Sex on the Beach: start with 40, 20, 40 and 40 ml
Use the IBA recipe as a clear reference for vodka, peach schnapps, orange and cranberry. Measure first, then distinguish ingredient changes from time spent over ice.
Use the IBA recipe as a clear reference for vodka, peach schnapps, orange and cranberry. Measure first, then distinguish ingredient changes from time spent over ice.
Write down the four quantities
The International Bartenders Association recipe specifies 40 ml vodka, 20 ml peach schnapps, 40 ml fresh orange juice and 40 ml cranberry juice: 140 ml before ice. Keeping those quantities visible makes comparison easier than repeatedly correcting a free pour by adding more of everything. The preparation notes here are an editorial way to read that recipe, not a tasting review of particular brands.
Choose measuring tools and enough glass capacity
Prepare a highball glass, ice, a measure marked in millilitres and a long spoon. Check that the glass can hold the ingredients and ice with room remaining for the garnish. Glasses vary in capacity. If your measure does not provide 20 and 40 ml directly, use consistent smaller measurements. Note the juices used so a later comparison has a useful starting point.
The official method is built in the glass
IBA instructs building all ingredients in an ice-filled highball and garnishing with a half orange slice. A shaker is not required for that method. Watch the capacity as you pour and combine the ingredients carefully. A distinct layered appearance is not the measure of whether you followed the recipe. Repeating the quantities is more useful for a first comparison than reproducing an illustrative photograph.
If sweetness changes, inspect the ingredients
Orange juice varies, and cranberry products may contain different ingredients or added sugar. Start by noting what you actually used. If making a variation, change one ingredient at a time and record it separately from the official recipe. Replacing one juice while keeping other conditions similar gives a clearer comparison than altering several quantities together.
Include time over ice in the note
Melting ice changes the amount of water in the glass, so a drink can seem different after waiting. If preparing several glasses, their waiting times may differ. For a comparison, note preparation time and whether ingredients were chilled. You do not need special ice shapes to begin. Measuring, capacity and serving time are practical conditions to keep consistent before adding decorative equipment.
Keep the ingredients clear to the person drinking
The holiday mood of the name does not remove the vodka and peach schnapps. Fruit juice does not establish that a drink is low in alcohol. For someone avoiding alcohol, offer a clearly separate alcohol-free option and check all ingredients. The IBA quantities and method are available here: View source: iba-world.com
