Sex on the Beach Cocktail is the perfect fun, fruity drink. It is made with simple ingredients. This will be you go to drink all Summer long!
Enjoy this fruity cocktail by the pool, at a summer party, or make this classic beach drink during the colder months to have that summer feeling all year round. Try my Pina Colada or my Mint Julep recipes for more Drinks.
Sabrina’s Sex on the Beach Cocktail Recipe
Whether you are completely new to drink-making or a tried and true mixologist, this fun drink is the perfect recipe to add to your at-home cocktail menu. It’s quick, easy, and doesn’t require any special equipment to make it. All you have to do is pour the fun ingredients over ice, mix, garnish, and sip. Simple as that!
Recipe Card
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup vodka
- 1/2 cup cranberry juice
- 1/4 cup peach schnapps
- 2 slices orange , thinly sliced
- 2 maraschino cherries , with stem
Instructions
- To two highball glasses add 1 cup of ice to each one.
- Add in the vodka, cranberry juice and peach schnapps; stir well.
- Garnish the glass with a slice of orange and a maraschino cherry with stem.
Nutrition
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Note from Sabrina
You can also make a mocktail version of this recipe if you are having a party that has non-drinkers or kids. It doesn’t taste exactly the same because you don’t have the alcohol to balance out the sweet fruit juice flavors but it’s still a fun and delicious drink. I’ve included instructions for a non-alcoholic version in the Variations section of this recipe.
Table of contents
About this Recipe
Not only is this drink easy to make, but once it’s done, you’ll have the best-tasting drink to share. The refreshing taste of peach, cranberry juice, and a splash of vodka make this a classic drink recipe for summer. After a hot day, there’s no better way to relax than a sweet, fruity drink over ice. That’s probably why this cocktail classic is the drink of choice for vacationers. So, whether you’re actually on vacation or just wishing you were, you can follow this recipe for the ultimate fruity summer drink.
What is a Sex on the Beach Cocktail?
This delicious cocktail is a fairly new creation, but it has quickly become a go-to drink for the summer. Although the exact origins of this favorite summer cocktail aren’t certain, many people believe it came about in the late 80s thanks to a Florida bartender. As the story goes, the bartender created the cocktail recipe as part of a peach schnapps promotion.
Ingredients
- Vodka: Vodka is the base liquor for this recipe, which is ideal for this recipe because it doesn’t overwhelm the amazing fruit flavor. You can use any of your favorite vodka brands, but Tito’s, Absolut, or Sobieski vodka are all great options to try.
- Peach Schnapps: The peach schnapps acts as another alcohol and brings the signature peach flavor to this drink recipe.
- Cranberry Juice: The fruit juice adds the perfect tangy fruit flavor and balances out the alcohol with a fresh flavor.
Can this be made ahead of time?
Yes, you can! Prepare the drink mixture a day or two before and keep it chilled in the refrigerator. When you’re ready to serve, simply pour over ice and garnish for an easy cocktail that’s ready to go! Instead of making individual glasses, you can make a full pitcher of this classic cocktail recipe. This is a great option if you’re hosting a party and want to make Sex on the Beach Cocktails for a crowd. Instructions are down below in my Variations Section.
Serving Ideas
This is also an excellent drink for a party or summer cookout. You can enjoy it with bbq favorites like Pulled Pork, Grilled Chicken, or Hamburgers. The refreshing beverage is perfect for pairing with crowd-pleasing cookout favorites. If you are serving a crowd, also be sure to look at the instructions I’ve included for making a large batch of Sex on the Beach Cocktail blend.
How to Store
- Serve: Cocktail recipes are typically at their best served fresh. I’d recommend enjoying this drink right after mixing it.
- Store: If you do want to make the cocktail mix in advance for a party or get-together, you can follow my instructions for making a pitcher of it. Then keep your Sex on the Beach Cocktail blend covered in the fridge for 1-2 days before serving. You’ll want to mix the ingredients again before pouring them over ice to serve.
Frequent Questions
Despite its sweet flavor, this cocktail does contain two types of alcohol. The exact alcohol content depends on the brands of liquor you buy and how heavy your pour is. But it’s usually around 11-12% alcohol by volume. So, while it’s not the strongest drink by any means, it can definitely sneak up on you, especially if you have more than one.
You want a tall glass for this cocktail recipe. You’ll often see them served in a hurricane glass at bars. Tropical drinks are usually served in hurricane glasses, not just because of their fun look but also because the flared top leaves room for garnishes and lets the fruity aromatics stand out. However, since most of us don’t have hurricane glasses at home, a classic highball glass will work well.
You don’t need a lot of equipment to make this recipe. You don’t even need a cocktail shaker. All you need are your two glasses, ice, fruit juice, vodka, peach schnapps, and a cocktail stirrer to mix everything together.
Variations
- Sex on the Beach with Orange Juice: Many Sex on the Beach Recipes call for orange juice. To include orange juice in this recipe, just use half orange juice and half cranberry juice. Mix the sweet fruit juices with the vodka and schnapps and enjoy.
- More Fruit Juices: There are plenty of other juice flavors that you could mix into this fruity cocktail. For some tart lemon flavor, add a spritz of lemon juice to the mix. Or, you could use fresh lime juice if you want a more tart citrus option. Grapefruit juice or pineapple juice also taste amazing with the fresh fruit flavor of this recipe.
- Alcohol-Free Sex on the Beach: To make a mocktail version of this recipe, you’ll replace the alcoholic ingredients with more flavorful fruit juices. I like using a mix of grapefruit juice and pineapple juice to replace the alcohol. Then add two ounces of peach nectar to get the sweet peachy flavor in this alcohol-free variation.
Big Batch Sex on the Beach Cocktail
- First, get out enough cocktail glasses for all your guests. To make your life even easier, rather than arranging the glasses yourself, you can have the ice and garnishes out for people to add to their cocktail glass themselves.
- All you have to do is pour the cocktail ingredients into your pitcher. The ingredient amounts will vary depending on how many people you’re serving. Simply multiply the ingredient amounts by the number of people you’re serving, and make sure to keep the ratio of vodka to juice the same. You can make multiple pitchers if it’s a large party.
- Mix the juice and vodka together.
- Guests can add ice to their glass and pour the premade cocktail mix over the top. Then add orange slices, cherries, and any other garnishes you’d like.
Blended Sex on the Beach Cocktail
- For the ultimate summer drink, try making a frozen version of this popular drink.
- Add the ice and a cup of frozen peaches to a high-speed blender. The frozen fruit will give the recipe a more smoothie or slushy-like consistency. You could also use other kinds of frozen fruit, like cranberries or orange slices.
- Pour the vodka, cranberry juice, and peach schnapps over the ice.
- Then blend until it has a thick, smoothie-like consistency.
- Pour the frozen Sex on the Beach Cocktails into glasses, and add straws and garnishes to serve.
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Photos Used In The Previous Posts
I mixed up a batch of these yesterday and the flavor was perfectly sweet and fruity without being overpowering. The combination of the peach schnapps and cranberry juice is just so refreshing. Thanks for sharing!!!
Glad you loved them, happy to share. It really is a good balance, isn’t it? Cheers, and thank you for the 5 Star review!