Greyhound: Easy 2-Ingredient Summer Cocktail

Follow this easy Greyhound cocktail recipe and craft the 2-ingredient cocktail at home in just a few minutes. It's simultaneously refreshing and tart - a winning combination.

Greyhound CocktailPhoto by2foodtrippers

The word greyhound evokes different reactions from different people.

When they hear the word, some think of the famous racing dog. Others have traumatic flashbacks involving barebones bus rides between American cities. A few start craving refreshing cocktails.

What Is the Greyhound Cocktail?

The Greyhound is a refreshing cocktail that's crafted with just two ingredients. The first ingredient is either gin or vodka. The second ingredient is freshly squeezed grapefruit juice.

It's a simple cocktail to be sure. It's also pink, tart and ideal for summertime sipping.

History of the Greyhound Cocktail

While the Greyhound's recipe is simple, it's history is a bit of a mystery.

Some cocktail historians credit the recipe to Harry Craddock, a British bartender who created the White Lady and Corpse Reviver No. 2. He included a grapefruit cocktail recipe in his iconic The Savoy Cocktail Club Book which he published in 1930. However, that sour cocktail recipe, which included gin and grapefruit juice, wasn't yet called a Greyhound.

While it's unclear who coined the Greyhound name, history reveals that it showed up in the Harper's Bazaar magazine a decade later. Also at that time and probably not a coincidence, the Greyhound was the drink of choice at Post House restaurants operated by the Greyhound bus company.

Fun Fact: Vodka and gin are equally acceptable when crafting a Greyhound cocktail today.

Ingredients

These are the only ingredients required to craft a Greyhound cocktail at home:

• 2 ounces vodka (or gin)
• 4 ounces grapefruit juice (freshly squeezed)
• ice cubes
• 1 wedge grapefruit (garnish)

Since it's a two-ingredient drink, we recommend using your favorite brand whether you decide to use gin or vodka.

How to Craft a Greyhound Cocktail

The Greyhound cocktail is easy to craft - its recipe calls for just two items (liquor and a grapefruit) with no special equipment required. The only things you'll need are a measuring implement, i.e. a jigger, and a bar spoon.

The most complicated part of crafting a Greyhound is choosing between gin or vodka. We like to use vodka since the unflavored liquor allows the grapefruit juice's flavor to shine. However, there's no bad choice here. It simply comes down to your personal preference and which liquor you have on hand.

Once you make this decision, the first step is to fill a highball glass with ice cubes.

The next step is to measure the liquor of your choice and pour it into an ice-filled glass. We like to use a Japanese jigger for this step but you can use another jigger or a miniature measuring cup instead.

Immediately pour the grapefruit juice into the same glass.

Pro Tip: While you can hypothetically buy grapefruit juice at the grocery store, we don't recommend this option. We like to use an electric juicer to quickly extract grapefruit juice but you can hand squeeze your grapefruit if you don't have a juicer.

Gently stir the cocktail with a bar spoon.

Pro Tip: You can use a long spoon or straw if you don't have a bar spoon. That being said, bar spoons are inexpensive.

Garnish the cocktail with a grapefruit wedge and serve with a straw.

We recommend using a grapefruit wedge since it minimizes the number of ingredients provides a pretty pink hue. You can alternatively garnish the cocktail with a slice of lemon or a lime wheel.

Variations

The Greyhound cocktail is ideal for times when you want to sip a refreshing drink that's super easy to craft. However, here are some ideas if you want to take the two-ingredient cocktail to the next level:

• Add a splash of simple syrup to craft a sweeter Greyhound cocktail.
• Add Campari to craft an Italian Greyhound cocktail.
• Coat the rim with salt to craft a Salty Dog cocktail.
• Add cranberry juice to craft a Seabreeze cocktail. (This variation requires vodka instead of gin.)
• Replace the grapefruit juice with orange juice to craft a Screwdriver cocktail. (This variation also requires vodka instead of gin.)

This recipe was originally published on 2foodtrippers. Consider subscribing to 2foodtrippers if you enjoyed it.