let cool to room temperature. Optional: strain through a fine mesh or coffee filter into a clean container to remove any undissolved solids.
Step 5.
5. Transfer to a sanitized dropper bottle or airtight glass bottle for easy dosing. Label with date made.
Step 6.
6. Use 1–4 drops per cocktail to start; adjust to taste. When scaling, keep the same salt-to-water ratio.
Storage
Keep refrigerated in a clean, airtight glass bottle. Shake or invert before each use. Discard if the solution becomes cloudy, develops an off odor, or after the shelf life. For longer storage or commercial use, prepare smaller batches or use sterile techniques.