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The Greyhound cocktail is a sweet tart drink starring gin and fresh grapefruit juice. Here’s the classic recipe, and how to make it into a Salty Dog.
Here’s a refreshingly tart drink: the Greyhound cocktail! It’s citrusy and light, perfect as a brunch drink or for sipping at happy hour. I love that it works in any season: it can be beachy for summer, or throw in a rosemary branch and use winter citrus!
This classic drink has just a few ingredients and is easy to mix up! Alex and I love making this classic gin cocktail for parties because it’s so quick to mix up in a highball glass to order.
Greyhound Cocktail Ingredients
The birth of the Greyhound cocktail was between the 1900’s and 1930’s. The original drink was made with gin, but over time a vodka variation was born.
Why is it called a Greyhound cocktail? It’s named after the bus company of the same name! It was served as a popular restaurant in Greyhound bus terminals called “Post House” (source). What’s in the drink?
- Gin: I like using a dry gin like Tanqueray or Malfy Originale here, which adds juniper and botanical flavor notes without too much floral. Vodka makes a cleaner
- Fresh grapefruit juice. Freshly squeezed juice is key here. One large grapefruit yields about ¾ cup of juice, or two cocktails’ worth (so find a friend to drink it with!).
- Simple syrup: I like to sweeten this drink just a hint to make the flavors pop. If you like very tart flavors, you can also skip it.
How To Make A Greyhound Cocktail
Ready to try this grapefruit cocktail? Here’s how to make it:
- Add ice to a glass. If you want to get fancy, try making our Clear Ice in advance (it’s what’s shown in the photos here).
- Shake in a cocktail shaker. Take that gin and grapefruit juice and shake it together in a cocktail shaker with 4 ice cubes. In this recipe we add 1 dash simple syrup or maple syrup, which rounds out the flavor (otherwise it’s very tart).
- Strain into a glass and add ice. Strain the drink into the glass and add ice. Garnish with a grapefruit wedge! If desired, add a fresh rosemary as another garnish.
Tart Or Balanced? A Note On Sweetness
The official definition of the Greyhound cocktail does not include sweetness. As a rule, Alex and I prefer drinks that are very tart. But with this one, we felt it needed just a little sweetness to balance it. Often we use a little drizzle of maple syrup into the drink: we always have it onhand, and it adds a nice complexity of flavor. (It doesn’t taste like maple: promise!) Or you can make your own simple syrup.
Greyhound Variations Worth Trying
There are a few drinks that are similar to the Greyhound:
- Salty Dog: This drink is the same, but adds a salt rim.
- Vodka Greyhound: Uses vodka and grapefruit juice instead for a milder drink.
- Dalmatian: This drink uses vodka and black pepper syrup so there are little spots in the drink.
- Italian Greyhound: add a half ounce of Campari or Aperol for a bitter version (similar to the Garibaldi).
Speaking of vodka and grapefruit juice, the Sea Breeze Cocktail also uses it! It combines them with cranberry juice for a brilliantly beautiful drink.
When To Serve a Greyhound Cocktail
The Greyhound cocktail is refreshing and tart; it’s perfect as a:
- Happy hour drink
- Dinner party drink
- Brunch drink (Mother’s Day, etc)
- Bridal shower drink or bachelorette party drink
- Girls night drink
- Summer drink
Greyhound Cocktail Recipe
The Greyhound cocktail is a sweet tart drink starring gin and fresh grapefruit juice. Here’s the classic recipe, and how to make it into a Salty Dog.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 5 minutes
- Yield: 1 drink 1x
- Category: Drinks
- Method: Shaken
- Cuisine: Cocktails
Ingredients
- 1 ½ ounces (3 tablespoons) gin (or vodka for a Vodka Greyhound)
- 3 ounces (6 tablespoons) fresh squeezed grapefruit juice
- 1 teaspoon simple syrup or maple syrup, optional
- For the garnish: Grapefruit wedge and rosemary (optional)
Instructions
- Fill a glass with ice.
- Place the gin, grapefruit juice, and syrup in a cocktail shaker with 4 ice cubes and shake until cold.
- Strain it into the glass. Garnish with a grapefruit wedge and rosemary branch (if desired).
