How to Make the Ultimate Sea Breeze Cocktail

WRITTEN BY: SCOTT VAN DORT

The Sea Breeze drink is a classic vodka cocktail that’s fruity, pretty, delicious, and a staple for at-home bartenders. 

One of the reasons we love the Sea Breeze cocktail is because it’s perfect for almost any occasion, whether it’s a house party, or just a chill afternoon. A Sea Breeze works especially well during summer but, to be honest, is great all year ‘round. The Sea Breeze can be served as a classic cocktail, cooler, or as a punch, making it also perfect for bigger gatherings and parties.

Best of all, our Sea Breeze recipe is deceptively simple. So, grab a Highball Glass and let’s make a classic Sea Breeze drink!

4.95 from 2735 votes

Ingredients

ml Parts

45 ml Absolut Vodka

1 ½ Parts Absolut Vodka
80 ml Cranberry Juice (sweetened)

2 ½ Parts Cranberry Juice (sweetened)
45 ml Grapefruit Juice

1 ½ Parts Grapefruit Juice
1 Wheel Lime

1 Wheel Lime
Ice Cubes

Ice Cubes

Number of Servings

Rate this recipe

4.95 from 2735 votes

What You’ll Need

- Highball Glass
- Paring Knife
- Citrus Elbow, Citrus Press or Juicer
- Bar Spoon (or other Household Spoon)
- Jigger or Measuring Instrument
- Glass Jug

Got questions about home bartending tools? Check out our guide.

How to Mix a Sea Breeze

Fill a Highball Glass with Ice Cubes.
Use a Citrus Elbow or Juicer to juice the Grapefruit, then pour the juice into a Glass Jug.
Measure and pour Absolut Vodka into your Highball Glass, followed by Cranberry Juice.
Place the back of a Spoon against the rim of your Highball Glass and carefully pour your fresh pressed Grapefruit Juice on top to create a nice layer.
Use a Knife to cut a Lime in half, then cut a Lime Wheel for garnishing.
Sip and enjoy!

Watch Rico Show You How to Make a Sea Breeze Cocktail

What is a Sea Breeze Drink? 

The Sea Breeze cocktail is a layered drink that belongs to the so-called “Cape Cod” family. This is made up of drinks crafted from vodka, cranberry juice and grapefruit juice.

So then, what is a Sea Breeze drink made of you ask? Tart cranberry Juice, zesty, freshly-pressed grapefruit juice, and smooth vodka. Knowing a great Sea Breeze recipe is essential for any aspiring home cocktail enthusiast.

In fact, Bartender and Absolut Global Brand Ambassador, Rico calls it the daddy of all cranberry juice cocktails. One sip, and you’ll know why.

What Does a Sea Breeze Cocktail Taste Like?

The Sea Breeze drink is a delightful combination of zesty, fresh and tangy flavors. The tartness of cranberry is complemented by the sharpness of grapefruit, offering a slightly tangy taste. The vodka provides smoothness, resulting in a well-balanced and invigorating flavor profile. The result? A no-fuss classic cocktail that’s both delicate and delicious.

The History of the Sea Breeze Cocktail

The Sea Breeze originated in the U.S. during the 1920s or 1930s as a variation of the Cape Codder (vodka and cranberry juice) cocktail. However, the original Sea Breeze was made with gin and has undergone several transformations before becoming the beloved version we know today.

Bartenders introduced Grapefruit Juice to the classic Cape Codder recipe to give the drink a tangy twist. Check out our recipe for a vintage Cape Codder.

The Sea Breeze cocktail was particularly popular during the ‘70s and remains ever-present today. One of the reasons the Sea Breeze is still a staple after nearly a century (give or take a few years) is because of its versatility – it can be made with various spirits, including vodka, gin, and even tequila.

Tips for Making the Perfect Sea Breeze

Nailing a Sea Breeze recipe is important to get the best out of your ingredients. But, there are a few considerations to make in order to reach perfection.

Use Cranberry Juice Mix

Although we almost always encourage using fresh ingredients, including fresh fruit, to bring your home cocktails up to bar-level standards, cranberry is probably one of those rare exceptions.

Cranberry Juice Mix is usually a blend of cranberry juice with added sugars and other fruit juices, making it less tart and more palatable for a wider range of cocktails. So, for this recipe, we recommend using Cranberry Juice Mix over juicing and sweetening cranberries yourself.

As Rico explains, “There’s many bartenders who would say that they started bartending 5 BC or 10 BC. BC means before cranberry juice was released because once this was released everyone was putting cranberry juice in their drink.” Take Rico’s word for it!

Fresh Grapefruit Juice – the Make or Break

The success of your Sea Breeze comes down to this very important detail. Like Rico says, “This is where your drink is gonna’ be made or broken. Make it or break it. Grapefruit juice. You want to use freshly squeezed grapefruit juice. Don’t buy store-bought, just get a grapefruit, juice it. It will make the difference of your drink.”

So, yeah, the opposite of what we said about the cranberry juice above; you want to use fresh grapefruit when making a Sea Breeze drink.

Variations of a Sea Breeze

As part of the “Cape Cod” family of cocktails, we recommend the following as variations of a classic Sea Breeze cocktail:

Vintage Cape Codder

Love cranberry juice? Then, you’ll love this drink. One and half parts Absolut Vodka mixed with 5 parts cranberry juice and then garnished with lime. Discover our Vintage Cape Codder recipe.

Easy Breeze

Equal parts Vodka and cranberry juice, garnished with an orange wedge. This Sea Breeze drink recipe is a summer essential. See how to make an Easy Breeze. 

Bay Breeze

A tropical escape awaits! Vodka, cranberry, pineapple juice, garnished with fresh pineapple and lime. Discover our Bay Breeze recipe. 

The Greyhound

Ah, The Greyhound! Because you can never have too much grapefruit. Grab yourself bottle of Absolut Grapefruit Vodka and let us show you how to make a Greyhound cocktail at home. 

Gentle Sea Breeze

An alcohol-free Sea Breeze drink or Sea Breeze Mocktail is known as a Gentle Sea Breeze. It combines equal parts of cranberry juice and grapefruit juice over ice. Here’s how to make a Gentle Sea Breeze.

Serving and Garnish Ideas for a Sea Breeze

Since the Sea Breeze cocktail is such an easy drink to make, presentation is super important. With its vibrant colors, a properly garnished Sea Breeze makes for one delicious and attractive cocktail.

First off, you’ll want to use a Highball Glass so it can show off the layers of color in the cocktail. It’s non-negotiable.
Place a lime wheel on the rim of your glass to add a pop of colour and infuse your drink with a hint of that citrusy aroma.
Mix up your garnishes with other options that accentuate the presentation while adding complementary flavours, like:
- A grapefruit wedge
- Mint leaves
- A lemon wheel
- Sprig of fresh rosemary

Sea Breeze Cocktail FAQs

What's The Best Way to Make a Sea Breeze Cocktail?

Bartender and extraordinaire Rico recommends shaking this cocktail instead of layering it. This way, you’ll get to fully enjoy all the ingredients combined into one instead of a strong Vodka Cranberry on the bottom and watered down Grapefruit Juice at the top.

Additionally, by shaking it, you’ll incorporate some air into the cocktail which improves the mouthfeel and helps bring out more of those fresh juice flavors. Mmmm, juicy!

What is the Difference Between a Sea Breeze and a Bay Breeze?

The Sea Breeze uses Grapefruit Juice while the Bay Breeze uses Pineapple Juice to bring out more exotic and sweeter notes.

Here’s an idea! Why not create your own breeze? Experiment by swapping Grapefruit Juice for other fruit juices or by making it with any Absolut flavored Vodka.

What Type of Glass Should You Use to Serve a Sea Breeze?

A Highball Glass is the ideal glass for serving this cocktail thanks to its tall, narrow shape, which allows for a balanced ratio of ingredients and plenty of space for ice.

The glass’s size and shape help to showcase the cocktail’s vibrant colors, adding to the visual appeal. Last but certainly not least, the design of the Highball Glass allows the drinker to enjoy each of the layered flavors and aromas with every sip, not just the first sip.