How to Salt a Rim Properly: 3 Tips for Salting a Rim

There are a handful of items that can help you salt the rim of a cocktail glass.

1. 1. Glassware: Choose a glass according to your drink of choice. Popular glassware options include cocktail glasses, Margarita glasses, and pint glasses.
2. 2. Liquid: You’ll need a liquid like lemon juice, lime juice, or simple syrup on the rim of your glass to make the salt stick. If you want a flavorless liquid, water is an easy option.
3. 3. Dishware: Although some bartenders use saucers designed specifically for salt rimming, a small plate or tea saucer will work as well.
4. 4. Salt: Use kosher salt, sea salt, or celery salt for your cocktail’s salt rim. Avoid using iodized table salt, which clumps together and has an overly strong flavor.

Salting a rim on a drink is a quick process that you can learn in a few simple steps.

1. 1. Apply the liquid to your glass. Make a small slice on a lime wedge and run that slice along the rim of your glass. Alternatively, fill a small saucer with liquid and dip the entire rim of the glass into the saucer. Keep the glass upside down to avoid any liquid running down the side.
2. 2. Dip the rim of your glass in salt. Dip the entire rim of your glass into a second saucer filled with salt. If you want to avoid getting salt on the inside of the glass, hold it at a forty-five-degree angle and slowly spin the glass through the salt. Repeat this movement across the rim until you’ve salted the entire outer edge of the glass.
3. 3. Set the glass aside before pouring your cocktail. Set down your salted glass for several minutes to allow the salt to dry along the rim of your glass. Once it’s dry, carefully pour your cocktail mixture into the glass. Avoid splashing liquid onto the rim of your glass, as this will ruin the salted rim.

Consider some of the following tips to get the most out of your salted rim cocktail.

1. 1. Salt half of the rim. For those who want less salt on their cocktails, consider only salting half of the rim of the glass for variance.
2. 2. Try different liquids around the rim of your glass. The most popular liquid used for salting is citrus juice. Try mixing up the liquid by using a less popular citrus juice like grapefruit juice or a non-citrus juice like cranberry juice or pineapple juice.
3. 3. Experiment with different garnishes. Add chili powder to your salt mix for drinks like Bloody Marys and Micheladas. If you want to try a sweeter option, create a sugared rim or use sweet ingredients like cocoa powder or graham crackers.

Learn more about mixology from award-winning bartenders Lynnette Marrero and Ryan Chetiyawardana. Refine your palate, explore the world of spirits, and shake up the perfect cocktail for your next gathering with the MasterClass Annual Membership.