Cape Codder
Vodka and cranberry juice built over ice for a tart, refreshing highball.
11%
ABV
easy
Difficulty
highball
Glass
Flavor Profile
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.”
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
Fresh 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
Flavor Journey
Every great cocktail tells a story through its flavors. Here's the sensory experience you can expect.
Sweet
out of 10
Sour
out of 10
Bitter
out of 10
Strong
out of 10
Variations & Riffs
Classic cocktails inspire countless variations. Here are some popular riffs on the Cape Codder.
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
Sea Breeze
Adds grapefruit juice for a tart coastal cousin.
Changes
Bay Breeze
Pineapple juice brings a tropical twist.
Changes
Madras
Orange juice softens the tart cranberry.
Changes
Rose Kennedy
Top with club soda and a squeeze of lime for a lighter highball.
Changes
More to Explore
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Sea Breeze
Vodka with cranberry and grapefruit juices for a tart, fruity highball.
Woo Woo
Vodka, peach schnapps and cranberry shaken into a bright-pink party drink born from the peach schnapps boom of the 1980s.
Bay Breeze
Vodka, peach schnapps, cranberry, and pineapple juices for a tropical vodka highball.