Ingredients
- 60 ml vodka good quality
- 120 ml grapefruit juice fresh, ruby or pink
- 1 wedge grapefruit optional, garnish
Instructions
- Fill a highball glass with ice.
- Pour in the vodka.
- Top with fresh grapefruit juice.
- Stir gently to combine.
- Garnish with a grapefruit wedge if desired.
Notes
Where it came from
The Greyhound first showed up in Harper’s Magazine Bartender’s Guide in 1945. Original recipes called for gin, but vodka took over in the 1950s as vodka cocktails went mainstream. Named (probably) after Greyhound bus stations, where the drink was supposedly served at lunch counters.
It became a brunch staple because grapefruit juice was a breakfast beverage and adding a shot of vodka was the Sunday-morning move. The Salty Dog version (rim the glass with salt) emerged in the 1960s as a tableside upgrade.
Why grapefruit
Grapefruit juice is sharp, bitter and bright, the only juice that matches vodka without disappearing into it. Orange juice goes too sweet (Screwdriver), cranberry goes too tart (Cape Codder), but grapefruit holds the middle and lets the vodka stay in the picture.
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Ingredient Spotlight
The bottles that make or break this drink.
The grapefruit
- Use
- Fresh ruby red or pink grapefruit, juiced
- Try
- White grapefruit for a sharper, drier drink
- Skip
- Bottled grapefruit cocktail, too sweet
The vodka
- Use
- Any clean premium vodka: Tito’s, Ketel One, Absolut
- Try
- Citron vodka for extra citrus lift
- Why
- Vodka should be neutral. The grapefruit is the star.
The salt (for Salty Dog)
- Use
- Flaky sea salt or kosher salt
- Skip
- Iodised table salt, tastes metallic
- Why
- Salt amps up the grapefruit and tones down the bitterness, like grapefruit and salt for breakfast.
What if I don't have…
Quick substitutions for when the bottle shop is closed.
Pomelo juice works (closest cousin). Orange-and-lime mix is OK but it becomes a different drink.
Gin makes the original Greyhound (and a great one). Tequila plata makes a Paloma cousin. White rum is fine.
Add a teaspoon of honey syrup or simple syrup. Don’t overdo it.
Add 2 dashes of grapefruit bitters or a splash of Campari.
Run a lime wedge round the glass rim and dip in salt before pouring.
Frequently Asked Questions
Direct answers to what people search for after Googling this drink.
What is in a Greyhound cocktail?
Just two ingredients: vodka and grapefruit juice over ice. Standard build is 60ml vodka and 120ml fresh grapefruit juice in a highball glass.
What is the difference between a Greyhound and a Salty Dog?
A Salty Dog is a Greyhound with salt around the rim of the glass. Same liquid recipe, different garnish. The salt cuts the grapefruit’s bitterness and bumps up the citrus character.
Why is it called a Greyhound?
The most cited theory is that the drink was popular at Greyhound bus station lunch counters in the 1940s. The exact origin is unclear, but the name stuck by the time it appeared in Harper’s Bartender’s Guide in 1945.
Was the original Greyhound made with gin?
Yes. Pre-1950s recipes called for gin. Vodka replaced gin as vodka cocktails dominated the post-war American bar scene. Both versions are correct, the gin one is more bracing.
Should the grapefruit juice be fresh?
Strongly yes. Fresh juice is sharper, more aromatic and less sweet than bottled. Bottled grapefruit cocktail (the sugary stuff) ruins the drink. Fresh-pressed at a juice bar or squeezed at home is the way.
How strong is a Greyhound?
About 13-15% ABV in the glass. Roughly twice as strong as a glass of wine.
Can I make a Greyhound with tequila?
Tequila plata with grapefruit juice is a Paloma cousin (a Paloma adds soda and lime). Some bars call it a “Tequila Greyhound”, others call it a “no-soda Paloma”. Both correct.
What food goes with a Greyhound?
Brunch food: eggs benedict, smoked salmon, avocado toast. Spicy Asian dishes also work, the grapefruit cuts heat.
