The sea breeze is one of those cocktails that sounds almost too simple to be this good. Vodka, cranberry juice, and fresh grapefruit juice, poured over ice. It’s perfectly balanced, delicious and refreshing.
The sea breeze has been a summer cocktail staple since the 1970s, and there’s a reason it’s stuck around. That combination of tart pink grapefruit and sweet-tart cranberry is basically impossible to argue with.This is a highball-style cocktail, which means it’s long, cold, and served over ice in a tall glass. It’s not shaken or strained, it doesn’t need a cocktail shaker, and you can have one in your hand in about two minutes. I love drinks like that.
Use a cranberry juice cocktail, not pure 100% cranberry juice. For the grapefruit juice, a carton of ruby red grapefruit juice makes things really easy. Fresh squeezed is lovely if you feel like it, but you really don’t have to.
If you want a non-alcoholic version of this drink, I have a virgin sea breeze mocktail that’s just as good.
Why you’ll love this mocktail
- Ready in TWO MINUTES. Seriously.
- Tastes like a real cocktail, perfectly balanced and refreshing
- Scales up easily for a crowd (make a big pitcher!).
Key ingredients and why
- Vodka is the classic base for a sea breeze, and I’d keep it that way. A mid-range, clean-tasting vodka is all you need here. The grapefruit and cranberry are doing most of the flavor work, so you don’t need anything fancy, but you also don’t want anything harsh. I use 1.5 oz (45ml) per drink, which gives you a proper cocktail without making it too heavy.
- Pink grapefruit juice. A carton of ruby red grapefruit juice is the bar standard. Fresh squeezed is a lovely upgrade if you feel like it, but you really don’t need to.
- Cranberry juice cocktail is what bars use and what this drink is built around.
- Fresh lime juice this isn’t always added to a sea breeze, so but I like the extra lift it gives.
How to make a sea breeze
- Use a tall highball glass and fill it right to the rim with ice.
- Add the vodka and lime juice.
- Top with the grapefruit juice and cranberry juice.
- Give the drink a slow gentle stir. Garnish with a pink grapefruit wedge and a lime slice, or a grapefruit peel garnish. Serve immediately.
TIPS
- Fresh lime juice is non-negotiable. Bottled lime juice is flat and can have a bit of a chemical taste, and in a drink with just three ingredients you’ll notice.
- Make a pitcher for a crowd. This is one of the best party drinks because it scales up so easily. For 8 servings, combine 14 oz (415ml) vodka, 14 oz (415ml) grapefruit juice, 26.5 oz (785ml) cranberry juice cocktail and 2 oz (60ml) fresh lime juice in a pitcher. Add citrus slices, keep it chilled, and serve over ice.
- Adjust the ratio to your taste. The classic ratio is roughly 2 parts grapefruit juice to 1 part cranberry, with 1.5 oz of vodka. If you want it less sweet, add more grapefruit. If you want a deeper color, add a splash more cranberry. It’s a very forgiving drink.
- Want a frozen version? Blend all the ingredients with a cup of ice per serving until smooth. It’s fantastic on a hot day. A frozen sea breeze is a little like a fruit slushie for adults.
More cocktails you’ll love
If you like the grapefruit + vodka combination, my Greyhound cocktail is the stripped-back version of this drink, with nothing but vodka and fresh grapefruit juice. It’s clean, minimal, and completely delicious. For something in the same citrus-forward family, the vodka gimlet with homemade lime cordial is one of my favorites. The homemade lime cordial takes it to a whole other level.
Sea Breeze Cocktail
Ingredients
- 1 3/4 oz vodka
- 1/4 oz lime juice fresh only
- 1 3/4 oz ruby red grapefruit juice carton or freshly squeezed
- 3 1/3 oz cranberry juice Ocean spray or similar
- ice to fill the glass
Garnish
- pink grapefruit wedge
- lime slice
Instructions
- Fill a tall highball glass all the way to the top with ice.
- Pour over the vodka and lime juice.
- Add the cranberry juice and grapefruit juice in any order. Don't stir for distinct layers or stir gently for a coral-pink color.
- Garnish with a pink grapefruit wedge and a lime slice on the rim. Serve immediately.
Notes
- Grapefruit juice: A carton of ruby red grapefruit juice is the bar standard and what this drink was built around. Fresh squeezed is a lovely upgrade if you feel like it.
- Lime juice: Fresh only, no bottled. It takes ten seconds and makes a real difference in a drink this simple.
- Cranberry: Use cranberry juice cocktail, not 100% pure cranberry juice.Â
- Virgin version: Simply omit the vodka for a virgin sea breeze. It’s just as delicious.
- Ratio: Adjust to taste. More grapefruit makes it tarter and lighter; more cranberry makes it deeper and sweeter.
- Make a pitcher for a crowd. This is one of the best party drinks because it scales up so easily. For 8 servings, combine 14 oz (415ml) vodka, 14 oz (415ml) grapefruit juice, 26.5 oz (785ml) cranberry juice cocktail and 2 oz (60ml) fresh lime juice in a pitcher. Add citrus slices, keep it chilled, and serve over ice.
