How to Make a Vodka and Grapefruit Greyhound Cocktail

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The Greyhound is known for its clean and crisp taste, with the tartness of the grapefruit complementing the smoothness of the vodka. This classic cocktail started out as a gin drink, but switched to vodka in the 1950's and since then has stood the test of time.

Greyhound cocktail with a grapefruit wedge in a cocktail glass — *This fun grapefruit drink is easy to make and very satisfying on a hot day or at a happy hour celebration.*

Brief history of the Greyhound Cocktail Recipe

This refreshing sipper was initially included in Harry Craddock's Savoy Cocktail Book, where it started life as a gin drink. Later, it showed up in a 1945 Harper's magazine article. However, by the 1950's American's tastes were changing and gin was no longer a popular spirit, while vodka was on the rise. Many cocktail recipes of that era began to switch out gin for vodka after the James Bond movies, because that was what Bond preferred. Having tried it different ways, I believe the vodka variation makes the best Greyhound cocktail.

This drink was served in the Post House restaurants of the Greyhound bus terminals. They used vodka, so many people became familiar with that combination and it became a popular drink in the mid century era. Can you imagine the Greyhound bus company serving trendy cocktails in their terminal restaurants back in the day? How fun!

Ingredients You'll Need for the Best Greyhound Drink

A bottle of vodka and a carafe of grapefruit juice and a glass of simple syrup on a black background

This is a simple 'duo' cocktail (two-ingredient cocktail), which are the easiest drinks to mix. However, I add a little splash of simple syrup since the intense flavor of the grapefruit juice can be overpowering. There are a few varieties of grapefruits to choose from, but I prefer the Ruby Red to mix with since it has distinct sweet flavors and adds a fun color to the drink. So here's what you'll need:

Your favorite vodka (or gin if you prefer) such as Stolichnaya, which is affordable and easily found in most grocery stores or local liquor stores
Fresh-squeezed red grapefruit juice (or pink grapefruit juice)
Simple syrup

Bar Tools Needed

Just the basics are all you need to make a Greyhound:

Mixing glass (or a cocktail shaker if you prefer)
Bar spoon
Bar knife (I like this one)
Jigger
Strainer

You'll also need a fruit juicer or squeezer to make your fresh grapefruit juice. This one works well if you cut the grapefruit into smaller pieces.

How to mix a classic Greyhound Cocktail

Since there are only a few ingredients, this simple cocktail is very easy to make. Just follow these steps.

Put a handful of fresh ice cubes into a cocktail mixing glass.
Pour in the vodka and grapefruit juice.
Add some simple syrup to take the edge off of the fresh squeezed grapefruit juice.
Stir vigorously for 30 seconds to thoroughly mix and chill the drink.
Strain into your glass and garnish with a wedge or a slice of fresh grapefruit. You can also use a lime wedge, and you can even add a sprig of fresh mint.

Tips for Success

Keep these simple things in mind and you'll enjoy a crisp, refreshingly good cocktail every time:

Always use fresh juice since the bottled brands add plenty of sugar and other sweeteners that take away the tangy taste of the fresh grapefruit juice.
Add a dash of simple syrup to balance out the tart grapefruit juice with just enough sweetness.
I recommend using equal parts grapefruit juice and vodka, but feel free to tune it to your personal tastes.

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the difference between a Grapefruit Greyhound and a Salty Dog cocktail?

The two drinks are very similar and both are great cocktails. The Salty Dog is created when you rim the glass with salt for a very interesting taste with the tart grapefruit. The salted rim is the only difference between the two drinks, but that pinch of salt gives the drink a more savory taste.

What is the best glass to drink a classic Greyhound cocktail?

This cocktail is not picky, so you can have your choice of glass. I've always been fond of serving this drink in a cocktail glass, but any tall glass will do. You can use a Collins glass or a rocks glass if you prefer. If you do use a rocks glass, add plenty of ice to keep the drink chilled while you are sipping it.

The other fun thing about the Greyhound is that there are plenty of variations to keep the cocktail as fresh as the grapefruit juice. Try some of these other modern versions with slightly different ingredients:

Salty Dog Cocktail -- The same recipe, just add some salt to the rim of the glass for this delicious variation.
Italian Greyhound Cocktail -- Keep the vodka and the grapefruit juice, just add 1 ounce of Campari.
Rosemary Greyhound Cocktail -- The same drink, just add a sprig of Rosemary as a garnish. Or, you can also make a homemade rosemary-infused simple syrup to create a rosemary greyhound cocktail.
Sparkling Greyhound -- A similar recipe, but add a splash of club soda or ginger ale for a refreshing, sparkling variation of the grapefruit cocktail.

There are plenty of refreshing drinks to beat the summer heat that you can try in addition to the Greyhound. Check out the Rum Collins, Gimlet or the Tom Collins. For another fresh fruit juice cocktail, try a Screwdriver with fresh orange juice and Vodka. If you like classic cocktails from the mid mod era, don't forget about the Old Fashioned which is the quintessential cocktail.

Before you go, did you try this cocktail? Why not leave a comment in the Comments section along with a rating? I always appreciate hearing from you and getting your feedback.