Mango Breeze COCKTAIL RECIPE

WRITTEN BY: SCOTT VAN DORT

The Mango Breeze is a tropical twist on the classic Sea Breeze cocktail. We love this version of the Sea Breeze because it breaks all the rules yet is clearly inspired by the original. 

The Mango Breeze mixes Mango-Flavored Vodka and Cranberry Juice but swaps out the Grapefruit Juice of a classic Sea Breeze for Orange Juice. To top it off, it’s garnished with a Mango Slice instead of a Lime Wheel. Talk about taking inspiration but doing your own thing! 

So, what does it taste like? Let’s ask Ricardo ‘Rico’ Dynan, Bartender and Absolut Global Brand Ambassador:

“Straight away, you get the Orange Zest in your face. The Orange Juice is just amazing, and that aeration really heightens the flavor of the Oranges, which are very sweet, but perfectly balanced by the tart bitter Cranberry Juice. And the Mango? Well, it’s the number one fruit on earth,” he says. 

Perfect for summer BBQs, let’s make the Mango Breeze!

How To Make a Mango Breeze

What You’ll Need

• Jigger or Measuring Instrument 
• Centrifugal Juicer (or Immersion Blender)
• Highball Glass
• Paring Knife
• Peeler
• Bar Spoon

How to Mix

1. Measure and pour Absolut Mango into a Highball Glass.
2. Measure and pour Cranberry Juice into the Glass.
3. Use a Peeler to peel a couple of Oranges and drop them into a Centrifugal Juicer. Save a strip of Orange Peel Zest to garnish later.
   
   If you don’t have a Centrifugal Juicer, cut the Oranges into small pieces, place them in a bowl, and blend them with an Immersion Blender. Then, use a Fine Mesh Strainer to strain the Orange Juice when pouring it into your Glass.

4. Fill your Highball Glass with Ice Cubes.
5. Top up your Glass with Orange Juice.
6. Stir your cocktail with a Bar Spoon.
7. Use a Paring Knife to cut a crescent moon-shaped Mango Slice.
8. Place the Mango Slice and Orange Twist upright into your Glass.
9. Sip and enjoy!

The History of the Mango Breeze

You can’t talk about the history of the Mango Breeze without talking about the history of the Sea Breeze cocktail, since the Mango Breeze is a variation of the Sea Breeze.

The Sea Breeze itself originated in the U.S. during the 1920s or 1930s, however, it was originally made with Gin and has undergone several transformations before becoming the beloved version we know today.

The Sea Breeze’s iconic blend of Vodka, Cranberry Juice, and Grapefruit Juice burst onto the scene in the 1970s and it has been a hit ever since.

It’s likely the Mango Breeze was invented sometime during the late 00s.

Tips for Making the Perfect Mango Breeze 

• Use a Centrifugal Juicer
  If you can, try to get your hands on a Centrifugal Juicer to make your Orange Juice fluffy. Yes, fluffy! Aerated juice gives your cocktail a soft, fluffy texture that enhances the entire drinking experience. For that pillowy mouthfeel, a Centrifugal Juicer is a must.

  But as Rico explains, if you don’t have a Centrifugal Juicer at home, a Hand Blender (aka Immersion Blender) will do the trick. “The result won’t be as good, but it’s a good alternative,” he says.
  
  If you’re using an Immersion Blender, be sure to use a Sieve or Fine Mesh Strainer to strain the Orange Juice and keep any pulp out of your drink.

  Don’t miss this article on how to get more juice from your fruit.

• Stir it up
  After adding all your ingredients, give your drink a thorough stir with a long Bar Spoon to ensure the flavors are well mixed. Otherwise, your first sip will be dominated by the Orange Juice on top.

• Cranberry Juice Mix
  Whenever you’re making a cocktail, we always say to use fresh ingredients, to bring your home cocktails up to bar-level standards. However, Cranberry Juice is the exception to the rule.

  You see, most of the time you see Cranberry Juice listed as an ingredient in a cocktail recipe, you can assume it means Cranberry Juice Mix.If you juice Cranberries yourself, it’s going to really tart and it’s going to need a lot of work to achieve a balanced taste. Cranberry Juice Mix, on the other hand, is pre-mixed and bought from a store and is 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. 

Variations of a Mango Breeze 

The Mango Breeze is, of course, a variation of the classic Sea Breeze cocktail.

It’s no secret that we love the Sea Breeze, so much so that we put together a drinks collection filled with incredible versions of the Sea Breeze, including an alcohol-free version of a Sea Breeze. A Sea Breeze with Apple? A Sea Breeze with Pear? Yes, and yes!

Check out our collection of Breeze Cocktails.

Serving and Garnish Ideas for a Mango Breeze 

We recommend serving the Mango Breeze in a Highball Glass filled with Ice Cubes.

Where a classic Sea Breeze is garnished with a Lime Wheel, for this Mango twist, we recommend garnishing it with both a piece of Orange Zest from the Oranges you used to make your Orange Juice, and a fresh slice of Mango.

However, as Rico says, don’t go out and buy a Mango just to garnish your drink. The Orange Zest is perfect, but if you have a Mango at home, it will elevate things further.