The Perfect Sex on the Beach Recipe

WRITTEN BY: SCOTT VAN DORT

Sex on the Beach is an iconic Vodka cocktail that looks like a sunset and tastes like a summer vacation. A delicious combination of Vodka, Peach Schnapps, Orange Juice, and Cranberry Juice, it was THE cocktail to drink in the 80s and its playful name and fruity flavors made it a hit at beach bars and parties everywhere.

But it doesn’t matter if it’s winter or summer, with our easy-to-make guaranteed-to-impress-your-friends cocktail recipe, you can bring the sun and the party wherever you are. 

We’re going to present to you two versions of this cocktail. First, we’ll show how to make the classic layered version, which is begging-to-be-photographed, followed by our personal favorite – the shaken Sex on the Beach.

How to Make a Sex on the Beach Cocktail

What You’ll Need

• Highball Glass 
• Paring Knife (for the Lime)
• Cocktail Shaker
• Jigger or Measuring Instrument

How to Mix

1. Fill a Highball Glass with ice cubes.
2. Add Absolut Vodka, Peach Schnapps and Cranberry Juice.
3. Top up carefully with fresh pressed Orange Juice, making sure the layers stay separated.
4. Garnish with a wheel of Lime and a Cherry, and enjoy!

The Shaken Sex On The Beach:

1. Fill a Shaker with ice cubes.
2. Add Absolut Vodka, Peach Schnapps, Cranberry Juice and fresh pressed Orange Juice.
3. Shake until chilled.
4. Strain into an ice filled Highball Glass.
5. Garnish with a Lime Wheel and a Cherry, and enjoy!

What is a Sex on the Beach Cocktail?
 

A light, fruity cocktail made with Vodka, Cranberry Juice, Peach liqueur (or Peach Schnapps) and Orange Juice. It’s an 80s summer party in cocktail form!

Combining both sweet and tart flavors and served in an Ice-filled Highball Glass, Sex on the Beach is mesmerizing with its vibrant layered colors. And yes, it’s as delicious as it looks.

But whatever you do, don’t forget to put a Cherry on top. The Cherry is usually overlooked as “just a prop”, but it does a lot to elevate the drinking experience.  Some bartenders will go for an Orange Slice as well, but we think that the Cherry is where the magic happens.

What Does a Sex on the Beach Cocktail Taste Like?

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

I always use freshly squeezed Orange Juice. You won’t believe just how much fresh can elevate your cocktail to world-class cocktail bar standard. In fact, as a general rule when you’re making any cocktail at home, you should always use fresh Citrus, never bottled stuff. Trust us!

The History of the Sex on the Beach Cocktail

As the story goes, it 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 smooth and sweet 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.

Variations of the Sex on the Beach Cocktail

• Peach on the Beach
  A peachy beach party for your taste buds. By changing the drink measurements (see our recipe), replacing the Lime and Cherry garnishes with a Peach wedge, but otherwise retaining all the other ingredients, you’ve got yourself a delicious Peach on the Beach.  Check out our Peach on the Beach recipe.Tip! Take your Peach on the Beach to new heights by using Absolut Peach Flavored Vodka.
• Sex on the Beach Mocktail
  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.

Serving and Garnish Ideas

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 very 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 baby!