Bring the tropics to your own backyard with a Sex on the Beach drink! This cocktail is sweet, refreshing, super delicious, and incredibly easy to make with just a few ingredients. Great for summer get togethers and lazy days relaxing by the pool.
Other refreshing drinks we love on a hot summer day include our Mudslide and Cherry Limeade!
All jokes aside, this drink isn’t what you think, people! It’s really just a fun, fruity cocktail with an all-around great flavor. Definitely a popular drink at clubs, college parties, summer get togethers, and new drinkers.
Sex on the Beach Drink
Like most classic drinks, they come with a lot of stories. The origin behind this one is varied, but the most popular one is attributed to Ted Pizio, who was a Florida bartender in the 1980’s. He came up with this concoction as a way to promote peach schnapps and named it after “sex” and “the beach” which he considered to be the two main attractions of Spring Break.
This drink appeals to the masses probably because the alcohol flavor is mild, masked to a large degree by the fruit juices. But they can sneak up on you! It’s not strong like a Long Island Iced Tea, but after a few, you might be feeling a little light headed.
Sex on the Beach Ingredients
The IBA (International Bartenders Association) version includes the following ingredients in a Sex on the Beach cocktail:
- Vodka: For this recipe, use any plain vodka that you have on hand. Nothing fancy.
- Peach Schnapps: Don’t confuse Peach Schnapps with Peach liqueur; they’re not the same! Schnapps is a fermented and distilled liquor and that’s what you need for a Sex on the Beach cocktail.
- Orange juice: We prefer 100% orange juice without pulp for a smoother cleaner look and taste.
- Cranberry juice: You want 100% cranberry juice that has a blend of other sweet fruit juices (like Ocean Spray.) If you use pure unsweetened cranberry juice cocktail, the drink will be too tart or bitter.
Recipe Variations
There are a ton of variations on a Sex on the Beach cocktail and depending on the bar you go to, you could end up with a different tasting drink. Here are some ideas of how to change it up:
- Replace the orange juice with grapefruit juice: Even though orange juice is considered the standard, more bartenders seem to use grapefruit juice, instead.
- Make it with pineapple juice: If you like your drinks really sweet, pineapple juice is the way to go.
- Add a splash of lemon juice: Just a teaspoon of lemon juice added to this drink makes it pop! You don’t really notice the lemon flavor, but it adds just a hint of tartness and balances out the sweetness. It’s such a small amount and yet it makes a big difference.
- Use flavored vodka: Replace plain vodka with vanilla vodka for a different flavor.
- Make it a slushy: Throw the ingredients and ice in a blender for a frozen fruity cocktail!
- Virgin Sex on the Beach: For a non alcoholic Sex on the Beach (also known as Cuddles on the Beach), simply omit the vodka and replace the peach schnapps with peach nectar. It’s really similar tasting to the original.
- Sex on the Beach Party Punch: Our recipe instructions below are for making a single drink. If you want to make a big batch, simply multiply all the ingredients to accommodate how many people you’ll be serving. Pour into a pitcher without ice, then allow guests to pour into glasses with ice. Leave out orange slices and maraschino cherries for them to garnish, if they wish.
How to Make Sex on the Beach Drink
These are so easy to make and every sip tastes like you’re on vacation!
(Scroll below for the detailed printable and measurements.)
- Fill a Hurricane Glass with ice.
- Pour vodka and schnapps over top of the ice.
- Add cranberry juice, followed by orange juice.
- We also like to add in a splash of grenadine.
- For Garnish: Fresh fruit is always a win! We like to thread a maraschino cherry and small orange triangle wedge (about the same size as the cherry) onto a toothpick.
- Serve with a straw and enjoy!
This drink is so tasty and pretty! It’s really perfect for backyard barbecues in the summer, but it is most definitely enjoyed all year-round. Close your eyes while sipping and it might even transport you to an island!
Other Refreshing Drinks We Love
I hope you love this delicious and simple recipe – be sure to give it a review below! Also don’t forget to follow Belly Full on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and YouTube!
Sex on the Beach Drink
Ingredients
- ice
- 1 1/2 ounces vodka
- 1 1/2 ounces peach schnapps
- 2 ounces orange juice
- 2 ounces cranberry juice (like Ocean Spray. See note)
- splash of grenadine
- orange slice , garnish
- maraschino cherry , garnish
Instructions
- Fill a Hurricane Glass with ice.
- Pour vodka and peach schnapps over top of ice.
- Add cranberry juice, followed by the orange juice.
- Add a splash of grenadine.
- For Garnish: thread a maraschino cherry and small orange triangle wedge (about the size as the cherry) on a toothpick.
- Serve with a straw, sip, and enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
Other Notes
Love this drink!
This was DELICIOUS!