Ingredients
- 1 oz Tequila
- 4 oz Orange Juice
- 1 Dashes Grenadine Syrup
- 1 slice Orange(s)
- 1 Cherry
Instructions
Prepare the Glass:
- Fill a chilled highball glass with ice cubes.
Add Tequila and Orange Juice:
- Pour 1 oz of tequila and 4 oz of orange juice into the glass.
Add Grenadine:
- Slowly add a dash of grenadine syrup. The grenadine will sink to the bottom, creating a beautiful red base that mimics a sunrise.
Garnish:
- Garnish with a slice of orange and a cherry for an added touch of elegance.
Video
Notes
Tips for the Perfect Tequila Sunrise
- Use Fresh Orange Juice: Freshly squeezed orange juice makes a big difference in the taste of your cocktail.
- Homemade Grenadine: Homemade grenadine adds a richer flavor and more vibrant color to the drink.
- Layering: Pour the grenadine slowly to achieve the perfect sunrise effect.
Estimated Nutrition:
Where it came from
The modern Tequila Sunrise was created in 1971 at the Trident bar in Sausalito, California, by Bobby Lozoff. The drink uses tequila, orange juice, and grenadine in the gradient configuration. An older Tequila Sunrise (1930s, Phoenix Arizona Biltmore) used creme de cassis and lime; the modern version is what stuck.
It became iconic when Mick Jagger ordered them throughout the Rolling Stones' 1972 American tour. The Eagles released the song 'Tequila Sunrise' in 1973. The drink got a movie named after it in 1988. Pop culture did the rest.
What it tastes like
Tequila up front, tropical orange in the middle, sweet grenadine pop at the bottom. The grenadine sinks because of the higher density (sugar) and gives the drink its signature gradient: yellow at the top fading to red at the bottom.
Quality of orange juice matters. Fresh-squeezed is bright and tropical. From-concentrate is flat and sugary. The drink has only three ingredients; one of them being mediocre is fatal.
The technique
Build over ice in a tall glass. 50ml blanco tequila, then 120ml chilled fresh orange juice. Slowly drizzle 15ml grenadine down the side of the glass so it sinks to the bottom. Don't stir. Garnish with an orange wheel and a maraschino cherry.
Pour the grenadine slowly. A bar spoon held against the glass at the top helps the grenadine slide down the side without breaking. The bottom layer should be deep red.
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Ingredient Spotlight
The bottles that make or break this drink.
The tequila
- Use
- 100% agave blanco tequila (Olmeca Altos, Espolon, Cazadores)
- Skip
- Mixto tequila (the cheap mixed kind)
- Why
- Real tequila tastes like agave. Mixto tastes like fuel.
The orange juice
- Use
- Fresh-squeezed orange juice
- Skip
- Concentrate or orange drink
- Why
- Fresh OJ is bright and tropical. Concentrate is flat and overly sweet.
The grenadine
- Use
- Real pomegranate grenadine (Liber, Small Hand Foods, or homemade)
- Skip
- Cheap red corn-syrup grenadine
- Why
- Real grenadine tastes like pomegranate and sugar. Cheap grenadine tastes like cherry candy.
Variations
Other tequila highballs and tropical drinks for warm afternoons.
What if I don't have…
Quick substitutions for when the bottle shop is closed.
Mezcal makes a smoky version (called a Mezcal Sunrise). Mixto tequila will work but the drink will be flatter.
Fresh-pressed from the chilled section. Concentrate is the last resort.
Make some: 1:1 pomegranate juice and sugar, plus a small splash of orange flower water. Or use pomegranate molasses (just a teaspoon).
Bump tequila to 60ml. The OJ absorbs it.
Skip the tequila, add 5ml extra grenadine and a splash of lime. Now it's a Sunrise mocktail.
Frequently Asked Questions
Direct answers to what people search for after Googling this drink.
What is in a Tequila Sunrise?
Tequila, orange juice, and grenadine, layered. Standard build: 50ml blanco tequila, 120ml fresh orange juice, 15ml grenadine drizzled to sink to the bottom.
How do you make a Tequila Sunrise?
Fill a tall glass with ice. Add 50ml tequila and 120ml fresh orange juice. Slowly drizzle 15ml real grenadine down the side so it sinks to the bottom. Don't stir. Garnish with an orange wheel and a cherry.
Where did the Tequila Sunrise come from?
The Trident bar in Sausalito, California, 1971. Bartender Bobby Lozoff created the modern version. Mick Jagger and the Eagles popularised it through the early 1970s.
Why does the grenadine sink?
Grenadine is dense from sugar. It sinks below the lower-density orange juice and tequila. Pour slowly down the side of the glass to keep it intact.
Can I shake a Tequila Sunrise?
If you do, you lose the gradient. The drink becomes uniformly orange-pink and visually less impressive. Shake if you want a fully integrated drink; layer if you want the visual.
What tequila should I use?
100% agave blanco tequila. Olmeca Altos, Espolon, Cazadores. Avoid mixto tequila and gold tequila.
How strong is a Tequila Sunrise?
Around 8 to 10 percent ABV in the glass. Sessionable. Drinks fast.
Tequila Sunrise vs Tequila Sunset?
Tequila Sunset uses blackberry brandy or creme de cassis instead of grenadine, layered to give a darker bottom. Same template, different fruit.
What is grenadine?
Pomegranate syrup. Real grenadine is pomegranate juice and sugar. Cheap grenadine is corn syrup and red food colour with cherry flavour. Use the real stuff.
What glass should I use?
A tall Collins or hurricane glass. Height shows the gradient. Around 350 to 400ml of capacity.
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