Cape Codder

Difford's Guide
Discerning Drinkers (29 ratings)

Serve in a

Collins glass

Photographed in an

UB Koto Collins 35cl
Ingredients:
1 2/3 fl oz Ketel One Vodka (from freezer)
1/4 fl oz Lime juice (freshly squeezed)
3 1/2 fl oz Cranberry juice (sweetened) (chilled)
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Read about cocktail measures and measuring.

Garnish:

Lime wedge

How to make:

POUR ingredients into ice-filled glass, ideally using vodka from a freezer and chilled juices. (Citrus fruit should be stored in a refrigerator prior to juicing.)

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Strength & taste guide:


Review:

Dry and refreshing but not particularly interesting.

Variant:

Without lime juice, this is a Cape Cod. Lengthened with soda becomes the Cape Cod Cooler. With orange juice it becomes Madras. The Cape Codder is also related to the Harpoon; Seabreeze and Bay Breeze.

History:

Basically a "vodka cranberry" with a splash of lime, the Cape Codder is named after the Cape Cod resort on the Massachusetts coast. This is where some of the first Europeans settled in the US and found cranberries, the indigenous North American berry, the juice of which is mixed with vodka and a splash of lime to make this drink.

The same combination of ingredients went by the earlier name "Red Devil" this faded soon after the name Cape Codder emerged. The Cape Codder quickly become a popular drink, reaching the height of popularity during the early 1980s. Victor Bergeron includes a similar "Rangoon Ruby in his 1972 Trader Vic's Bartender's Guide as one of his own creations.

RANGOON RUBY
½ lime
1½ ounces cranberry juice
2 ounces vodka
Club soda
Squeeze lime juice over ice cubes in a 12-ounce sling glass; save shell. Add cranberry juice and vodka. Fill glass with soda. Stir gently. Decorate with spent lime shell, fresh mint, and fruit stick.

Victor Bergeron, 1972

Nutrition:

One serving of Cape Codder contains 161 calories.

Alcohol content:

  • 1.3 standard drinks
  • 11.19% alc./vol. (22.38° proof)
  • 18.2 grams of pure alcohol
Difford's Guide remains free-to-use thanks to the support of the brands in green above. Values stated for alcohol and calorie content, and number of drinks an ingredient makes should be considered approximate.

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New Year's Day image

New Year's Day

If Auld Lang Syne left your throat dry? And dancing left your feet sore? And drinking left your head fuzzy? Then resist the temptation to curl up in bed

Hot Toddy Day image

Hot Toddy Day

In the days before ice was easily available - and in most parts of the world, you needed to be pretty much royalty to own an ice house and keep it stocked

The day Prohibition started image

The day Prohibition started

One minute after midnight on this day in 1920, the Volstead Act became law and Prohibition descended on the United States, making it illegal to possess,

Beer Can Appreciation Day image

Beer Can Appreciation Day

Here at Difford's Guide we're huge fans of beer cans – indeed we prefer cans to bottles. So we're happy to support this marketing gimmick of a day from

Burns Night image

Burns Night

The evening of January 25th is when Scots everywhere hold Burns Suppers in honour of the birth of Scotland's favourite poet and son, Robert Burns. Born

Brandy Alexander Day image

Brandy Alexander Day

For no particular reason we know of, today has been declared Brandy Alexander Day. Hoorah!

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