Greyhound Cocktail

The Greyhound cocktail is a tasty tart cocktail featuring grapefruit juice and gin. Add a salted rim and make a Salty Dog! Here’s how to make it.

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. It works in any season: it can be beachy for summer, or throw in a rosemary branch and use winter citrus! This dog-themed cocktail has just a few ingredients and is easy to mix up! Alex and I love making this classic gin cocktail for entertaining. Ready to taste?

What’s in a Greyhound cocktail?

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 or vodka
• Grapefruit juice
• Simple syrup (optional)

How to make a Greyhound cocktail (3 basic steps!)

Ready to try this grapefruit cocktail? Here’s how to make it:

1. 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).
2. 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).
3. 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.

Variations on the Greyhound

There are a few drinks that are similar to the Greyhound:

• Salty Dog adds a salt rim!
• Vodka Greyhound combines vodka and grapefruit juice instead!
• Dalmatian uses vodka and black pepper syrup
• Italian Greyhound uses vodka and Campari instead of gin

Speaking of vodka and grapefruit juice…the Sea Breeze Cocktail also uses it! It combines them with cranberry juice for a brilliantly beautiful drink.

Serve it tart, or balance with a dash of sweet!

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.

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

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More classic cocktails

Here are a few more of our best cocktails you might also enjoy:

• Classic Margarita Here’s the only margarita recipe you need! Here’s how to make the very best margarita with 3 simple ingredients: lime, Cointreau and tequila—and no added sugar.
• Classic Mojito It’s perfectly balanced with lime, rum and fresh mint! This iconic Cuban cocktail is refreshing and just sweet enough.
• Tom Collins Cocktail This popular gin cocktail that’s light and bubbly! Here’s how to make this refreshing drink: and don’t forget the cherry.

Want another fruity cocktail? This Watermelon Cocktail with Gin is vibrant and refreshing, featuring sweet watermelon, lemon, mint, and gin.