Sex On The Beach

What is a Sex on the Beach Cocktail?
 

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 over 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.

What Does a Sex on the Beach Drink Taste Like?

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 ana amazing drink.

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.

The History of the Sex on the Beach Cocktail

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.

How to Make the Perfect Sex on the Beach Cocktail

• 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. Just grab a citrus press and a couple of oranges and start squeezing. Because there’s simply nothing like the fresh, juicy taste of freshly pressed orange juice.

Variations of a Sex on the Beach Cocktail

• Peach on the Beach
  By changing the drink measurements (see below), 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 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.

Serving and Garnish Ideas for a Sex on the Beach cocktail

• 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.
• Oh! And it’s mandatory to garnish this drink with a lime wheel and, of course, a cherry.  Let’s bring back the 80s!