Gin and Grapefruit Juice: The OG Greyhound

The gin and grapefruit cocktail is also known as a Greyhound. You may have heard of this drink as it is a classic. Let’s learn a little about it’s composition, history, and, of course, how to make it!

What is a Gin and Grapefruit Juice?

Like we said above, a gin and grapefruit juice is a cocktail known as the Greyhound. It consists of a shot of gin and topped off with grapefruit juice; often garnished with a lemon or lime wheel floating on top.

There is no clear timeline on when this drink originated. Gin was very popular in the early 1900s and thus was a major ingredient in most cocktails back then. In fact, many cocktails today that call for vodka, were originally made with gin as vodka was not as common place. That’s how we ended up with a Vodka Greyhound.

Regardless of which one you make, whether gin, vodka, whiskey, or tequila, the Greyhound name comes from the chain restaurant at which the drink was served. The restaurant was called the Post House but they were found in Greyhound bus stations throughout the US.

Gin works well with other juices also like the Gin and Cranberry.

How to make this drink:

The most prominent ingredients are, of course, gin and grapefruit juice. The simple version of this drink is very quick and easy to make. There are a few variations that can bring out more flavors and give the cocktail an entirely different vibe. We will talk about those variations a little later.

Equipment

highball glass

Jigger

Ingredients

2 oz Gin

4 oz Grapefruit Juice

1 Lemon or Lime wedge garnish

Step One

Pink Pussycat Drink

This cocktail is a beautiful pink color and all you do is add a dash of grenadine in with your gin and grapefruit juice.

Salty Dog

To make a Salty Dog, all you need to do is salt the rim, just like with a margarita. You can use margarita salt or even Pink Himalayan Salt. Just run a slice of lime around the rim of the glass so the salt will stick well.

Sweet Variation

You can cut some of the grapefruit’s tartness by adding in a little bit of simple syrup or even honey. The amount is up to you. We suggest trying ½ oz and going from there.

Gin Fizz

If you like a little fizz in your drink, all you need to do is add a little club soda. Simply cut the amount of grapefruit juice to 2 oz and then top off with another 2 oz of soda.

Rosemary Garnish

Finally, you can add a bit of fresh rosemary as a garnish or even stir it into your drink. The strong, almost pine like flavor of rosemary blends incredibly well with a good botanical gin.

Recipe

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