🥃 Sex on the Beach

Sex on the Beach is a long fruity cocktail of vodka, peach schnapps and juices. The classic version mixes orange and cranberry juice, although Difford's Guide uses pineapple instead of cranberry. It is a sweet drink with a peach flavour, served over ice in a tall glass, usually with an orange slice or a cherry as garnish.

Ingredients. The base is vodka and peach schnapps, a light sweet liqueur with a peach flavour. Orange juice and one of the sourer juices, cranberry or pineapple, are added. The proportions depend heavily on the bar, so different recipes give different levels of sweetness. The sour juice is needed to balance the sugar of the schnapps and keep the drink from being sticky. A shot version is served in a small measure, but it is stronger than the long drink. The cocktail is made in a shaker or directly in the glass.

Variations. The same guide offers a separate shot version and several other cocktails with peach schnapps. In the EU, both vodka and liqueur have their own categories: vodka from 37.5% ABV, liqueur from 15% ABV.

Origin. The exact author and year of creation are not established. The name, somewhat provocative, mainly signals a holiday mood and a summery taste. All that can be said neutrally is that the drink is popular in seaside bars and on resort hotel menus. Each bar chooses its own juices and proportions.

Why this matters to you. Sweet juices hide the taste of alcohol, so the measure is easy to underestimate. The WHO reminds us that there is no safe level of alcohol consumption.