Cape Codder
Vodka and cranberry juice built over ice for a tart, refreshing highball.
11%
ABV
152
Calories
Highball
Glass
Flavor Profile
Flavor Journey
Ingredients
Quality ingredients make all the difference. Each component plays a crucial role.
1.5 oz
4 oz
Method
Technique transforms ingredients into something extraordinary.
Fill a highball glass with ice
Add vodka
Top with cranberry juice and stir
Garnish with a lime wedge
Glassware
Highball glass filled with ice
Garnish
Lime wedge
Master's Tips
Professional insights to elevate your craft
Use unsweetened cranberry juice for a cleaner flavor
Chill vodka before building
Squeeze the lime wedge for extra brightness
Variations & Riffs
Classic cocktails inspire countless variations. Here are some popular riffs on the Cape Codder.
Sea Breeze
Vodka with cranberry and grapefruit juices for a tart, fruity highball.
Bay Breeze
Vodka, peach schnapps, cranberry, and pineapple juices for a tropical vodka highball.
Madras
Simple and refreshing—vodka with cranberry and orange juice over ice for a tart, fruity highball.
Rose Kennedy
A minimalist highball—vodka and crisp club soda kissed with a pale splash of cranberry and a lemon wedge.
Other Variations
Stronger Pour
Boost vodka to 2 oz for more bite.
Changes
Lighter Touch
Add more cranberry juice for a lower-ABV sipper.
Changes
Sweet and Tart
A splash of simple syrup balances the bite of unsweetened juice.
Changes
History & Heritage
“Ocean Spray popularized the vodka-cranberry highball in the late 1940s to sell its juice, originally calling it the "Red Devil" before rebranding to evoke Cape Cod's cranberry bogs. It became the foundation for a family of easygoing summer cocktails that dominated 1980s bars.”
More to Explore
If you enjoyed this cocktail, these similar creations might capture your interest.
Baby Woo Woo
A shot‑size Woo Woo—vodka and peach schnapps shaken with cranberry for a tart, fruity shooter.
Madras
Simple and refreshing—vodka with cranberry and orange juice over ice for a tart, fruity highball.
Rose Kennedy
A minimalist highball—vodka and crisp club soda kissed with a pale splash of cranberry and a lemon wedge.