Highballs and long drinks · Vodka · IBA official

Sea Breeze

Cranberry brings the colour and a pleasant tartness, grapefruit adds a bitter-fresh edge that keeps the drink from tasting like juice. On a hot afternoon, a tall glass of it disappears quickly.

3.6Editors’ rating
Taste3.7
Balance3.6
Easy to make4.9
Popularity65
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  • GlassHighball glass
  • TechniqueBuilt in the glass
  • DifficultyEasy
  • Time2 min
  • StrengthLight (approx. 10 % ABV)
  • OriginUnited States, 1970s
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Sea Breeze cocktail

Ingredients

1

Garnish: Lime wedge · Ice: Ice cubes

Method

  1. Fill a highball glass with ice cubes.
  2. Pour in the vodka and cranberry juice.
  3. Add the freshly squeezed grapefruit juice.
  4. Stir gently with a barspoon.
  5. Garnish with a lime wedge.

Watch it made

Sea Breeze

Taste

Tart and fruity with a light bitterness from the grapefruit and a dry finish. Light and very refreshing.

History and origin

The name Sea Breeze is older than the drink most people know. Recipes under that title from the first half of the twentieth century were quite different, often based on gin with other fruit flavours.

The modern version with vodka, cranberry and grapefruit took shape in the United States from the 1960s and 1970s onward, as cranberry juice producers promoted their juice as a mixer. It became one of the defining highballs of the 1980s, alongside its close relatives the Cape Codder (vodka and cranberry) and the Bay Breeze (vodka, cranberry and pineapple).

The International Bartenders Association lists the Sea Breeze among its contemporary classics.

Bartender tips

  • Use a cranberry juice drink with a real tart edge; very sweet cranberry cocktail makes the Sea Breeze cloying.
  • Pour the grapefruit juice last for a subtle two-tone look.
  • For a party, batch vodka and juices in a jug, keep it cold and pour over fresh ice.

Variations

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between a Sea Breeze and a Bay Breeze?

A Sea Breeze uses grapefruit juice, a Bay Breeze pineapple juice. Both share vodka and cranberry.

Is the Sea Breeze an IBA cocktail?

Yes, it appears in the IBA list of contemporary classics.

Should a Sea Breeze be shaken?

It is usually built and stirred in the glass. Shaking gives a light froth and a slightly more diluted drink.

The perfect sound

Breezy soft rock and soul

A cool breeze on a sunny boardwalk.

  1. Summer BreezeSeals and Crofts Spotify YouTube
  2. KokomoThe Beach Boys Spotify YouTube
  3. Lovely DayBill Withers Spotify YouTube

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