Easy
Fruity & Citrusy
3 Minutes
Highball Glass
Ingredients
The Sea Breeze is a classic vodka cocktail – fruity, vibrant and a staple for any home bartender looking for easy party drinks to make on the fly.
Made with vodka, cranberry juice and grapefruit juice, built directly in a highball glass over ice – no shaking or straining needed.
The Sea Breeze is one of the easiest drinks you can make at home — just ask Rico. “An underrated classic,” says Ricardo ‘Rico’ Dynan, bartender and Absolut Global Brand Ambassador, “and when done correctly, one of my favorite drinks.”
One of the reasons we love the Sea Breeze is because it’s perfect for almost any occasion, whether it’s a house party or a casual afternoon. It works especially well during summer but, to be honest, is great all year round. It can also be served as a punch, making it a perfect drink for bigger gatherings and parties.
How to Make a Sea Breeze Cocktail
Bar tools you’ll need
Jigger
Knife
Citrus Press
Bar Spoon
How to Mix
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Fill a Highball Glass with Ice Cubes.
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Using a Citrus Elbow, juice the Grapefruit and pour the juice into a Glass Jug.
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Measure and pour Absolut Vodka into your Highball Glass, followed by Cranberry Juice.
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Place the back of a Spoon against the rim of your Highball Glass and carefully pour your fresh pressed Grapefruit Juice on top so it layers nicely.
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Use a Knife to cut a Lime in half, then cut a Lime Wheel for garnishing.
All About the Sea Breeze Cocktail
The Sea Breeze is a vodka cocktail made with 1½ parts vodka, 2½ parts cranberry juice and 1½ parts grapefruit juice, built directly in a highball glass over ice.
It belongs to the “Cape Cod” family of drinks and pairs tart cranberry, zesty grapefruit and smooth vodka into a tall, layered serve. As Rico puts it, it’s “the daddy of all cranberry juice cocktails.”
Its closest relative is the Vodka Cranberry, the two-ingredient Cape Cod base that the Sea Breeze builds on with the addition of grapefruit.
Tart, tangy and beautifully balanced. The sharpness of cranberry juice meets the zesty bite of grapefruit, with smooth vodka tying everything together without taking over. The Sea Breeze is a no-fuss classic.
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.
- Use store-bought cranberry juice
Cranberry is one of those rare exceptions to the fresh ingredient rule. Cranberry juice mix – a blend of cranberry juice, added sugars and other fruit juices – is less tart and better balanced than anything you’d make from scratch.As Rico puts it, “there are 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. - Always use fresh grapefruit juice
This is where the Sea Breeze is made or broken. “You want to use freshly squeezed grapefruit juice. Don’t buy store-bought, just get a grapefruit, juice it. It will make the difference to your drink,” shares Rico. The contrast between store-bought cranberry and fresh grapefruit is exactly what gives the Sea Breeze its character – one for convenience, one for quality.
As part of the “Cape Cod” family of cocktails, we recommend the following as variations of a classic Sea Breeze cocktail:
- More Grapefuit Juice, Less Cranberry Juice
Swap around the measurements by using 2.5 parts of grapefruit juice and 1.5 parts of cranberry juice. This swap balances the tartness with a touch of sweetness, - 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 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.
The Sea Breeze’s vibrant layers of color deserve to be shown off. Here’s how to serve a Sea Breeze.
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Glassware
A highball glass is non-negotiable – it’s the only way to show off those layers of cranberry red and grapefruit pink that make the Sea Breeze as visually striking as it is. - Lime wheel
Place a lime wheel on the rim for some color and a bright citrus aroma that complements the grapefruit juice in the drink. - Mix it up
A grapefruit wedge, a sprig of mint, a lemon wheel or a rosemary sprig – any of these work as alternative garnishes that add both visual interest and complementary flavor. The Sea Breeze is a drink that rewards a little creative attention at the finish.
An underrated classic, this is one of the easiest drinks to make and, when done correctly, it’s one of my favorite drinks.
Bartender and Global Brand Ambassador
Sea Breeze Cocktail FAQ
Bartender 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!
The Sea Breeze and the Bay Breeze share a vodka-and-cranberry base, but the Sea Breeze finishes with tart grapefruit juice while the Bay Breeze swaps in pineapple juice for sweeter, more tropical notes. That single juice swap is the whole difference. Check out our Bay Breeze recipe.
You can create your own breeze too – experiment by swapping grapefruit for other fruit juices or by mixing it with any Absolut flavored vodka.
A highball glass is the ideal choice for serving the Sea Breeze – its tall, narrow shape allows for a balanced ratio of ingredients and plenty of room for ice. The glass also shows off the cocktail’s striking color, and its design lets the layered flavors and aromas come through
Yes, the Sea Breeze is a perfect cocktail to scale. To scale our recipe into a pitcher, multiply each part by the number of servings you need, keeping the same 1½:2½:1½ ratio of vodka, cranberry juice and grapefruit juice. Stir gently over ice and add lime wheels just before serving.
Building the Sea Breeze as a punch follows the same ratios, minus the part where you’re stuck behind the bar all night. Set it out and let the crowd serve themselves.
