The Story Behind the Cape Codder Cocktail

As you become ingrained in the Cape Cod community, you might want to sample the region's signature cocktail. However, you'll be surprised to learn that the Cape Codder, or Cape Cod, cocktail isn't anything complex; it's a simple combination of vodka and cranberry juice over ice. 

While this drink isn't anything special from a mixology standpoint, there's a story behind its creation. Hint: Cape Cod's flora is one reason for the name. 

After purchasing a home on the Cape, you'll likely find yourself a local watering hole to frequent, and that's the perfect place to order your first Cape Codder.

Here's some information on the Cape Cod cocktail and its connection to this region as a whole. 

An Ocean Spray Invention

There's a unique story behind the Cape Codder because it was more of a marketing ploy than anything else. Basically, the cranberry and vodka drink was invented by Ocean Spray in the 1940s as a way to encourage more people to purchase their products. 

At that time, the drink was called the Red Devil, and rumors suggest that it actually got its start at the bars of Cape Cod in the summer. However, one of the earliest records of the drink comes from Pierre's restaurant in Manhattan in 1945. 

It's important to remember that Ocean Spray is an agricultural cooperative of cranberry and grapefruit growers with headquarters in Plymouth, Massachusetts. Since Cape Cod is full of cranberry bogs, there's a unique connection between the region and the company. The headquarters' location in nearby Plymouth also helps. 

In 1957, a restaurant chain called Trader Vic's began selling a similar cocktail, although they called it the Rangoon Ruby. 

So how did the Cape Codder name come to fruition? More marketing from Ocean Spray.

A Name Change

The earliest evidence of a drink called the Cape Codder appeared in an Ocean Spray advertisement found in the New Yorker in 1965. The ad referred to the Cape Codder as America's newest cocktail creation, possibly because the Red Devil didn't really take off in the 40s and 50s. As a result, rebranding became necessary. 

The drink was also mentioned in an advertisement in Time magazine in 1966. Many of the ads took up full pages in these publications, suggesting that Ocean Spray was putting a bit of money into marketing this new cocktail and hoping it would take off.

Something to keep in mind is that while Cape Codder is its most popular name, the drink is also referred to as a Bog-Fog in Miami and simply a vodka-cranberry in other areas. However, when living on the Cape, you can ask for a Cape Codder, and bartenders will know precisely what you want.

How You Make It

The recipe for a Cape Codder is simple, as you'll put ice in a highball glass and add vodka and cranberry juice at whatever ratio you prefer. You can also add a lime wedge if you wish.

However, there are multiple variations of the drink, starting with the Rose Kennedy. This cocktail is named after the Kennedy family's matriarch and mother of John F. Kennedy, Rose. The recipe is similar to the traditional Cape Codder, except it also adds club soda. 

That's not the only variation of this popular drink, either. The Sea Breeze calls for grapefruit juice, in addition to the cranberry juice, while the Bay Breeze uses pineapple juice. There's also the Grape Codder, which adds grape and lime juice, the transfusion, which uses ginger ale, and the purple haze, which adds raspberry liqueur.

There's even a variation of the Cape Codder for the winter months, as you can forget the ice and warm the drink in a saucepan to create a heated Cape Cod. You'll garnish this drink with some cranberries, too.

Enjoy Cape Cod's Signature Drink

So, it turns out that Cape Cod's signature cocktail is nothing more than a 1960s marketing ploy by a nearby business to drum up interest in one of its products. At the same time, it's now part of the Cape's history, and you'll see people enjoying a Cape Codder at pretty much every bar in the region in the summer.

Once you live on Cape Cod, you'll quickly recognize why a drink with cranberry juice would take on the region's name, as the cranberry bogs take up a lot of space and are even visible from some major roads. 

You can take a tour of the cranberry bogs to learn more about this rich history, a trip that is well worth your time if you're interested in immersing yourself in everything that is Cape Cod.