Sex on the Beach

by | Aug 22, 2025 | Cocktail Recipes

sex on the beach recipe with cocktail glass on a counter overlooking the ocean on a warm summer day

Sex on the Beach is a fruity, vacation-ready classic made with vodka, peach schnapps, cranberry, and orange. It pours sunset colors, goes down easy, and always scores big at summer parties and beach weddings.

About This Cocktail

We first put these on a bachelorette menu in Montauk years ago and watched them disappear faster than we could garnish. The trick is balance: enough cranberry for tartness, enough peach for lush stone-fruit sweetness, and fresh OJ to round it out.

Pro link: Planning bottles? Use our Alcohol Calculator to estimate quantities by guest count.

Ingredients

  • 1.5 oz vodka
  • 0.75 oz peach schnapps
  • 1.5 oz cranberry juice
  • 1.5 oz orange juice
  • Ice
  • Garnish: orange slice or maraschino cherry

Steps

  1. Build & shake. Add vodka, peach schnapps, cranberry, and orange juice to a shaker with ice. Shake until well-chilled.
  2. Strain. Strain into a highball or hurricane glass filled with fresh ice.
  3. Garnish & serve. Add an orange slice or cherry.

Bar Tips

  • Layered look: For a sunrise effect, float the cranberry last over the back of a spoon.
  • Not too sweet: Use 100% cranberry (not “cranberry cocktail”) for cleaner tartness.
  • Vodka choice: A smooth mid-range (Tito’s, Absolut) is perfect here.

Flavor Pairings

  • Pairs with: shrimp cocktail, tropical fruit platters, light salads.
  • Rim ideas: fine sugar + citrus zest for a dessert spin.

Variations

  • Frozen: blend with 1 cup ice; add 0.25–0.5 oz extra cranberry for color.
  • Tropical twist: swap OJ for pineapple juice.
  • Low-ABV: cut vodka to 1 oz and add a splash of soda.

Party Batch (8 drinks)

  • 12 oz vodka
  • 6 oz peach schnapps
  • 12 oz cranberry juice
  • 12 oz orange juice

Combine and chill 2–4 hours. Stir before serving. Pour ~5–6 oz over ice; garnish each glass.

When to Serve

Perfect for beach parties, poolside service, and summer weddings. Need staff? Hire a bartender and we’ll batch, garnish, and keep service humming.

See our Summer roundup: Summer Cocktail Recipes.

Browse Some Fall Favorites: Fall Cocktail Recipes.

Browse All Cocktails: Cocktail Recipes.

What ingredients are in Sex on the Beach?

Vodka, peach schnapps, cranberry juice, and orange juice. Some variations add pineapple or a touch of grenadine for extra color and sweetness.

What’s the difference between Sex on the Beach and a Bahama Mama?

Bahama Mama is rum-based (often coconut + dark rum) with pineapple and sometimes coffee liqueur; Sex on the Beach is vodka-based with peach schnapps, cranberry, and orange.

Why is it called Sex on the Beach?

The playful name came out of Florida bars in the 1980s during a peach-schnapps boom—meant to capture fun, sun, and vacation vibes.

What’s the best vodka for Sex on the Beach?

A smooth mid-shelf like Tito’s, Absolut, or Smirnoff is ideal. Since the drink is juice-forward, you don’t need ultra-premium vodka.