Sex on the Beach: Recipe for a Summer Fruit Cocktail
Sex on the Beach is one of the best-known summer cocktails. Its pink colour, distinctive peach and cranberry flavour, and short list of easy-to-find ingredients make it a popular choice. You can mix it at home in just two minutes, even if until now you have only enjoyed it on holiday by the sea. The combination of vodka, peach liqueur and fruit juices makes this drink sweet and easy to drink. That is why it is worth knowing exactly what goes into it and in what ratio.
Ingredients for Sex on the Beach
Tip: You can buy both vodka and peach liqueur for Sex on the Beach directly from us – Absolut Vodka and Bols Peach. Add cranberry juice, orange juice and a fresh orange at home.
A classic Sex on the Beach is based on four ingredients: vodka, peach liqueur and two fruit juices. Its simplicity means even a complete beginner can make it. For one glass, you will need:
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40 ml vodka – ideally a clean, smooth vodka with a neutral flavour so it does not overpower the fruit. Absolut Vodka is a good choice.
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20 ml peach liqueur (peach schnapps) – gives the cocktail its characteristic peach sweetness. You can use Bols Peach or choose from other fruit liqueurs.
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40 ml cranberry juice – gives the drink its pink colour and pleasant acidity.
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40 ml orange juice – ideally freshly squeezed, as it softens and rounds out the flavour.
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Ice – use ice cubes rather than crushed ice. Fill the glass at least two-thirds full; plenty of ice keeps the cocktail fresh.
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Garnish – a slice of orange or a cocktail cherry, added just before serving.
This is the basic combination you will encounter most often. Some bartenders also add a few drops of grenadine for a richer colour. We cover more variations below.
When choosing the ingredients, follow a few simple rules. The vodka should be neutral and well chilled, while the peach liqueur carries much of the drink's flavour, so quality matters. Choose unsweetened or only lightly sweetened cranberry juice, otherwise the cocktail can become unnecessarily sweet. The same combination of vodka and cranberry also appears in the Cosmopolitan, although in a much drier form.
How to make Sex on the Beach step by step
Preparation takes about two minutes and requires no special equipment – just a glass, a spoon and ice. Follow these steps:
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Prepare the glass: Fill a tall highball glass about two-thirds full with ice cubes. A chilled glass keeps the cocktail fresh for longer.
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Add the alcohol: Pour 40 ml vodka and 20 ml peach liqueur directly over the ice.
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Add the juices: Pour in 40 ml cranberry juice and 40 ml orange juice.
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Stir: Gently stir the drink with a bar spoon or straw so the flavours combine. If you have a shaker, you can first shake the vodka, liqueur and juices with ice, then strain them into a glass with fresh ice. The cocktail will be even colder.
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Garnish and serve: Add a slice of orange or a cocktail cherry and serve with a straw. It tastes best thoroughly chilled.
The correct ratio and how to adjust the flavour
A reliable ratio is simple: 40 ml vodka, 20 ml peach liqueur, 40 ml cranberry juice and 40 ml orange juice, or 2:1:2:2 in parts. The International Bartenders Association (IBA) lists Sex on the Beach among its contemporary classics, and its official recipe uses exactly these quantities. The result is a balanced cocktail that is neither overly sweet nor too strong.
If you want to adjust the flavour to your taste, there are several options. For a sweeter cocktail, add a little more orange juice or a few drops of grenadine. For a fresher, more acidic version, add more cranberry juice or a little lime juice. If you want a stronger drink, increase the vodka carefully: sweet fruit flavours hide alcohol very effectively, so the drink can be stronger than it tastes.
Sex on the Beach tastes fruity and is easy to drink, so enjoy it responsibly.
Popular cocktail variations
Several variations of Sex on the Beach have developed over the years, and they are worth knowing because different bars may serve slightly different drinks under the same name.
- Shot version. Shake 20 ml vodka, 10 ml peach liqueur and 20 ml cranberry juice with ice and strain into two shot glasses. It works well at parties when you are preparing drinks for several people at once.
- Version with Chambord. For a deeper colour and richer flavour, add a small amount of black raspberry liqueur Chambort, around 10 ml. It darkens the drink and gives it more depth.
- Dirty Sex on the Beach. Replace part of the peach liqueur with a melon liqueur such as Midori. The drink develops a greenish tint and a melon note.
- Non-alcoholic version. Leave out the vodka and liqueur and use 20 ml peach syrup, 40 ml cranberry juice, 40 ml orange juice and plenty of ice. The flavour remains, without the alcohol.
If you are planning a summer party, you can find more inspiration in our overview of 10 trendy cocktails for a summer party.
Which glass to use for Sex on the Beach and how to garnish it
Sex on the Beach is a typical long drink, so it is served in a tall highball glass, the same type you might use for Cuba Libre or gin and tonic. A smaller glass would not have enough room for all the ice and juices, and plenty of ice is what keeps the cocktail fresh.
The most common garnish is a slice of orange placed on the rim of the glass and a cocktail cherry, traditionally a maraschino cherry. The garnish is not purely decorative – fresh citrus near the nose enhances the fruity aroma before you even take a sip.
What to serve with Sex on the Beach
The fruity sweetness of the drink pairs best with savoury snacks. Salted nuts, olives, nachos with salsa or grilled prawns nicely balance the fruit juices, while sweet desserts can make the cocktail taste even sweeter.
Serve it immediately after mixing, while it is still cold and before the ice has had time to melt. For a garden party, prepare the ingredients in advance: chill the vodka, liqueur and juices in the refrigerator and mix the drink directly in the glass with ice just before serving.
Where Sex on the Beach comes from
Sex on the Beach is an American cocktail associated with the 1980s. Its creation is most commonly linked to 1987 and Confetti's bar in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, where, according to the story, a bartender created it during a competition to sell peach schnapps during spring break. The sweet drink became popular with students and the name was supposedly a reference to two of the attractions people travelled to the beaches for. The cocktail's exact origin is not completely certain, however, as a similar recipe appeared in print even earlier.
The most common preparation mistakes
Even such a simple cocktail can go wrong. One of the most common problems is packaged orange juice from a carton: it is often overly sweet and flat, whereas freshly squeezed orange gives the drink a fresh, fruity taste. The amount of vodka can also be deceptive. Sweet juices hide the taste of alcohol very effectively, so adding more vodka can make the drink considerably stronger while it still tastes like fruit juice. Stick to the ratio and adjust the flavour with juice rather than extra alcohol.
Another common mistake is using too little ice. A lukewarm Sex on the Beach quickly loses its fruity freshness, so fill the glass at least two-thirds full with ice cubes and keep all the ingredients chilled.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
What is in a Sex on the Beach cocktail?
A classic Sex on the Beach contains vodka, peach liqueur, cranberry juice and orange juice. The basic recipe for one glass is 40 ml vodka, 20 ml peach liqueur, 40 ml cranberry juice and 40 ml orange juice. A few drops of grenadine are sometimes added for a richer colour.
Does Sex on the Beach literally mean “sex on the beach”?
Yes. The name literally means “sex on the beach”. It became associated with the cocktail in Florida in the 1980s as a reference to two of the attractions linked with spring break: beaches and partying. The name caught on and the cocktail still carries it today.
Which vodka should you use for Sex on the Beach?
A clean, neutral vodka without a strong flavour works best because its role is to provide the alcoholic base rather than overpower the fruit. Premium vodka can make the drink smoother, but because of the strong sweetness of the juices, there is no need to use the most expensive bottle. More important is that the vodka is well chilled.
Can Sex on the Beach be made without alcohol?
Yes. Simply leave out the vodka and peach liqueur and replace them with 20 ml peach syrup. Combining it with 40 ml cranberry juice and 40 ml orange juice preserves the fruity flavour and pink colour, so the non-alcoholic version remains close to the original.
How strong is Sex on the Beach?
The basic recipe produces around 140 ml of drink containing approximately 19 ml of pure alcohol, calculated with 40% vodka and 17% peach liqueur. That works out at around 14% alcohol, falling towards approximately 11% as the ice begins to melt, similar to wine. The sweet fruit flavours hide the alcohol well, so the cocktail tastes like juice and is easy to drink. Enjoy it in moderation and consider alternating glasses with water.
Conclusion
Sex on the Beach can appeal even to people who do not usually enjoy spirits because the sweet juices effectively soften the taste of vodka. Vodka, peach liqueur and two fruit juices are all you need for a pink drink that you can make at home in just a few minutes. Keep to the ratio of 40 ml vodka, 20 ml peach liqueur and 40 ml of each juice, chill everything properly, and the result can rival the version served at a beach bar.
Once you have the basics at home, there are plenty of other cocktails to try. Cheers – enjoy responsibly and in moderation.
