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The Tequila Sunrise is one of those cocktails that’s instantly recognizable—both for its name and its striking, sunset-like appearance. With just three simple ingredients - tequila, orange juice, and grenadine - it layers beautifully in your glass, with deep red syrup settling at the bottom and bright orange juice floating above.
A Tequila Sunrise is a vibrant drink that looks like a summer sunrise and tastes just as refreshing. It’s sweet, citrusy, and smooth, with just enough tequila to give it a pleasant kick without being overpowering.
It's a perfect choice for brunches, pool parties, or casual evenings when you want something fruity and fun without a lot of fuss.
Ingredients in a Tequila Sunrise Cocktail
- Orange Juice - Fresh squeezed orange juice always gives the best flavor, but feel free to use a high quality pulp-free bottled orange juice for this cocktail.
- Silver Tequila - Also known as blanco tequila, this agave liquor enhances the sweetness in this drink. Choose your favorite brand, but stay away from reposado tequilas, which will overpower the other flavors in the drink.
- Grenadine - A sweet pomegranate simple syrup, grenadine is easily found in the mixer section of your local liquor or grocery store.
- Orange (garnish) - Slices of fresh orange are an easy and pretty garnish.
- Maraschino cherry (garnish) - While the bright red variety are the classic choice, choose your favorite sweet cocktail cherries for this garnish.
How to Make a Tequila Sunrise (Step by Step)
Fill a highball glass or Collins glass with ice cubes and add in orange juice and tequila.
Insert a bar spoon into the center of the glass and slowly pour the grenadine down the twisted stem so it drops down to the bottom of your glass. (Alternatively you can pour the grenadine over the back of a cocktail spoon held over the glass.)
Garnish with a slice of orange and a maraschino cherry or two.
Stir, sip and enjoy!
Tequila Sunrise Cocktail Recipe
Equipment
Ingredients
- 4 ounces orange juice pulp-free
- 2 ounces blanco tequila
- 0.5 ounces grenadine syrup
- 1 fresh orange slice garnish
- 1 maraschino cherry garnish
Instructions
- Fill a highball glass or Collins glass with ice cubes.
- Add orange juice and tequila.4 ounces orange juice, 2 ounces blanco tequila
- Insert a bar spoon into the center of the glass and slowly pour the grenadine down the twisted stem so it drops down to the bottom of the glass.0.5 ounces grenadine syrup
- (Alternatively you can pour the grenadine over the back of a spoon held over the glass.)
- Garnish with a slice of fresh orange and a maraschino cherry or two.1 fresh orange slice, 1 maraschino cherry
- Stir, sip and enjoy!
Nutrition
The Rock and Roll History of the Tequila Sunrise Cocktail
The modern version of the Tequila Sunrise was popularized in the early 1970s at the Trident Bar in Sausalito, California. During their 1972 American tour, The Rolling Stones were introduced to the cocktail there, and Mick Jagger reportedly became a big fan. From that point on, the band started ordering it regularly, and it quickly became the unofficial drink of their tour. The cocktail’s rise to fame was sealed, and it became a symbol of 70's laid-back, boozy cool.
Thanks to that legendary tour—unofficially dubbed “The Cocaine and Tequila Sunrise Tour”—the drink gained a spot in the pop culture cocktail hall of fame. It went from a beachy bar drink to a favorite among rock stars and fans alike, eventually making its way onto menus around the world. And decades later, it’s still beloved for its easygoing charm and eye-catching presentation.
Looking for More Tequila Cocktail Recipes?
Want more tequila cocktails to sip? Try a tall glass of Ranch Water with fresh lime, a classic Paloma cocktail with fresh grapefruit juice, a Batanga cocktail (tequila and Coke), a Strawberry Margarita or Tequila Smash both with fresh, muddled berries, or a refreshing Blackberry Margarita.
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