Sea Breeze Cocktail Recipe

While it's always nice to go to a bar with friends, and have someone make a drink for you, playing bartender in the comfort of your home can be just as fun. The great part about making cocktails at home is that you won't pay the premium price for them, and you know exactly what goes into the drink. Another plus? You can easily customize your drink by adding an extra shot, or swapping out the garnishes.

Recipe developer Jennine Rye of the Marshside Pantry is the brains behind this killer beverage that's great to enjoy with family and friends. "I love a simple, classic cocktail recipe. It's not too fussy — you don't need a cocktail shaker, or any other fancy equipment or ingredients. It's straight forward, cheap, and really, really refreshing, " Rye raves. "It's a great summertime cocktail to enjoy in the evening time heat, or any other time of year if you are looking for a delicious, refreshing cocktail. It's a great cocktail to know and serve to friends, because it's so quick to make, but it's also quite a classic. So, I would say an evening with friends, or a summertime barbecue would be the perfect times [to serve] this recipe." 

Keep reading to find out how to play bartender, and make this refreshing sea breeze cocktail. 

For this recipe, you may already have some of the ingredients on hand. Be sure to get vodka, cranberry juice, grapefruit juice, and a lime to garnish.

Once you have those items, you can make this refreshing sea breeze cocktail.

First things first, fill a glass with ice. "Classically, this drink is served in a highball or collins glass. [Since] it requires a lot of ice, it works well (and I think looks lovely and modern) in a rocks glass," Rye notes. Add the vodka, cranberry juice, and grapefruit juice into the glass.

Use a spoon or bar spoon to stir the drink together. "This cocktail has a sharp, refreshing taste," Rye explains. "It is fruity and also quite tart, but really well-balanced. Definitely dangerously easy to keep drinking." 

The last thing you will need to do is cut the lime into slices, and add 1 to the side of the glass. If you'd like, you can also add a few other garnishes. "You can definitely add other garnishes besides lime," Rye says. "Lime is the classic accompaniment to a sea breeze, but you can mix things up by using different fresh fruits: lemon, orange, grapefruit wedges, or even a slice of pineapple would go well. Or, a segment of dried fruit, or citrus peel would give the cocktail a more modern and stylish feel." 

Now, let's raise our glasses, and sip this delicious sea breeze cocktail. This beverage would be great to enjoy during a happy hour, or on a tropical vacation. Rye also provides a few serving suggestions, if you want to pair the cocktail with food. "I think this drink is great accompanied with finger foods and light dishes, like salads and fruit. It would also make a good pairing with classic barbecue foods," Rye suggests. 

We hope this drink makes your next happy hour great!