Did you know the Bay Breeze cocktail was initially known as the Cape Codder?

The original Bay cocktail (cape codder) had vodka and cranberry juice, and a splash of lime juice. As time went by, people began to also add pineapple juice, creating the drink we now know as bay breeze.

How to Make a Bay Breeze Cocktail

Here’s what you’ll need:

1.5 oz. Vodka
4 oz. cranberry juice
1 oz pineapple juice

Take a highball glass and add ice cubes or crushed ice. Next, pour the vodka, pineapple, and cranberry juices, and stir the mixture with a bar spoon. Garnish with a lime wedge or pineapple wedge, and voilà!

Calories and Alcohol Content

Bay breeze cocktail is a low-calorie drink as long as you use fruit juices with low sugar content. In one classic Bay Breeze drink, you’ll find this nutrition label:

Nutrition Calories: 150-160 calories per serving
Nutrition information: 0.2g fat, 18g carbs, 0.5g protein
Alcohol content: 14-15% ABV (alcohol by volume) for the classic recipe made with a single shot (1.5 oz.)

Serving the Perfect Bay Breeze Cocktail

The Bay Breeze cocktail is a drink for the summer, and besides the classic highball glass, it comes with many other serving options.

If you want to add a touch of elegance, you can serve it in a tall martini glass. Meanwhile, those looking for a more rustic approach can go for a mason jar or tiki mug.

Those entertaining bigger groups can mix the Bay Breeze drink in a pitcher and let everyone help themselves to refills. These cocktails go well with several garnish options, but our favorites include lime wedges, pineapple slices, and maraschino cherries.

Tropical Bay Breeze Pairing Ideas

A lime wedge garnish goes a long way, but serving the Bay Breeze cocktail with complementary food can elevate the drinking experience.

Here’s what this drink goes well with:

Grilled shrimp skewers: The smoky, grilled flavors of the shrimp enhance the tropical notes of cranberry juice and pineapple juice.
Fresh fruit salad: The fruity theme of the salad matches the juice sweetness, especially if you add pineapple, mango, and papaya.
Hawaiian pizza: The pineapple slices on the pizza go perfectly with the tropical taste of the drink’s pineapple juice.
Fruit sorbet: The cool and fruity sorbet serves as a palate cleanser after sipping the tropical cocktail.

Bay Breeze Recipe Variations

If the vodka, cranberry juice, and pineapple juice combo doesn’t do it for you, you can try these variations:

Tropical Breeze with Coconut Rum: Instead of vodka, add coconut rum to the mix. If you like your drink more on the fizzy side, serve it with a splash of club soda.
Malibu Bay Breeze: Mix Malibu rum with equal parts of cran and pineapple juices in a highball glass full of ice. Give the glass a sweet stir, and you’re good to go!
Hawaiian Sea Breeze: Blend all the classic ingredients in a cocktail shaker, but finish off with grapefruit juice and a lime wheel.
Flavored Vodka Cocktail: If you don’t like vodka, go for a flavored option. Try raspberry, peach, or blueberry, as they perfectly complement the sweet drink.

Similar Vodka Cocktails

Here are other interesting vodka-based cocktails you might also find interesting: