Sex on the Beach
A breezy, no-fuss highball built on vodka and peach schnapps, lengthened with cranberry and orange juice into a sunset-pink cooler. It tastes fruity and tart with a warm peach backbone, and because it's built right over ice there's nothing to shake or strain. The heavy pack of ice keeps it bracingly cold and lightly diluted, which is exactly what makes this drink so easy to sip.
Fill two highball glasses to the top with ice, then divide 90 ml (3 fl oz) vodka and 45 ml (1 1/2 fl oz) peach schnapps between them; top each glass with 60 ml (2 fl oz) cranberry juice and 60 ml (2 fl oz) orange juice, stir gently for a few seconds until the drink turns a soft sunset pink, garnish with an orange half-wheel and a maraschino cherry, and serve right away with a straw while it's ice-cold.
- Pack the glass full of ice; more ice melts slower and keeps the cocktail crisp instead of watery.
- Fresh-squeezed orange juice tastes noticeably brighter and less flat than from-concentrate here.
- Hold the balance at roughly 2 parts vodka to 1 part peach schnapps so it stays fruity, not cloying.
Equipment
- Highball glasses
- Jigger or measuring shot
- Bar spoon
- Paring knife
- Cutting board
- Cocktail shaker (optional)
מצרכים
Cocktail
- 90 ml vodka, unflavored, well chilled
- 45 ml peach schnapps, such as DeKuyper Peachtree
- 120 ml cranberry juice, chilled
- 120 ml orange juice, fresh-squeezed, chilled
- ice cubes, to fill both glasses
Garnish
- orange, cut from a fresh orange
- maraschino cherries, with stems if available
אופן ההכנה
- שלב01
Chill two highball glasses in the freezer for a few minutes if you have time. Cut two thin half-wheels from a fresh orange for garnish and set them aside with two maraschino cherries. Make sure your cranberry juice and orange juice are cold straight from the fridge.
- שלב02
Pack each highball glass all the way to the rim with ice cubes. A full glass of ice looks generous but it's practical: it chills the drink fast and melts slowly, so the cocktail stays cold without turning watery.
- שלב03
Using a jigger, add 45 ml (1 1/2 fl oz) vodka and 22 ml (3/4 fl oz) peach schnapps to each glass. Measuring rather than free-pouring keeps the vodka-to-schnapps balance right so the drink is fruity, not syrupy-sweet.
- שלב04
Pour 60 ml (2 fl oz) cranberry juice and 60 ml (2 fl oz) orange juice into each glass over the spirits. The cranberry sinks and blooms upward, giving that signature pink-to-red gradient before you stir.
- שלב05
Give each drink a gentle 5-to-10-second stir with a bar spoon, just enough to combine the layers and pull the chill down through the glass. Don't over-stir or you'll knock the color out and dilute it too fast.
- שלב06
Perch an orange half-wheel on the rim of each glass and drop or spear a maraschino cherry into the drink. Add a straw and serve immediately while it's ice-cold and lightly frosted.
Make ahead
For a party, batch the base ahead: combine the vodka, peach schnapps, and cranberry juice in a pitcher (multiply by the number of servings), cover, and chill for up to 24 hours. Add the orange juice just before serving so it tastes fresh, then pour over ice-filled glasses and garnish. Keep the ice separate until the moment you serve.
Storage
This is a built-to-order drink and is best enjoyed within a few minutes of mixing, before the ice dilutes it. If you must hold it, keep it refrigerated without ice for up to 2 hours, then pour over fresh ice to serve; don't leave a finished, iced drink sitting or it will go watery and flat.
Variations
Frozen Sex on the Beach
Blend the vodka, peach schnapps, cranberry juice, orange juice, and about 1 cup (240 ml) of ice per two drinks until slushy and smooth. Pour into chilled glasses and garnish as usual for a slushie-style version that's perfect on a hot afternoon.
Non-alcoholic (virgin) version
Skip the vodka and swap the peach schnapps for 45 ml (1 1/2 fl oz) peach nectar or peach syrup. Keep the cranberry and orange juice, add a splash of soda water for lift, and serve over ice. You get the same fruity, sunset-pink drink with none of the alcohol.
Sunrise-style layered pour
Build over ice with vodka, schnapps, and orange juice first, then slowly pour the cranberry juice down the side over the back of a bar spoon so it settles at the bottom. Leave it unstirred for a dramatic red-to-orange gradient and let guests swirl it themselves.
Serve with
Nutrition per serving
Nutrition values are estimates based on the metric measurements. Adjust as needed.
שאלות נפוצות
What's in a sex on the beach drink?
A classic sex on the beach drink is built from four things: vodka, peach schnapps, cranberry juice, and orange juice, poured over plenty of ice. The usual balance is about 2 parts vodka to 1 part peach schnapps, then equal splashes of the two juices. That's it, no shaking or special syrups required.
Can I batch a sex on the beach drink for a party?
Yes. Multiply the recipe by the number of guests and stir the vodka, peach schnapps, and cranberry juice together in a pitcher ahead of time. Add the orange juice just before serving so it stays bright, then pour over ice-filled glasses. Keeping the ice out of the pitcher stops the batch from diluting while it waits.
What can I use instead of peach schnapps?
Peach liqueur or peach-flavored brandy both work as a direct swap and give a slightly rounder flavor. If you only have peach nectar or peach syrup, use that plus a little extra vodka to keep the strength; for a non-alcoholic drink, peach nectar alone is the easiest substitute.
How strong is a sex on the beach drink?
As built here, one glass lands around 10 to 12 percent ABV once the juices and melting ice are factored in, so it drinks easy and fruity rather than boozy. Because the sweetness masks the alcohol, it's worth measuring your pours rather than free-pouring so it doesn't sneak up on you.
Can I make it without cranberry juice?
You can, though cranberry is what gives the drink its tart edge and pink color. Pineapple juice is the most common stand-in and pushes the flavor more tropical, while a splash of grenadine can add color and sweetness. Just taste as you go, since those alternatives are sweeter than cranberry.
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