The Bay Breeze is an easy drink to make. This classic cocktail is comprised of just three ingredients: vodka, pineapple juice and cranberry juice.
It is a great cocktail recipe for any home bartender to have up their sleeve, especially since you only have to have one liquor on hand, plus cranberry and pineapple juices. It is also a nice choice for those who love tropical drinks, but aren't a fan of the taste of rum.
Bay Breeze Drink
This refreshing cocktail is considered a spin-off of the Cape Codder, despite not only adding pineapple to the drink, but varying greatly on ratios. It is one of many juice based vodka cocktails, and has itself led numerous new cocktail creations, such as the Summer Breeze Cocktail and Madras drink, both of which I feature here on the blog.
The Bay Breeze is also known as a Downeaster or a Hawaiian Sea Breeze.
What ingredients are in a Bay Breeze?
There is a lot of variation between bar manuals in the ratios used in this cocktail recipe. The three ingredients are always the same though.
According to the International Bartenders Association (IBA) the Bay Breeze is made up of:
- 2 ounces vodka
- 6 ounces cranberry juice
- 1 ½ ounces pineapple juice
I personally prefer to make mine more pineapple heavy, which is popular among many modern bartenders as well.
- 2 ounces vodka
- 2 ounces cranberry juice
- 4 ounces pineapple juice
Notice the deeper red color of the top example, which has a larger ratio of cranberry juice.
Garnish with pineapple with or without maraschino cherry. Add a paper umbrella if you like 🙂
How do you make a Bay Breeze?
Here is a quick visual guide to how I make a Bay Breeze cocktail. Printable recipe card can be found below.
Start with a highball glass filled with ice. Tulip or other decorative glass are also great.
Pour vodka over ice.
I pour in the cranberry juice next.
Then top off with pineapple juice and shake or stir.
Finally, add your garnish if you want one. Pineapple wedges with maraschino cherries are most commonly used.
What's the difference between a Bay Breeze and a Sea Breeze?
The Bay Breeze cocktail features pineapple juice with vodka and cranberry, whereas the Sea Breeze has grapefruit juice rather than pineapple. Garnish with pineapple slices and a wedge of lime.
Malibu Bay Breeze
The malibu bay breeze cocktail is made just as above, except swapping the vodka for Malibu rum. The tasty flavor of coconut rum gives the refreshing bay breeze cocktail an even more tropical taste! Perfect for summer!
More Fun Classic Cocktails
Bay Breeze Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 ounces vodka
- 2 ounces cranberry juice
- 4 ounces pineapple juice
Instructions
- Fill a highball or any tall glass with fresh ice.
- Pour 2 ounce shot of vodka over the ice.
- Add cranberry.
- and pineapple juice, then shake or stir.
- Garnish with fruit.
Notes
Nutrition
Meagen Brosius says
I love cocktails like this that are easy to put together but look and taste amazing! Such a great one for fighting off these winter blues, makes me feel like I'm in the islands on vacation!
Renee Goerger says
These make me feel like I'm on vacation! They're yummy, and go down like a breeze!
Tisha says
I'll take the one with more pineapple! Such a simple delicious cocktail!
Rosa says
This sounds perfect. I’ll be making some as soon as the weather warms up so I can sit in my backyard and pretend I’m on vacation haha.
Elizabeth says
Now this is my kind of mixed drink recipe! None of that shaking and stirring and zesting and simple syruping. Just liquid, in a glass. Perfect!
Toni says
I really loved it! So delicious!
Jinger says
I love how you gave the two versions of the drink. I like more pineapple in my bay breeze. That one was perfect for me.
Caroline says
My new favorite drink recipe!
Pamela says
Thanks. I like my bay breeze with more pineapple most recipes don't show that version too