Delicious Sea Breeze Cocktail Recipe

This post is going to show you how to make a delicious version of a Sea Breeze cocktail!

The Sea Breeze as we all know it today is a cocktail that consists of vodka, grapefruit juice, and cranberry juice. It’s very simple and very delicious! We’re going to take that up a notch in this recipe and add some fresh passion fruit and sparkling grapefruit juice!

I started making this cocktail at a restaurant I worked at on the beach in Santa Cruz, California. It was simple, easy to make, delicious, and gave everyone those beach vibes as they sipped it right next to the ocean! This cocktail is an original Sweet Recipe that I am so excited to share with you all. Let’s get right into it! I call this:

“Santa Cruz Breeze” 

What You Will Need

Alcohol:

The main spirit in this sea breeze cocktail recipe will be vodka! I have chosen to use Ketel One. This vodka is known for being SMOOTH! It’s velvet texture makes it an amazing option to mix cocktails with. There’s very subtle notes of citrus and black pepper that give this vodka a leg of its own to stand on. I highly recommend having this bottle at your home bar! Definitely a great vodka to have on hand. I got my bottle at Total Wine and More, but you can also find it at Bevmo, Liquor Stores, and most Grocery Stores!

Other Ingredients:

The first main ingredient to add into this sea breeze cocktail is Cranberry Juice! In traditional fashion this ingredient is a key component for your typical sea breeze cocktail. I like to get the Ocean Spray brand but you can also get whatever brand you prefer! Cranberry juice and vodka have been a killer combo for ages and probably a lot of peoples first orders at bars when they turn 21. Cranberry juice is tart and just a tad sweet. Find a bottle of your liking at any Grocery Store!

Up next comes the ingredient that gives this cocktail its unique twist! You will be needing fresh Passion Fruit! Passion fruit is an incredibly unique tropical fruit that grows on a vine. It also sprouts some of the most beautiful flowers you will ever see! Passionfruit is tart, slightly sweet, floral, and has a bit of a citrus kick. I was lucky enough to find passion fruit growing on a vine on my neighbors fence! I live in San Diego and I am extremely grateful to have found a natural resource like that. Seasonally you can find passion fruit in grocery stores! Don’t be afraid to call local markets or grocery stores such as Whole Foods to see if they have it in stock.

A replacement if you cannot find a fresh passion fruit would be to use Giffards Passion Fruit Liqueur. If you use this liqueur add in about 1 oz to the recipe.

To balance out some of the tartness from the cranberry and the passion fruit we will be using Simple Syrup! Just like in the name, simple syrup is extremely simple to make! The ratio is 1:1 of hot water to white sugar.

• In pot on stove add in desired amount of water.
• Bring water to a slight boil then turn down the heat a bit.
• Add in equal parts white sugar to water.
• Stir mixture together until sugar is dissolved and you have a syrup like consistency.
• Bring off the heat and let cool.
• Store in fridge!

What’s also great is that it can be stored in the fridge for up to a month. If you plan on making multiple cocktails for people or making drinks through the month then make yourself a larger batch!

I love to store my fresh juices and syrups in olive oil bottles like shown in the photo above! They are easy to store, easy to pour, and add a professional aspect to your home bar! I actually found a really cool set on Amazon that comes with bottles, labels, pour spouts and more! I will link it RIGHT HERE!

Lastly we will be needing some grapefruit juice! This particular recipe calls for a fill of Sparkling Grapefruit Juice. This step is added after the cocktail has been shaken and strained. You never want to shake anything that is carbonated because it will lose that crisp kick!

I’m a sucker for a little carbonation in my cocktails. I will use any opportunity I get to use sparkling grapefruit juice! I chose to use the brand Q mixers! These mixers are delicious and available in grocery stores such as Vons, Target, Walmart, and more! I highly suggest checking this brand out, they have lots of fun flavors as well as the classic mixers.

Bar Supplies:

The main component you will need for this sea breeze cocktail is a shaker. I usually use a Boston shaker when building my cocktails, but recently for guests and for filming I have been using a Glass Cobbler Shaker! I love the look of this shaker and the ease of the pour. When you shake a cocktail you are diluting it and building it in volume at the same time! This is a crucial step for most drink builds. If you want to check out the glass shaker that I used you can do so right HERE!

Next you will be needing a bar Jigger! A jigger is a tool you use to measure the liquid ingredients in your cocktail. A great cocktail should be balanced, beautiful, and consistent. That’s why using a jigger is so important! My jigger ranges from 1/4 oz to 2 oz. If you want to check out one identical to mine you can do so RIGHT HERE!

I must say that when I was just a beginner in the bartending world, I used a jigger that was much more simplified. It was great and truly let me build my skills with confidence. This jigger has only one side, very clear measurement lines, and a pour spout! If you’re just beginning and want to use this jigger to learn I will link the exact one I used to use RIGHT HERE!

I also must mention that you will need ICE. Lots of people have fridges with an ice dispenser which is perfect for you to use. Alas, if you do not have accessible fridge ice, AKA ME, you will have to freeze your own! As you can see in the photo above I use a silicone perfect ice cube tray. You can find an identical one that comes with a LID right HERE! I am lucky enough to have a cocktail store near me as well that  carries perfect ice in every size but that is not always the most affordable option. I would still suggest you check if any such stores exist near your location! Although a little more pricey, definitely worth it in quality!!!

I do recommend that if you are starting to create multiple cocktails at home, you should invest in your own personal Bartending Kit. Most come with everything you will need as a beginner while others provide several items for more complex creations. I will put links to both a beginners set, and a more advanced set on Amazon below!

Beginners Kit : HERE

Advanced Kit : HERE

Let’s Build!