The Skinny Vodka Grapefruit Greyhound

A low sugar version of the refreshing grapefruit vodka cocktail, the Greyhound! ⟹

One of my favorite cocktails in the heat of summer is a Greyhound. And yes, I just learned last summer that is what the vodka/grapefruit drinks I was craving after fun in the sun activities were called! If you are like me and have never heard of a Greyhound here’s a little background:

The early versions of the Greyhound were made with gin, grapefruit juice, and ice. (Before 1945, vodka wasn’t widely used and most cocktails were made with gin. Vodka became more popular after WWII and remains so to this day.) The drink was dubbed the “Greyhound” in Harper’s Magazine in 1945 because it was served at Greyhound bus terminals in their “Post House” restaurants. Their recipe in Harper’s consisted of vodka, canned grapefruit juice, and sugar.

Fast forward to today, and people still love this combination. This drink really hits the spot after any sweaty outdoor activity in the South that you want to follow with a cocktail. It’s now my favorite post-golf refresher!

This skinny version of the Greyhound is so simple and even better…lower in sugar and calories!

Jump to Recipe

The ingredients.

• Grapefruit Sparkling Ice or Diet Ruby Red Grapefruit Juice
• Vodka
• Ice
• Optional – Splenda or Stevia for sugared rim; Course salt for salted rim

Depending on whether I want bubbles more like a spritzer, and how strong I want it, I use one of these two different grapefruit options.

Both of these grapefruit mixers are already sweetened (with artificial sweeteners) so no need for simple syrup if you are watching your sugar intake. If you’d like it a little more sweet, rim the glass with Splenda or Stevia to add sweetness when you sip.

If you rim the glass in salt, this version is called a Salty Dog. Sometimes that salt is soooo good on a sweaty outdoor summer day!

Mix it up.

The ratios are really according to how strong and sweet you like it. But here is a starting point:

• In a double old fashioned or lowball glass, add ice. I used large round ice here because it melts more slowly and doesn’t dilute the drink as quickly. If you want a sweet or salty rim, do it before adding the ice. Wet the glass and dip and swirl the rim around in Stevia, Splenda, or course salt on a small plate. Then add your ice.
• Pour in 1-2 oz. of vodka.
• Fill the remainder of the glass with either Grapefruit Sparkling Ice or Ruby Red Diet.
• Stir well and enjoy!

Cheers to summer!

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