Sea Breeze

As the name suggests, the Sea Breeze is a light and refreshing cocktail perfectly suited to summer days spent at the beach. It enjoyed great popularity in the 80s and is often compared to similar drinks, such as the Cape Codder and the Bay Breeze, which are mixed with slightly different ingredients. Featuring vodka, cranberry juice and grapefruit juice, the drink is both delicious and healthy, providing you with plenty of fiber, antioxidants and vitamin C.

History of the Sea Breeze

Although the current version of the drink originated in the 80s, there was a similar cocktail listed in Harry Craddock’s ‘The Savoy Cocktail Book’, published in 1930. But unlike the popular version of today, this earlier cocktail featured dry gin, apricot brandy, grenadine and half a lemon. It is likely that this served as the basis and namesake of the current beverage.

There are a number of famous cocktails featuring cranberry juice, which is likely due to some clever advertising by Ocean Spray. The growers’ collective promoted cranberries in a series of recipe booklets, some of which included alcoholic drinks similar to the ones we know today.

Ingredients

Today, this cocktail features in bars around the world because it makes use of only four ingredients and is therefore very easy to make. Whether you’re dreaming of your next beach vacation or already relaxing at the seaside, you can easily mix it yourself with these simple ingredients.

To get started, you’ll need three beverages, the most important of them being vodka. Although it may be healthier, it’s not advised that you use freshly squeezed cranberry juice because it is likely to be too tart. Instead, buy the bottled version and invest in freshly squeezed grapefruit juice instead. This will add to the drink’s mouth-watering and thirst-quenching qualities.

Your Optimal Ingredients

Although you can substitute the freshly squeezed grapefruit juice with the bottled version, alter the ratios of ingredients or use a different type of garnish, all these things will change both the taste and the essence of the cocktail. For optimal results, stick to these original ingredients.

• 1.5 ounces of vodka
• 3 ounces of bottled cranberry juice
• 1.5 ounces of freshly squeezed grapefruit juice
• One lemon wheel

How To Make It

Fortunately, this light and refreshing cocktail is very easy to make. In fact, you won’t need to use a cocktail shaker and can mix it directly in the glass you will drink from. Build your perfect, breezy drink in these two simple steps. Before you get started, don’t forget to also have some ice at hand.

1. Mix all of the liquids in a highball glass, add the ice and stir the mixture.
2. Add the lemon wheel as garnish.

The two simple steps are all it takes to create the perfect cocktail that will serve to relax and invigorate both you and your guests. It doesn’t matter if you’re already lying at the beach or still waiting for your next sunny trip, you will feel the vacation vibes as soon as you take your first sip.