Head to head

Fuzzy Navel vs. Sex on the Beach

Fuzzy Navel and Sex on the Beach side by side: what changes in the recipe, the balance, the strength and the calories.

The difference

Peach schnapps and orange juice in both. The Fuzzy Navel is just those two, and light in alcohol; the Sex on the Beach adds vodka and cranberry juice, which make it about three times as strong.

By the numbers

Both have peach schnapps and orange juice. Only the Sex on the Beach has vodka and cranberry juice. In parts, a Fuzzy Navel is 1 peach schnapps and 2½ orange; a Sex on the Beach is 2 vodka, 1 peach schnapps, 2 orange and 2 cranberry. By volume, the Fuzzy Navel is 71% mixer and juice and 29% liqueur; the Sex on the Beach is 57% mixer and juice, 29% spirit and 14% liqueur.

The Sex on the Beach is the stronger drink in the glass (12.7% ABV against 4.2%) and holds more alcohol (1.10 standard drinks against 0.38). The Sex on the Beach has more calories (about 170 against 117), but the Fuzzy Navel has more sugar (17.3 g against 13.6 g). Both are built; the Fuzzy Navel is served in a rocks glass, the Sex on the Beach in a highball.

Fuzzy Navel

Highballs & Fizzes · Peach schnapps

Strength
4.2%
Std. drinks
0.38
Calories
117
Sugar
17.3 g

Built, served in a rocks glass. About 5½ oz (159 ml) in the glass. Garnish: An orange wedge.

The ratio · 1 : 2½

Full Fuzzy Navel recipe →

Highlighted: not in the Sex on the Beach.

On the ratio map

SpiritVermouthCitrusMixerSyrupLiqueurFuzzy NavelSex on the Beach

Each drink sits nearer the corners it has more of: spirit, vermouth and bitter, citrus, mixer, syrup or liqueur. The gray dots are the other classics. Explore the full ratio map.