Peach On The Beach is summer in a glass. It is juicy, it is easy, and it is the kind of drink that disappears far too quickly in a garden on a warm afternoon. It is our fruity, peach-led take on the beach-holiday classic, and it is one of those cocktails that everyone likes, even the people who say they do not really drink cocktails. I have been making versions of this for years, and the trick is keeping it fruity without letting it tip into squash.
This is a smooth, sun-soaked serve, vodka and peach schnapps lengthened with orange and pineapple, with a splash of cranberry for that sunset colour. It takes about five minutes and no shaker. My notes are underneath, along with the quick way to pour one.
What Is a Peach On The Beach?
Peach On The Beach is a fruity vodka cocktail built around peach schnapps and tropical fruit juices, served long over ice. It is a close cousin of the Sex on the Beach, the beach-bar favourite that took over holiday menus in the eighties and nineties, but this version leans harder into the peach and pineapple for a juicier, sunnier drink.
It sits right in that easy, crowd-pleasing world of colourful party drinks, the sort of thing you make by the jug for a barbecue rather than fuss over one at a time. No shaking, no straining, just build it in the glass and go.
Ingredients
This makes one tall Peach On The Beach. Scale it up evenly into a jug for a garden full of people.
A Few Notes on the Ingredients
Vodka is the clean base that lets the fruit lead. Nothing fancy needed, a standard vodka keeps it neutral and lets the peach do the talking.
Peach schnapps is the heart of the drink and where all that juicy peach flavour comes from. Use a decent one, it is doing the heavy lifting, and a cheap syrupy schnapps can make the whole thing taste artificial.
Orange and pineapple juice are the tropical backbone. Chilled juice is best, and pineapple in particular is what pushes this from a simple peach drink into proper holiday territory. Fresh is lovely, but good carton juice works fine here.
Cranberry juice is mostly there for colour, that lovely sunset gradient as it sinks through the glass, but it also adds a gentle tartness that stops the drink getting too sweet. A little fresh lime does the same job, keeping it bright.
Variations Worth Trying
- Sex on the Beach proper: keep the cranberry generous and drop the pineapple for the classic version of the drink.
- Extra tropical: add a splash of mango or passion fruit juice to push the holiday feel further.
- Frozen: blend everything with a cup of ice for a slushy, poolside peach cooler.
- Non-alcoholic: leave out the vodka and schnapps, use peach cordial and the same juices for a fruity mocktail the whole party can drink.
Skip the Mixing
If you love a fruity peach cocktail but do not fancy a fridge full of juices and a bottle of schnapps, this is exactly why I started Boozy. We make proper party cocktails, canned, chilled and ready to pour. If you would rather skip the mixing entirely, our ready-to-drink Peach On The Beach gives you that same juicy, sun-soaked serve straight from the can. It sits alongside the rest of our cocktail cans, from the Dragonfruit Mojito to the Margarita, all bold, bright and made for a crowd.
Peach On The Beach FAQs
What alcohol is in a Peach On The Beach?
Peach On The Beach is made with vodka and peach schnapps, lengthened with orange, pineapple and a splash of cranberry juice. The vodka keeps it clean and the peach schnapps brings the signature fruity flavour.
Is Peach On The Beach the same as Sex on the Beach?
They are very close relatives. A Sex on the Beach traditionally uses vodka, peach schnapps, orange and cranberry. This version leans harder into the peach and adds pineapple, so it drinks a little juicier and more tropical.
What juice is best in a Peach On The Beach?
Orange and pineapple are the ideal pairing, sweet and tropical, with a small splash of cranberry for colour and a touch of tartness. Keep the juices chilled so the drink stays crisp.
Is a Peach On The Beach sweet?
It is fruity and smooth, but it should not be sugary. The cranberry and a little fresh lime keep it balanced, so it stays refreshing enough to drink all afternoon rather than cloying.
Can you make a Peach On The Beach without alcohol?
Yes, easily. Leave out the vodka and schnapps, use a peach cordial or peach juice, and build it with the same orange, pineapple and cranberry. You get a fruity, refreshing mocktail that still looks the part.
