Celebrate 'Throwback Thursday' With A Throwback Cocktail

By Angie Pennington:

What drink comes to mind when you reminisce about cocktails from the 80s? How about a summer time favorite, Sex on the Beach. This 28-year-old glass of fruity YUM is known for being delicious, easy to make and quite refreshing on a hot summer day. The only challenge surrounding this popular drink is trying not to grin when you say “May I have a Sex on the Beach please?”!

How did Sex on the Beach get its name? Here’s a little history according to the website, Social and Cocktail:

The history of the Sex on the Beach cocktail is a little hazy but the most cited story dates back to 1987 when a company called National Distribution began selling peach schnapps, which was new to America at the time. The company came up with a contest in Ft Lauderdale, Florida that they would pay the bar who sold the most peach schnapps $1,000 and the bartender who was responsible for the most sales $100.

A bartender called Ted Pizio, who worked at a bar called Confettis, mixed vodka, peach schnapps, orange juice and grenadine and the drink started to become very popular. When Ted was asked what it was called, he thought of the reason thousands of people came to Ft. Lauderdale for Spring Break and he called it the “Sex on the Beach.” When people returned to the area and asked for a Sex on the Beach cocktail, many of the local bartenders didn’t know the recipe, and, hence, many variations came into existence and still remain to this day.

Recipe for Sex on the Beach:

1 1/2 ounces vodka
3/4 ounce peach schnapps
1/2 ounce creme de cassis
2 ounces orange juice
2 ounces cranberry juice
Orange slice and maraschino cherry for garnish

Pour all the ingredients into a cocktail shaker with ice cubes. Shake well. Strain into a highball glass. Garnish with the orange slice and maraschino cherry and ENJOY your 80s flashback!

Find fun party ideas for other party themes at Sparkler.

Angie Pennington is the co-Founder of www.sparklerparties.com in Aptos.

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