Ingredients
- 10 ml Peach schnapps
- 10 ml Malibu coconut rum
- 10 ml Orange juice
- 5 ml Cream (or half-and-half)
Instructions
- Add the peach schnapps, Malibu, and orange juice to a shaker with ice.
- Shake briefly (5-7 seconds) just to combine and chill.
- Strain into a tall 30ml shot glass.
- Float the cream on top by pouring slowly over the back of a bar spoon.
- Drink in one — the cream layer mixes as you tip the glass.
Notes
Where it came from
The Nude Beach is a derivative of the Sex on the Beach (1980s, Florida). Where Sex on the Beach is a long drink, the Nude Beach packs the same flavour profile into a 30ml shot with cream floated on top — the “nude” being the cream-on-top contrast.
It’s a fixture of beach-bar menus across Greece, Mexico, Spain, and Florida. Most beach-resort bars know it; some craft cocktail bars don’t. The recipe is too obvious to claim.
What it tastes like
Sweet peach up front, coconut from the Malibu in the middle, citrus orange juice for brightness, cream finish. Tastes like a tropical fruit dessert in 30ml form. Not complex, just easy to drink.
It’s a holiday shot. Pace yourself — the sweetness masks the alcohol and three of these go down before you remember.
Drink Buddy Exclusive
Tell us what's in your cabinet.
Our Cocktail Builder takes whatever bottles you've got and hands you every drink you can actually make tonight.
Get the Drink Buddy newsletter
One drink, one tip, one Tuesday a month.
Plus the recipes we drop before they hit the site. Zero spam.
Ingredient Spotlight
The bottles that make or break this drink.
The peach schnapps
- Use
- Archers, DeKuyper Peachtree, or any peach schnapps
- Skip
- Peach liqueur (different sweetness profile)
- Why
- Standard schnapps. Peach is half the flavour.
The Malibu
- Use
- Malibu Original Coconut Rum
- Try
- Koloa or RumHaven for premium coconut rum
- Why
- Malibu is the standard. The coconut completes the tropical profile.
The cream
- Use
- Heavy/thickened cream or half-and-half
- Skip
- Skim milk or whipped cream from a can
- Why
- Higher fat = better float. Skim milk just sinks.
Variations
Other tropical and creamy shots in the same family.
What if I don't have…
Quick substitutions for when the bottle shop is closed.
Apricot brandy or peach liqueur. Both work, slightly different flavour.
Any coconut rum works. White rum + a teaspoon of coconut cream is also fine.
Bottled OJ works. Tropicana is the brand most beach bars use.
Half-and-half, or Baileys (which adds Irish-whiskey character but works).
Add 5ml of vodka. Now you’re in Sex on the Beach shot territory.
Frequently Asked Questions
Direct answers to what people search for after Googling this drink.
What is in a Nude Beach shot?
A Nude Beach is peach schnapps, Malibu coconut rum, orange juice, and cream — about 10ml each of the first three plus 5ml of cream — combined in a 30ml shot glass with the cream floated on top.
Why is it called a Nude Beach?
It’s a riff on the Sex on the Beach. The “nude” comes from the bare cream layer floated on top, making the drink look two-toned. 1990s beach-bar humour.
How do you make a Nude Beach shot?
Add 10ml peach schnapps, 10ml Malibu, and 10ml orange juice to a shaker with ice. Shake briefly. Strain into a tall 30ml shot glass. Float 5ml of cream on top by pouring over the back of a bar spoon.
Is a Nude Beach the same as a Sex on the Beach?
Same flavour family, different format. Sex on the Beach is a long drink (vodka, peach schnapps, OJ, cranberry, in a tall glass). Nude Beach is a shot with cream on top instead of cranberry on the bottom. Different presentation.
How strong is a Nude Beach shot?
Around 13-15% ABV (the orange juice and cream dilute the schnapps and rum). Lighter than a tequila or vodka shot, which makes it easy to over-pour at a beach bar.
Why does the cream float?
Cream is less dense than the mixed peach-Malibu-OJ base, so when poured slowly over the back of a spoon it sits on top. Pre-chilled cream floats cleaner.
Can I make a Nude Beach pitcher?
Not as a shot — the cream float doesn’t scale. As a long drink, multiply by 4-6, build in a jug, top with cream just before serving.
What does a Nude Beach taste like?
Sweet peach, coconut, orange, cream finish. Tastes like a tropical dessert in shot form. Not complex, but easy to drink and crowd-pleasing.
More Like This
More beach-bar shots and party shooters.
