Easy, refreshing and wonderfully gin-based, the Greyhound cocktail is one worth sipping on just about any occasion that calls for a good drink. (Photo: Geraud Pfeiffer/Pexels)

The Greyhound cocktail is a gin drink so simple and approachable that once you’ve tried one, it may just become your next favorite. Made from grapefruit juice, gin, ice and an optional grapefruit slice garnish, the Greyhound is perfect for just about any occasion… So, let’s make one!

Greyhound Cocktail Recipe

• 1 oz Gin (our recommendations here)
• 4 oz Grapefruit juice
• Garnish: grapefruit slice

Assemble your ingredients in a glass with ice. Give the drink a stir and enjoy. Easy peasy, grapefruit squeezy.

Now that you have a drink in hand, let’s read up on the Greyhound’s history.

Where Did the Greyhound Cocktail Come From?

Today, most people who order a Greyhound are most likely anticipating a vodka-based cocktail; however, the juicy drink’s origins are genuinely gin-soaked.

The earliest mention of a cocktail resembling the Greyhound as we know it is in Harry Craddock’s 1930 “The Savoy Cocktail Book,” where he presents a gin-based recipe called “a variation of the Grapefruit Cocktail.” Craddock’s drink featured gin, grapefruit juice and ice — a combination so simple that it has truly stood the test of time.

Then, in 1945, Harper’s Magazine featured a cocktail actually named the “Greyhound,” made with vodka, sugar and canned grapefruit juice. This cocktail then went on to be served at the restaurant chain owned by the intercity bus service, Greyhound. Interestingly enough, prior to 1945, vodka was a rare spirit, making this Greyhound iteration one of historical intrigue (for us, at least).

With vodka’s rise in popularity and gin’s decline after the war, numerous beloved cocktails persevered, albeit with vodka as the gin substitute. The martini stands out as the most prominent example of this transformation, as it was traditionally crafted exclusively with gin before 1945. While it’s difficult to pinpoint exactly why gin declined in popularity, it can most likely be chalked up to a shift in people’s tastes and preferences thanks to the versatility of vodka’s neutral (or as we would put it, flavorless) palate.

Now, getting back to the Greyhound. Other iterations of the straightforward cocktail include different citrus garnishes like lime or lemon and, just like Harper’s Magazine’s recipe, a sweetener of some sort. Another riff on the cocktail includes a salted rim, an addition that is apparently so transformative that it gets a new name, Salty Dog.

As always, drink responsibly — and when you do, drink some gin! If cocktail history piques your fancy, check out our look at the Bee’s Knees cocktail.

Read next:

The 7 Best Gins for a Perfect Gin and Tonic

Singapore Sling Recipe: Gin’s Fruitiest Classic Cocktail

Spirited Hive Crafts Cocktails With a Honeyed Twist: In Conversation With the Brand Redefining RTD Beverages

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