Black Flannel Academy

Sea Breeze

Cranberry · Grapefruit · Sour · Spirit-forward · Vodka
Sex On The Beach cocktail photograph
Photo: Sex On The Beach.jpg — Stuart Webster from Southampton, England · CC BY 2.0. Resized for display; photo remains under its stated license. Similar cocktail shown: Sex On The Beach.

Cranberry and grapefruit give vodka a tart fruit frame, with possible berry astringency distinct from acidity.

IBA published specification · 1 reference serve.

Glassware

Highball

Technique

Build

Ice

Fresh cubes

Garnish

an orange zest and cherry

Preparation effort

Low

Ingredients & measurements

Ingredient mL US fl oz Source measure / qualification
Vodka 40 1.35 40 ml Vodka
Cranberry Juice 120 4.06 120 ml Cranberry Juice
Grapefruit Juice 30 1.01 30 ml Grapefruit Juice

Converted equivalents are rounded for display; use one measurement system consistently. Dashes, spoonfuls, fruit counts and unspecified top-ups remain source measures. A blank equivalent does not mean zero.

How to make it

Combine the ingredients over fresh ice and stir gently.

Glass: Highball. Ice: Fresh cubes. Garnish: an orange zest and cherry.

Flavor & balance

  • Sour (Acidic) (dominant): Citrus contributes the principal tart edge; fruit ripeness and juice yield affect balance.
  • Astringent (Dry) (supporting): Tea or cranberry can contribute drying grip. Judge it separately from sourness and low sweetness.

Assess sweetness, bitterness and tactile drying separately. These flavor expectations are based on recipe structure, not measured tasting scores. Actual products, ice and dilution will change the result.

Preparation & batching

Service complexity: low. Batchability: spirit components only.

  • Measure and label the chosen product specification; chill appropriate glassware.
  • Prepare and measure fresh fruit components for the service plan; do not assume a fruit count guarantees a juice volume.

Finish chilling, dilution and garnish at service. Trial the actual serving method before approving a batch. Workload is an editorial assessment; no labor timing or storage validation is claimed.

Spirit & ingredient choices

Style Role Evidence level Qualification
S102 — Vodka — Neutral Character base qualified Unflavored neutral vodka is the working interpretation; the source does not specify retained-base character or distillation details.

Recipe notes & variations

For a Black Flannel variation, change one component at a time and record the selected product, proof, sweetener concentration and dilution. Compare it with this reference before naming or publishing the variation.

Sources & further reading

  • International Bartenders Association — checked 2026-09-18. Recipe identity and published ingredient specification; editorial sensory and workload assessments are not source tasting results.

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