Cape Cod

The Cape Cod Cocktail, also known as a Cape Codder, Red Devil or a Vodka Cranberry, is a simple drink made with – you guessed it – cranberry juice and vodka. It’s not shaken, stirred or strained – just served in a flash. If you’re feeling fancy, you might even garnish a Cap Codder drink with a lime wedge – either on the glass rim, or dropping it in.

When it comes to cocktails, the Cape Codder is a tartly sweet, smooth and tangy flavor that’s a win for most occasions. It has a refreshing taste capped off with a tinge of bitterness. With the lime, you get a citrusy ping which compliments the vodka and cranberry. 

While it has many names, this cocktail is best known as the Cape Cod or Cape Codder, named after its place of origin – Cape Cod – and saw popular use in the 1960s.  

However, the Cape Codder cocktail’s origins are thought to go back as far as the 1940s, when a cranberry juice manufacturer crafted the cocktail to promote their product. And promote it, they did. It wasn’t promoted as the Cape Codder as we know, instead they named it the “Red Devil”. 

Looking forward, publications began to use the term “Cap Cod”, named after Cape Cod, Massachusetts, a region famed for its cranberry production. These cranberry bogs shine the same shade of red as the Cape Codder, making it a natural fit for the drink.  

The name Cape Codder stuck, people adored this simple but balanced cocktail, and the rest, as they say, is history. 

While the Cape Codder is a simple drink, there’s still a few things you can do to really make your vodka cranberry cocktail a winner – even if you’re not a bartender.  

• Try Cranberry Juice Drink
  Our first tip is to keep things simple. To help give a more rounded drink, you might want to consider swapping straight cranberry juice for cranberry juice drink from the carton. This type of sweetened mix can help balance the bitter flavor of the cranberries.

• Keep Things Cold
  Next, always remember that a Cape Codder is best served chilled. Keep your ingredients and your serving glasses) cool for a more refreshing taste. Make sure to use plenty of ice in its preparation, too. 

• Make Your Lime Fresh
  Finally, use a fresh lime for a citrusy garnish – it elevates the cocktail and adds a nice zing to the drink. And remember, adjust the ratio of vodka to cranberry juice as you like – after all, you’re the one drinking it. 

Like what you see with a classic Cape Codder? Try out these other combinations of vodka and cranberry. 

• Sea Breeze Cocktail 
  Enjoy the Cape Codder, but want to experiment a little bit? Why not add a bit of grapefruit juice and make yourself a Sea Breeze – it’s a tangy twist on a bitter classic.
  Make a Sea Breeze cocktail with Absolut.

• Cosmopolitan
  The Cosmo cocktail is a citrusy showstopper – and not as far removed from a Cape Codder as you’d think. You’ll need a bit more than vodka and cranberries, but it’s still an easy drink to mix at home.
  Whip up a Cosmopolitan cocktail.

• Bay Breeze
  If you’re a fan of the taste of a Cape Codder, but want a sweeter, punchier taste then the Bay Breeze cocktail is the perfect, tropical twist. With a touch of added sweetness from pineapple juice, the Bay Breeze builds on the Cape Codder in a simple yet satisfying way.
  Try our Bay Breeze cocktail recipe. 

1. To get that authentic Cape Codder look, you might want to consider serving your cocktail in a highball glass with plenty of ice.
2. Try garnishing with a lime wedge – or lime wheel – on the rim or in the drink.
3. Sweeten things up with a sugared rim
4. Consider including fresh cranberries as a garnish to finish your cocktail off.