I first tasted the Sleeping Beauty cocktail at a friend’s themed party last summer. I still remember spotting those striking blue layers from across the room – honestly, it looked too good not to try. One sip and I was hooked. It’s more than just a pretty drink: it’s fruity, fresh, with enough tang to keep you coming back, and not so sugary that it feels like a dessert.
No one seems totally sure where or when the Sleeping Beauty was first mixed – like most cocktail stories, the origins are a little fuzzy (pun intended). Bartenders named it after the fairy tale, partly for the dreamy blue color and maybe because if you have too many, you might be ready for a nap yourself.
Strength & Profile
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What really makes this cocktail is how the sharp pineapple juice and citrus play against the softer sweetness of peach schnapps, all tied together by that electric Blue Curaçao. People always ask about it when I bring out a batch, and every time I serve it at a get-together, someone ends up requesting the recipe. Case in point: at my sister’s birthday party last month, even my brother-in-law – who’s usually firmly Team Beer – ended up asking for seconds.
Ingredients & What You’ll Need
For one glass, here’s what you’ll want:
- 1 oz (30 ml) vodka
- 1 oz (30 ml) peach schnapps
- 1 oz (30 ml) Blue Curaçao
- 2 oz (60 ml) pineapple juice
- 2 oz (60 ml) lemon-lime soda
- A dash of grenadine
- Ice
- Orange or pineapple slice for garnish
If you have a highball glass, great – those layers will show off beautifully. If not, any tall glass works (full disclosure: I’ve definitely improvised with a mason jar before).
How to Make It
- Fill a cocktail shaker with ice, then pour in vodka, peach schnapps, and Blue Curaçao.
- Shake it up for about 15 seconds, until super cold.
- Strain into your ice-filled glass.
- Pour in the pineapple juice and lemon-lime soda, nice and slow.
- Add a dash of grenadine – watch for that sunset effect as it sinks!
- Finish with a wedge of fresh fruit on the rim (optional, but worth it).
If you need a non-alcoholic version, swap the spirits for blue raspberry syrup for color, peach nectar, and an extra splash of soda. My niece, who’s firmly at that “everything adults drink is cringe” age, declared it “actually not lame,” which is the highest praise I get from her.
Pairings-wise, this cocktail is surprisingly food-friendly. It goes great with salty snacks – pretzels, anything off a cheese board, you name it. I recently made a dinner of grilled pineapple chicken skewers and this drink brought out the tropical flavors even more.
A tiny bit of home-learned wisdom: chill the pineapple juice ahead of time, and never skip the fresh garnish – it’s a little thing but really elevates the experience.
Feel free to get creative – sometimes I substitute coconut rum instead of vodka for even more island vibes, or add a splash of bubbly on top for celebrations. One of my neighbors tried adding ginger liqueur for a little spicy edge, and honestly, it was delicious.
If you give this cocktail a try, let me know how it went! It’s become my go-to for summer nights when I want something fun, festive, and not at all complicated to make.
