Virgin Sex on the Beach
A bright, fruity mocktail with peach nectar, orange juice and cranberry juice, finished with a ruby grenadine sunset at the bottom of the glass. Built right in the glass in under five minutes.
- Prep
- 5 min
- Cook
- —
- Wait
- 10 min
- Total
- 15 min
- Makes
- 2 drinks (about 10 fl oz / 300 ml each)
Steps
Before you start
- Chill the peach nectar, orange juice and cranberry juice in the fridge for at least 2 hours so the drink stays cold without over-diluting.
- Put two highball glasses in the freezer for 10 minutes for a frosty glass (optional but nice).
- Shake the peach nectar and orange juice cartons well, since pulp settles.
Prep garnishes
- Cut the orange into ¼-inch (6 mm) thick wheels, halve two of them, and cut a small slit from the flesh to the rind in each half-wheel so it can perch on the glass rim.
- Drain the cherries on a paper towel.
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Ready when: Orange half-wheels sit snugly on a glass rim when tested.
Tip: Pat the cherries dry so their syrup doesn't cloud the drink.
Chill the glasses
- Place two highball glasses in the freezer for 10 minutes while the juices finish chilling.
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Ready when: Glasses feel very cold and lightly frosted.
Tip: Skip if short on time and just use plenty of ice.
Add the ice
- Fill each chilled glass to the top with ice, about 1 cup (140 g) per glass.
- Packed ice keeps the layers from mixing too fast.
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Ready when: Ice reaches within ½ inch (1 cm) of the rim.
Pour peach and orange
- Pour 2 fl oz (60 ml) peach nectar and then 2 fl oz (60 ml) orange juice into each glass over the ice.
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Ready when: Glasses are about half full of golden-orange liquid.
Tip: Pour slowly down the side of the glass or over the back of a spoon to keep ice from splashing.
Stir gently
- Stir each glass 3 or 4 times with a bar spoon to blend the peach and orange into one even color.
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Ready when: Liquid looks uniformly pale orange with no streaks.
Float the cranberry
- Slowly pour 2 fl oz (60 ml) cranberry juice into each glass over the back of a spoon held just above the surface so it rests on top as a pink-red layer.
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Ready when: A distinct red-pink layer sits over the orange.
Tip: Pouring fast will mix the layers. That still tastes good but loses the sunset look.
Sink the grenadine
- Drizzle 1 tablespoon plus ½ teaspoon (about 7 ml) grenadine into each glass, pouring it down the inside edge.
- It is dense and sinks to the bottom, creating a red gradient.
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Ready when: Deep red ribbons settle at the base and fade upward into orange.
Tip: Don't stir after adding grenadine if you want the layered look. Guests can stir to taste.
Garnish and serve
- Perch an orange half-wheel on each rim, add a cherry if using, insert a straw and serve immediately.
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Ready when: Drink is cold with visible layers and garnish in place.
Tip: Serve right away; the layers blur and ice dilutes after about 15 minutes.
Good to know
Tips
- Use cold juices and plenty of ice so the drink stays chilled without becoming watery.
- For a clean layered look, pour slowly over the back of a spoon and add grenadine last.
- For a party, scale up in a pitcher without the grenadine, and let guests add their own to the glass.
- Taste the juices first: very sweet nectar may call for a squeeze of lime to balance.
Make ahead
Mix the peach nectar, orange juice and cranberry juice in a pitcher up to 24 hours ahead and refrigerate. Stir, pour over ice, then add grenadine just before serving.
Storage & reheating
Best served immediately. Leftover mixed juices (without ice or grenadine) keep covered in the fridge for up to 3 days. Do not freeze the assembled drink; the juice blend can be frozen in ice cube trays for up to 2 months and used as flavored ice. No reheating needed.
Substitutions
- peach nectar → Mango nectar or apricot nectar. Gives a slightly different tropical flavor; use the same amount.
- grenadine → Pomegranate juice with ½ tsp sugar, or raspberry syrup. Syrup sinks best; plain pomegranate juice will blend more.
- cranberry juice cocktail → Unsweetened cranberry juice plus 1 tsp honey. Reduces sugar if you prefer a tarter drink.
- orange juice → Pineapple juice. Makes a sweeter, more tropical version.
