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Sex on the Beach Cocktail Recipe – vodka cocktail loaded with orange, cranberry, and peach schnapps for a tropical drink everyone loves!
Here at Sweet C’s, we have lots of types of readers – those who want to get straight to the recipe, and those who need more information to feel more comfortable in the kitchen.
We also have a clickable table of contents below that can help you navigate quickly through our recipe.
Table of contents
About Sex on The Beach Cocktails
Its sweet, fruity, and has an absolutely memorable (whether you hate it or love it) name – the Sex on the Beach cocktail is a classic that we always love making.
There are a lot of backstories people attribute to the history of the Sex on the Beach drink, but many people say it originated in the mid 1980’s at Confetti’s Bar in Florida. Ted Pizio, a bartender who was supposed to be moving lots of peach schnapps, came up with the name as a nod to what he thought “really” brought tourists to Florida – and decided sex and beaches were more popular than Mickey Mouse, or so the story goes.
No matter if you love or hate the name – the amazing sweet tropical flavor is always there!
This classic cocktail is easy to drink, simple to make, and doesn’t involve hard to find liquor – just vodka, peach schnapps, orange juice, and cranberry juice for a fresh and delicious tropical flavor.
Sex and the beach cocktails make perfect party drinks, can be made in big batches, and taste light and fruity – they aren’t overwhelming with a strong alcohol flavor.
You can make this drink stronger with more vodka; or make a tasty non-alcoholic version by adding tonic water instead of vodka and using peach simple syrup instead of peach schnapps – so everyone at your party can get in on the fun!
We hope you love this drink as much as we do.
How To Make Sex on the Beach
Sex on the Beach involves a mixture of vodka and peach schnapps.
The vodka you pick is up to you – we like Tito’s, but pick any brand you like that doesn’t have a flavor, and isn’t too expensive.
What juice to use for sex on the beach cocktails. Sex on the beach drinks use either orange or grapefruit juice – and the juice you pick depends a lot on what flavor you prefer more. We’re using orange juice in this recipe since it is more the classic take – but if you like a less sweet cocktail, you might prefer grapefruit to orange juice! We’re also adding cranberry juice, which cuts the sweetness of the peach and orange (or grapefruit), for a bit of a tart kick.
Sex on the beach is a great cocktail for parties since it is as easy as measure, pour, stir!
- Pour all ingredients into a tall glass with ice and stir to combine.
- Be sure to garnish with cranberries, orange slices, and a maraschino cherry, and serve with a straw.
Tips and Tricks to Perfect Sex on the Beach Drinks
If you love the classic sex on the beach cocktail flavors, try some of our recipe variation ideas below!
- For a smoky, delicious version of a sex on the beach, try swapping the vodka with mezcal or a tequila you love. Both pair deliciously with peach schnapps and add a bit of a different twist to a Sex on the Beach!
- Make it creamy – if you like creamy, rich tropical drinks, add an ounce of heavy cream and shake to mix well for a flavor a bit like a tropical creamsicle!
- Sex on the beach slush – blend with ice to create a slushy sex on the beach that is fun to drink, similar to a margarita!
- Make it fresh – use fresh oranges and fresh grapefruit juice to give a bright, tart, less sweet fresher kick!
Recipe FAQs
Use 2 oz tonic instead of vodka and 1 1/2 ounce peach simple syrup instead of schnapps for non alcoholic sex on the beach drinks.
Other Cocktails You’ll Love
If you love this easy cocktails, be sure to check out more of our favorite easy drinks!
We’re rounding up some of our favorites below:
Be sure to find our entire drink recipe archive here.
Sex On the Beach Cocktail Recipe
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Sex on the Beach Cocktail Recipe
Equipment
- 20 Oz Crystal Cocktail Mixing Glass by Barillio | Seamless Mixing Pitcher for Stirred Cocktail with Thick Weighted Bottom | Bartender Kit Includes Muddler, Jigger, Hawthorne Strainer & Mixing Spoon
Ingredients
- 2 ounces vodka
- 1½ ounces peach schnapps
- 3 ounces orange juice
- 3 ounces cranberry juice
- Cranberries, for garnish
- Maraschino cherry, for garnish
Instructions
- Pour all ingredients into a tall glass with ice and stir to combine
- Garnish with cranberries and a maraschino cherry and serve with a straw.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
