Sea Breeze
Vodka, cranberry juice and grapefruit juice over ice in a tall glass. A tart, fruity, pale pink highball that tastes of summer by the sea.
The Sea Breeze is a simple highball of vodka, cranberry juice and grapefruit juice, served over ice in a tall glass, and it is one of the best-known drinks of the American bar. Its history is a little confusing. The name was in print by 1930 for a different drink, a mixture of gin, apricot brandy, grenadine and lemon juice, and it changed in the middle of the twentieth century, when the makers of cranberry juice looked for ways to sell more of their product and promoted a series of drinks that combined it with vodka. The Cape Codder, the mix of vodka and cranberry, was the first, and adding grapefruit juice to it makes a Sea Breeze. Adding pineapple juice makes a Bay Breeze, and adding peach schnapps and orange juice makes a Sex on the Beach. The Sea Breeze is the driest and sharpest of them, and the grapefruit juice gives a pleasant bitter edge which balances the sweet and tart flavour of the cranberry. It is a drink that suits warm weather, long afternoons and poolsides. The colour ranges from pink to a deep coral, according to the proportion of cranberry to grapefruit, and it looks best in a tall glass with plenty of ice. Use fresh grapefruit juice, if you can, and pure cranberry juice, or a drink that is not too sweet, to keep the balance. It is one of the easiest drinks to make for a group, since the quantities can be doubled or tripled in a jug.
Quick Answers
How long does Sea Breeze take to make?
About 3 minutes in total — 3 minutes of preparation and of cooking. The recipe serves 1.
What are the key tips for making Sea Breeze?
Use fresh grapefruit juice. Juice from a carton is often sweeter and lacks the bitterness that makes the drink work. If you like a sweeter drink, use more cranberry and less grapefruit, and if you like it sharper, reverse the proportions. Pour the juices over the vodka in the glass and give a single stir. The layers of colour look attractive if they are not fully mixed. Fill the glass with plenty of large ice cubes. They keep the drink cold and melt slowly, so it is not watered down. Crushed ice makes a colder, slushier drink that dilutes faster, so drink it quickly.
What should I serve with Sea Breeze?
Prawn cocktail; Crab cakes; Salted popcorn.
Is Sea Breeze suitable for a special diet?
This recipe is vegan, vegetarian, dairy-free, gluten-free, low-carb and no added sugar. Those labels are checked against the ingredient list, so a dish is only marked when nothing in it contradicts the claim.
How many calories are in Sea Breeze?
About 159 kcal per serving, with 0 g protein, 15 g carbohydrate and 0 g fat. The figures are calculated from the ingredient list and are an estimate.
The Method for Sea Breeze
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Fill a tall highball glass with ice.
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Pour in the vodka, then the cranberry juice, then the grapefruit juice.
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Stir gently for 5 seconds to mix and chill the drink.
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Squeeze the lime wedge over the drink, drop it in or set it on the rim, and serve at once.
A Few Pointers
- Use fresh grapefruit juice. Juice from a carton is often sweeter and lacks the bitterness that makes the drink work. If you like a sweeter drink, use more cranberry and less grapefruit, and if you like it sharper, reverse the proportions.
- Pour the juices over the vodka in the glass and give a single stir. The layers of colour look attractive if they are not fully mixed.
- Fill the glass with plenty of large ice cubes. They keep the drink cold and melt slowly, so it is not watered down. Crushed ice makes a colder, slushier drink that dilutes faster, so drink it quickly.
If You're Missing Something
- Lemon is the everyday swap for lime in this kind of dish — the acidity plays the same role even though the flavour is not identical.
Serve It With
Prawn cocktail · Crab cakes · Salted popcorn
Keeping and Reheating
Best made to order. For a party, mix the juices in a jug in the fridge and pour over vodka and ice in each glass, and do not add the ice until the last moment.
The Numbers per Serving
Per serving, calculated from the ingredient list. Treat these as an estimate — brands and cuts vary.
Reader Reviews
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Written and tested by Turab
One person, one kitchen — no test kitchen, no team. How every recipe on this site is checked before it goes up.
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