The Easiest Greyhound Cocktail Recipe

If you love a good sour drink, this is the cocktail you were looking for. The Greyhound is a stupidly simple cocktail for those grapefruit lovers out there, or anyone who doesn’t like their drinks too sweet. So, let’s dive into this Greyhound cocktail recipe.

But first, a little backstory on the Greyhound. 

What is a Greyhound?

The Greyhound cocktail is an alcoholic drink made with gin or vodka and topped off with either canned or fresh grapefruit juice. It’s often served with a lime wheel garnish or a grapefruit garnish. 

History for the Greyhound Cocktail

The first recorded reference of this cocktail is in bartender and author Harry Craddock’s 1930 Savoy Cocktail Book. Craddock describes his recipe as “…a version of the Grapefruit Cocktail,” implying that such cocktails were already popular when his book was published. His cocktail is made up of only gin, grapefruit juice, and ice.

When vodka began gaining popularity in the United States in 1950, it gradually replaced gin in cocktails. Both spirits are commonly used in Greyhound nowadays, so try them both and discover which one you like. However, make sure to use a high-quality base spirit. 

One theory of where this drink got its name from is from the Greyhound bus company. Post House, the omnipresent restaurant franchise at the Greyhound bus terminal, served its version of this cocktail with vodka. And because the restaurants were frequented by tourists from all across the country, the vodka-spiked drink spread quickly.

What Glass is a Greyhound Served In?

This cocktail is most commonly served in a rocks glass or a highball glass. However, I have seen some variations in a Collins glass, which give the drink a nice, fine, elegant look.

Variations on the Greyhound Cocktail

Just like any cocktail, you will find many variations in its original recipe. Here are just a few. 

Salty Dog

The most famous variation of this cocktail is called The Salty Dog, which is basically the same cocktail with a salted Rim. Take a look at our Salty Dog recipe here. 

Dalmatian

The Dalmatian is a spicy spin on the classic Vodka Greyhound cocktail. The Dalmation recipe adds a kick to the acidic grapefruit classic by using black pepper syrup, with the heat of the pepper syrup producing a powerful, lingering aftertaste against the backdrop of the citrusy flavor.

What are the best spirits for a Greyhound?

With only two components, there’s no room for sloppy vodka or gin. This is especially true since there are no sugars added to mask away the flavor. Therefore we recommend using high-quality vodka or gin like Grey Goose or Hendricks. The same is true for the juice. Fresh juice always beats canned.

How to Make a Greyhound Cocktail

Below are the ingredients and directions for a Greyhound. We hope you love this cocktail as much as we do.

Conclusion

So what do you think of the Greyhound? Love it? Hate it? What would you rate it? Let us know in the comments below. Also, be sure to subscribe to our newsletter to get great cocktail recipes just like this one, straight to your inbox. Until next time, stay safe, get hammered.