Greyhound Cocktail

My Greyhound Cocktail is a quick and easy drink recipe complete with simple twists on the original recipe. It's a perfect summer recipe or when grapefruits are at their peak. This recipe works with vodka or gin.

There are certain cocktails that are classics. But time has treated some cocktails better than others. Personally, I've owned about a dozen drink books. And I've donated them. As appealing as those cocktails looked, the ingredient lists involved tons of obscure ingredients that I would have no other purpose for.

As far as what gets posted here, if it isn't accessible, then I won't post it. Or I'll just sub things out with something that is accessible. But with this cocktail, you can easily buy grapefruit juice of just squeeze a couple yourself.

Once you try this, you'll understand why this drink is a classic.

How Did the Greyhound Cocktail Get Its Name?

While the original inventor of the Greyhound Cocktail is lost to time, all we can do is go back to older recipe books to find mentions and references. The earliest references to this drink date back to a cocktail book called the Savoy Cocktail Book which was published in 1930.

By 1945 Harper's Magazine published a similar recipe with one major swap: they used vodka instead of gin. They called it a Greyhound in honor of a chain of restaurants that served this drink. And in case you guessed it, that chain was owned by the bus company of the same name: Greyhound.

What's in a Greyhound Cocktail?

Originally, a Greyhound Cocktail only contained ice, grapefruit juice, and gin. Later variations included sugar. Simple syrup can also be used as it combines nicely with the liquids in this drink.

Prior to 1945, most classic cocktails were made with gin. However, there has been a huge shift to vodka since the 1960s. In fact today, vodka now accounts for 25% of all spirits sold in America.

So I leave this to you, if you prefer gin or vodka, both are technically correct and yield a delicious drink. The end result will be slightly different:

A gin-based Greyhound will highlight the flavor of juniper and other botanicals that are in each different brand of gin.

A vodka-based Greyhound will be more consistent every time as vodka must be odorless, colorless, and neutral in taste.

Tips on Making A Greyhound Cocktail

Here are my best tips for making this cocktail:

• Always use good quality ice
• Freshly squeezed grapefruit juice is best, but if you need to substitute 100% grapefruit juice that is ok too BUT depending on the brand it may throw off the sweetness as some grapefruit juices are labeled as 100% juice but aren't 100% grapefruit juice
• Much like eating grapefruit, you may wish to add some simple syrup to balance out the tart flavors in grapefruit
• This cocktail can be made with either vodka or gin
• Garnish is optional, but rosemary, an orange, lemon, lime wedge, or a slice of grapefruit all make for visually appealing garnishes
• This is a poured cocktail. In other words, you'll need no special equipment to make this, however, if you prefer your cocktail served up and without ice, then mix everything in a cocktail shaker and strain it into a glass

Watch Me Make This (32 Seconds)

Variations

Most cocktail recipes are super closely related to one another. The following drinks are related to the Greyhound cocktail with minor variations:

• Salty Dog uses a salted rim
• The Dalmatian uses black pepper syrup and vodka
• The Italian Greyhound uses Campari and vodka in place of gin and yields a pink-hued cocktail
• The Paloma is made with tequila instead of gin or vodka but uses grapefruit soda
• A Sea Breeze is vodka, cranberry, and grapefruit juice

Up or on the Rocks?

Both are totally acceptable so if you like ice in your glass serve this in a rocks glass. If you prefer your cocktail up, then put everything in a shaker with ice and then pour it into a glass.

Step by Step Directions

Step 1: In a glass filled with ice pour either vodka or gin (your preference, same amount) over the ice.

Step 2: Add grapefruit juice and simple syrup (optional depending on the sweetness of the fruit juice).

Step 3: Stir to combine, garnish, and enjoy responsibly!

I hope you enjoy this Greyhound Cocktail!

If you try this, would you mind hitting the “Rate” button? I’d love to know what you thought of it. If you modified the original recipe here, please let me know how it turned out. I love comments!

If you’ve tried this Greyhound Cocktail or any other recipe on the blog, I’d love the hear what you thought about it in the comments below. I love hearing from you! You can also FOLLOW ME on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Pinterest to see what I’m up to.

Other Vodka Based Cocktails You Might Enjoy on This Blog

Electric Lemonade

Chocolate Martini

Red Russian

Vodka Gimlet