Have you ever ordered a drink just because of the name? It’s hard to resist, say, a “Salty Chihuahua,” when you’re the proud owner of a real-life salty Chihuahua. Here are nine cocktails with adorable, dog-inspired names and the recipes so you can make them at home. A note for clarity: these cocktails are named for dogs but should be consumed by adult humans.
1. The Pink Poodle
The Pink Poodle looks and tastes sweet. Garnish it with fruit if you’re feeling fancy, like a poodle at a creative grooming competition.
- Vanilla vodka
- lemon-lime soda
- a splash of grenadine
2. The Bloodhound
This savoury cocktail was popular in London in the 1920s. Did it get its name for looking like a bloodhound, or just for being English like one? You can crush the strawberries and add them in or use them as a garnish.
- Equal parts gin, sweet vermouth, and dry vermouth
- 2 or 3 strawberries
3. The Great Dane
Like the dog it’s named for, this drink is too big for just one recipe. It’s even-tempered and mellow—like the breed (which helps to make Great Danes popular apartment dogs!).
- 50ml gin
- 25ml cherry brandy
- 1tbsp dry vermouth
- 1 tsp. kirsch
OR
- 25ml aquavit
- 1tbsp cherry brandy
- 1tbsp orange bitters
- splash of cranberry juice
4. The Salty Chihuahua
From the biggest dog to the smallest! Make no mistake, this drink has a lot of personality. Skip the salt to make it a standard Chihuahua, but who doesn’t love a salty one?
- Tequila
- Grapefruit juice
- A dash of salt
5. The Bulldog Smash
This fruity take on a Whiskey Smash is on the advanced side. Muddle the peach, lemon, syrup, and mint together, then add the bourbon and Cointreau. Strain it and serve over crushed ice. If you’re not in the mood to smash, you can make a drink called the Bulldog, which is just gin, orange juice, and ginger ale.
- 50ml bourbon
- 1 ½ Tbsp Cointreau
- 1/2 a peach, pitted
- 1/2 a lemon
- 1 tsp sugar cane syrup
- 6 to 8 mint leaves
6. The Pit Bull
Not to be confused with The Pitbull, which is just a shot of Fireball, taken after shouting, “Mr. Worldwide!”
- 25 ml Vodka
- 1 Tbsp Lime juice
- 1 Tbsp Grapefruit juice
- Lemon-lime soda
- Grapefruit garnish
7. The French Bulldog
This drink gets its name from the combination of Bulldog gin and French ingredients like crème de cassis and elderflower (so French, right?) But it is also a little high-maintenance like its dog counterpart. Also like its dog counterpart, it takes a little shaking and straining.
- 100 ml Bulldog Gin
- 25 ml elderflower syrup
- 1 ½ Tbsp simple syrup
- 1 Tbsp crème de cassis
- 2-3 sage leaves
8. The Asta Collins
This refreshing drink is a take on the Astor Martini, named after Asta, the dog in The Thin Man. Asta is a real booze hound in this classic film so it’s appropriate that she have a cocktail named for her.
- 50ml vodka
- 1 Tbsp lime juice
- 25ml grapefruit juice
- 1 Tbsp simple syrup
- 1 Tbsp campari
- Soda water
9. The Pomeranian
Bouncy and bright, this sassy cocktail has as much attitude as its namesake. Whether you add more fruit flavours or keep it simple with grapefruit and pomegranate, this drink is a ball of fun. Garnish it with a sprig of mint to keep it fresh.
- 40 ml pomegranate vodka
- 50 ml grapefruit juice
- 1 Tbsp honey
OR
- 50 ml white rum
- 25 ml pomegranate juice
- 1 Tbsp triple sec
- 1 Tbsp fresh lemon juice
- 1 Tsp grapefruit juice
Bonus: The Greyhound
It wouldn’t be a dog-inspired cocktail list without the Greyhound. This could very well be the drink that started them all, as it’s just liquor and grapefruit juice—and almost all of these drinks have grapefruit juice in them. Make one at a house party, or take one on the Greyhound bus (no, wait, don’t!)
- Vodka or gin
- Grapefruit juice
If any of these delicious cocktails take your fancy, maybe next time you are at your local dog-friendly pub you could try ordering one. Rover is sniffing out the best dog-friendly pub in the UK. If you think your local stands out from the crowd when it comes to welcoming our four-legged friends, vote for them at pubs.rover.com
