BAY BREEZE
The Bay Breeze: A Tropical Breeze Variation
The Bay Breeze emerged during the 1970s as a variation of the Sea Breeze, substituting pineapple juice for grapefruit juice. The drink was part of Ocean Spray's marketing campaigns promoting cranberry juice cocktails, creating a family of "breeze" drinks that became popular in American bars, according to Liquor.com.
The cocktail combines vodka with cranberry juice and pineapple juice. This pairing creates a sweeter, more tropical profile than the Sea Breeze, where pineapple's sweetness balances cranberry's tartness while complementing vodka's clean character, as noted in Difford's Guide.
The Bay Breeze belongs to the broader category of simple, fruit-forward vodka cocktails that dominated casual drinking culture during the late 20th century. The drink's tropical flavor profile made it popular in beach bars and vacation destinations, according to Punch.
The Bay Breeze is sometimes called a "Hawaiian Sea Breeze" or "Downeaster," though Bay Breeze remains the most common name.
RECIPE:
1.5 oz vodka
3 oz cranberry juice
1.5 oz pineapple juice
Pineapple wedge or lime wheel for garnish
Method:
Fill a highball glass with ice.
Add vodka, cranberry juice, and pineapple juice.
Stir gently to combine.
Garnish with pineapple wedge or lime wheel.