Sex On The Beach

A fruity cocktail made with vodka, cranberry juice, peach liqueur (or peach schnapps), and orange juice – it’s like an 80s summer party captured in a glass!

Served in a highball glass filled with ice cubes, a Sex on the Beach cocktail can be spotted from the other side of the bar with its mesmerizing layers of color that are sure to catch the eye.

If you’ve ever asked a bartender for something sweet, fruity or exotic, this is probably the cocktail you were hoping for. And we can’t blame you, it’s an amazing drink.

“Super fresh. Fresh orange juice with the perfect amount of peach schnapps in there. This is a fantastic drink,” shares Ricardo ‘Rico’ Dynan, Bartender and Absolut Global Brand Ambassador.

Sweet, fruity with the distinct notes of peach and orange balanced by the tartness of cranberry juice. Then there’s the smoothness of vodka that ties it all together.

As the story goes, the Sex on the Beach cocktail originated in the 1980s when a Florida bartender sought to boost sales of peach schnapps. He named the cocktail after the two primary attractions he believed lured people to Florida to celebrate: “sex” and the “beach.”

Following its peak popularity in the 1980s and 1990s – mainly among younger audiences looking for a sweet and fruity cocktail – this cocktail gradually lost favor as the craft cocktail movement gained momentum in the early 2000s.

Tip: Make a pitcher, it’ll last longer! This is a perfect cocktail to mix up in a big jug when you’ve got friends coming over. Make sure to switch over to Parts in the recipe above to get the ratios right.

• Use Sweetened Cranberry Juice
  We always say “always use fresh ingredients,” meaning make your own juice by squeezing or pressing fruits. But there’s an exception – cranberry juice.

  Cranberries are bitter, so unless you’re blending them with sugar yourself, go for store-bought sweetened cranberry juice. When a cocktail calls for cranberry juice, it typically means cranberry juice mix, which blends cranberry juice with added sugars and other fruit juices, making it less tart.So, we recommend using store bought cranberry juice to make a Sex on the Beach cocktail.

• Make Your Own Orange Juice
  On the flip side, when it comes to orange juice, we highly recommend making your own. Use a citrus press, citrus elbow, juicer or a blender – whatever you’ve got at home. Because there’s simply nothing like the fresh, juicy taste of fresh pressed orange juice.

  “You don’t even understand how much using fresh citrus juice in your cocktails really elevates them to world class cocktail bar level standards,” shares Rico.

• Peach on the Beach
  This variation contains the same ingredients as a Sex on the Beach, but amps up the flavor of peach by using peach-flavored vodka. Because life is peachy. Check out our Peach on the Beach recipe here.
• Sex on the Beach Mocktail
  Want to create an alcohol-free version? No problems!By leaving out the Vodka and replacing the peach schnapps with peach nectar (or peach juice but we prefer the thickness of nectar), you can create a Sex on the Beach mocktail, often called Cuddles on the Beach or Safe Sex on the Beach.
• Make a “built” Sex on the Beach cocktail
  Some people prefer “building” their Sex on the Beach cocktail instead of shaking it. Try both and see which you prefer. Here’s how to make a Sex on the Beach cocktail using the built method:
  1. Fill a highball glass with ice cubes.
  2. Use a jigger to measure and pour Absolut Vodka into the glass.
  3. Measure and add peach schnapps.
  4. Measure and add cranberry juice.
  5. Top up carefully with fresh pressed orange juice, making sure the layers stay separated.
  6. Garnish with a lime wheel and a cherry.

This cocktail is traditionally served in a classic highball glass. The tall, narrow shape shows off the cocktail’s beautiful colored layers and adequately accommodates the ice cubes.

If you follow our instructions and layer your cocktail, you’ll notice how the soft, enticing orange color of the orange juice sits perfectly atop of the beautiful fiery red hues of the cranberry juice. So stunning! Then give your cocktail a stir using a bar spoon and let those layered colors dance together and transform into a beautiful peach color right before your eyes.

Of course, it’s mandatory that this cocktail is garnished with a lime wheel and, of course, a cherry. Yeah, let’s bring back the 80s!