Sea Breeze Cocktail

The classic sea breeze cocktail is the perfect refreshing and delicious drink to enjoy while lounging on the beach! Tasting just like spiked fruit punch, the sea breeze is often enjoyed on hot summer days. This drink can be made directly in the glass and, with only 3 ingredients, it doesn’t get any easier!

Sea Breeze Vodka Cocktail

The sea breeze cocktail is the perfect combination of sweet, sour, and fruity! It uses vodka, cranberry juice, and grapefruit juice, so it’s a simple and quick way to get that refreshing, cool drink that you need!

While the beach is the perfect place for this classic cocktail, it is also great for lounging by the pool or hanging out at the lake! The sea breeze is a crowd-favorite cocktail that everyone will love!

Jump to:

• Sea Breeze Vodka Cocktail
• 🌎 Origin
• 🍹 Ingredients
• 🍸 Instructions
• 🥂 Cocktail Tips & Variations
• 🍲 Foods To Serve With
• ❓ What Is The Difference Between A Sea Breeze Cocktail And A Bay Breeze Cocktail?
• ❓ What Ingredients Are In A Sea Breeze Cocktail?
• ❓ Can I Make A Virgin Sea Breeze Cocktail?
• 📋 Recipe

🌎 Origin

The sea breeze cocktail dates back to the 1920s. However, it was originally a gin and grenadine concoction, which is nothing like what it is today.

There was a cranberry pandemic in the 50s and 60s due to cranberries containing herbicides. With farmers being hurt by this issue, the well-known brand Ocean Spray started marketing cranberry juice as a mixer for alcohol using a recipe booklet - thus beginning the extremely popular period for the sea breeze in the 80s.

🍹 Ingredients

• Ice – Enough ice to fill your glass ½ way.
• Vodka – 1.5 ounces of vodka.
• Cranberry Juice – 3 ounces of cranberry juice.
• Grapefruit Juice – 1.5 ounces of freshly squeezed grapefruit juice.

*Be sure to see the recipe card below for ingredients, amounts, & instructions!*

🍸 Instructions

All you need for this fun cocktail is your ingredients and a highball glass, no need for any fancy bar tools!

1. Fill. To begin, get a highball glass and fill it ½ of the way with ice.
2. Pour. Add 1.5 ounces of vodka, 3 ounces of cranberry juice, and 1.5 ounces of grapefruit juice to the glass. Stir to combine.
3. Garnish. If desired, add a slice of grapefruit for garnish.

Enjoy your sea breeze immediately after making it so it is perfectly chilled.

🥂 Cocktail Tips & Variations

• I prefer a chilled glass when making my sea breezes. 🙂
• A lime wedge or wheel would also make a great garnish for this cocktail.
• Use high-quality vodka for the best flavor.
• If you prefer your drink sweet, use a sweet cranberry juice. If you do not like sweetness, try a sugar-free tart cranberry juice, or find one that is a balance of both!

🍲 Foods To Serve With

• Pinwheel Sandwiches
• Garlic Butter Shrimp
• Cream Cheese Stuffed Mushrooms
• Calamari
• Crab Rangoons
• Breaded Stuffed Scallops

❓ What Is The Difference Between A Sea Breeze Cocktail And A Bay Breeze Cocktail?

While a sea breeze uses vodka, grapefruit juice, and cranberry juice, a bay breeze substitutes pineapple juice in place of the grapefruit juice. The difference comes down to only one juice!

❓ What Ingredients Are In A Sea Breeze Cocktail?

A sea breeze cocktail is so simplistic, it only contains 3 ingredients: vodka, cranberry juice, and pineapple juice!

❓ Can I Make A Virgin Sea Breeze Cocktail?

Many cocktails can be made into a non-alcohol mocktail! For the sea breeze cocktail, omit the vodka and you’ll have a fruity and fun drink with just the cranberry and grapefruit juice!

📋 Recipe