Although gin was easy to come by in the U.S., vodka was not embraced as the spirit it is today. The colorless, odorless spirit was primarily made from potatoes. (Wheat is used to distill vodka in the U.S. now.) In the early 1900s, vodka was believed to be more useful for toothaches, infertility and a “miracle” cure for the plague. Somewhere during the 1940s, its other perks became more popular and is now one of the most popular spirits in the U.S. today. In fact, in 2023, approximately 75 million 9-liter cases of vodka were sold in the United States, generating $7.2 billion in revenue for distillers.
If you’ve never heard of the greyhound cocktail recipe, the bus company or the dog may immediately come to mind. Both have two things in common: they’re focused and they’re fast. Interestingly, the creator of the drink was a little like that too. Harry Craddock, the English creator, was so confident about his cocktails that he was rumored to state in The Times that he’d offer 50 pounds to any government commission committee member who felt it didn’t enhance their lunch or dinner. And he didn’t waste any time offering them the cocktail to prove it either.
He also loved a good mystery, including burying his signature drink (the White Lady) in a cocktail shaker that was rumored to be located in London’s American Bar at The Savoy. Apparently, no one has found this buried drink (or glass) even to this day.
He’d made his way to the United States to expand his profession, including contacting New York’s mayor to identify the U.S. go-to drinking spots. His timing wasn’t the greatest though because this was also during Prohibition (1920-1933) when the country banned the production, sale and transportation of alcohol. For a man who claimed to be the inventor of more than 240 cocktails, the Prohibition was ruining his fun.
That didn’t stop his love for bartending though. He went right back to England and became the Dorchester hotel’s first head barman. And in that hotel, he once again buried a White Lady cocktail. (The latter White Lady cocktail, plus a flask of Manhattan and a flask of Martini, was found though.)
Craddock, the author of The Savoy Cocktail Book, included a print recipe for another drink, the greyhound cocktail recipe, in 1930. That was being served in London’s hotel The Savoy. The drink is a little different now than its early recipe, incorporating gin instead of vodka. It’s up to you which way you prefer to try this drink. Or, have a taste test with guests and try both.
Greyhound Cocktail Recipe
Ingredients
- 1-1/2 ounces of vodka (or gin)
- Grapefruit juice, freshly squeezed
- (optional) Lime wheel garnish
Directions
- Fill a tumbler with ice.
- Pour in vodka (or gin) and grapefruit juice.
- Stir.
- Garnish with a lime wheel.
Vodka Was Not As Popular In the U.S.
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