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Cape Cod Drink – Simple Vodka Cocktail

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The Cape Cod drink is a classic cocktail made with a delicious mix of vodka and cranberry juice. It’s a simple drink recipe and it’s been a popular drink for decades.

It’s such a refreshing cocktail that it’s perfect for any occasion.

Cape Cod drink with a caraft of cranberry juice and vodka botle in background and fresh limes.

The Cape Cod drink, also known as the Cape Codder.

 

History of the Cape Cod Drink

The original drink name was actually called the Red Devil back in the 1940’s. It was created by Ocean Spray cranberry growers in an effort to sell more cranberry juice.

Since Red Devil didn’t have the best connotation for marketing, in the 1960’s the name was changed and subsequently marketed as the Cape Codder cocktail, since Cape Cod is where the majority of the cranberry bogs were located. This marketing ploy worked and helped bring cranberry juice into the mainstream.

The official name is Cape Codder, but over the years it’s simply been shortened to the Cape Cod cocktail. Even simpler, it’s often just called a Vodka Cranberry.

It’s a drink with many names, but it’s one of the easy vodka cocktails that most people love.

 

Why You’ll Love this Cape Cod Drink

  • Easy recipe that’s refreshing.
  • Easy to adjust to the amount of alcohol you want in your cocktail.
  • It’s a classic cocktail that’s perfect year round, but it’s best in the summer when you want a cool beverage.

Another delicious and fruity cocktail to enjoy during summertime is this Cherry Vodka Sour. It’s a delightful yet sophisticated with a gorgeous presentation!

Ingredients

This delicious Cape Cod drink is perfect for summer! Here are the only ingredients you need:

ICE: To keep your Cape Cod drink refreshingly cool, of course!

VODKA: This is a 2 ingredient drink, so use a good vodka that is smooth without a harsh bite.

CRANBERRY JUICE: Use Cranberry Cocktail which is already sweetened just right. The 100% Cranberry Juice will be more tart as Cranberry Cocktail juice will add a little sweetness to the cocktail.

LIMES: Add a squeeze of lime juice to brighten up this drink and add a lime wedge for garnish.

Cape Cod drink ingredients displayed on counter top.

 

How to Make a Cape Cod Drink

STEP 1: Fill a highball glass with ice cubes.

STEP 2: Add 1.5 – 2 ounces of vodka.

Pouring Vodka into a highball glass filled with ice.

 

STEP 3: Fill the rest of your cocktail glass with cranberry juice (about 4 ounces) and stir.

Top view of Cape Cod drink with limes and vodka bottle in background.

 

STEP 4: Add a splash of lime juice and garnish with a lime wedge or a pretty lime wheel.

TIP: You can also make this simple cocktail in cocktail shaker with a handful of ice. Shake until the outside is frosty and then strain into a highball glass filled with ice.

Cape Cod drink with a lime wedge on a cocktail skewer perched on top of drink.

 

When to Serve a Cape Cod Drink

It’s a pretty red drink making it popular for Valentine’s Day and even Mother’s Day.

Since it’s a simple drink, it’s perfect for serving a crowd of friends for happy hour. You can simply double, triple or quadruple the recipe in a large pitcher and let guests serve themselves.

More Simple Cocktails

Crown and Cranberry

Tequila Cranberry Cocktail

Pineapple Screwdriver

Apple Cider Martini

 

Enjoy this simple combination of vodka and cranberry juice for an occasion. Call it a Cape Cod drink or a Cape Codder, either way this vodka cranberry drink is refreshing and perfect for a summer cocktail or two.

Cheers!

Yield: 1

Cape Cod Drink

Cape Cod drink with a caraft of cranberry juice and vodka botle in background and fresh limes.

The Cape Cod drink is a classic cocktail made with a delicious mix of vodka and cranberry juice. It's a simple drink recipe and it's been a popular drink for decades.

Prep Time 3 minutes
Total Time 3 minutes

Ingredients

  • Ice
  • 1.5 - 2 ounces Vodka
  • 4 ounces Cranberry Juice
  • Limes

Instructions

  1. Fill a highball glass with ice cubes.
  2. Add 1.5 - 2 ounces of vodka.
  3. Fill the rest of your cocktail glass with cranberry juice (about 4 ounces) and stir.
  4. Add a squeeze of lime juice and garnish with a lime wedge or lime wheel.

Notes

See recipe post for tips. Drink Responsibly.

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Nutrition Information:

Yield:

1

Serving Size:

1

Amount Per Serving: Calories: 267Total Fat: 0gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 0gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 10mgCarbohydrates: 20gFiber: 2gSugar: 13gProtein: 1g

Nutritional values are estimates and not exact.

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I love easy recipes and delicious desserts and happy to share with you my favorite recipes. My favorite places are tropical, family always comes first and I'm a cocktail enthusiast for sure!
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