Greyhound Cocktail Recipe

The Greyhound cocktail is a classic cocktail recipe made with vodka and grapefruit juice – simple and refreshing!

The Greyhound Cocktail

The Greyhound is a classic cocktail recipe with two ingredients: vodka and grapefruit juice. Tart and refreshing, it is has been a favorite and a cocktail bar staple for almost a century.

How Did The Drink Greyhound Drink Get Its Name?

Believe it or not, the Greyhound cocktail is likely named after the Greyhound bus lines. A 1945 article in Harpar’s Magazine printed a recipe consisting of vodka, sugar, and canned grapefruit juice that was dubbed “The Greyhound.” Supposedly, the drink was based on an offering at the Post House restaurant chain located in many Greyhound bus terminals. Over time, the drink became quite popular and the name stuck!

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 ounces Vodka
• 4-6 ounces Grapefruit Juice

Optional Garnish Ideas

• Lime wedge
• Sprig of fresh rosemary

Helpful Bartending Tools

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• Cocktail Jigger (for measuring liquor amounts)
• Boston Cocktail Shaker Set (contains shakers, jigger, strainer)
• Bar Spoon (traditional tool for stirring cocktails)

This recipe is intended for readers 21+

Instructions

1. Fill a cocktail glass with ice cubes.
2. Pour in the vodka.
3. Top the glass off with grapefruit juice.
4. Garnish with a lime wheel or fresh rosemary sprig.

Prep Tips

• Liquor – While the greyhound today is typically made with vodka, it can also be made with gin. In fact, vodka was not a very common spirit in the early 1900s, so this cocktail was probably made with gin back then.
• Sweetness – This is a tart drink, due to the flavor of the grapefruit juice. If you’d like to take the edge off a little bit and make a sweeter drink, you can add sugar or simple syrup to taste. If adding a sweetener, I recommend building the drink in a cocktail shaker and shaking to mix everything.
• Variations – The Greyhound cocktail can be made with a splash of club soda, or even lemon-lime soda, to make it a slightly fizzy drink and lighten the intense tartness of the grapefruit juice. You can also serve this drink with a salted rim on the glass, usually called a “Salty Dog” cocktail.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Is The Difference Between A Paloma And A Greyhound?

The Greyhound and Paloma are two very similar cocktails made with grapefruit juice. The primary difference between the two is the type of alcohol used. Whereas a Greyhound is made with vodka, the Paloma is made with tequila. A Paloma often includes a splash of club soda or lemon-lime soda (though you can also add one of these to a Greyhound as well).

Related: Try our Paloma Cocktail Recipe here!

What Is A Salty Dog?

The Salty Dog cocktail is simply a Greyhound served with a salted rim, like you’d find on a margarita. At the turn of the 20th century, many spirits were not great quality, so salt or sugar were used to improve the overall flavor of the drink.

More Classic Vodka Cocktails

• Bay Breeze Cocktail
• Woo Woo Shot Recipe
• Screwdriver Cocktail
• Sex on the Beach Cocktail
• Moscow Mule

Greyhound Cocktail Recipe (Printable Recipe Card)

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Paloma Recipe