Tequila sunrise is a classic cocktail recipe with a rock and roll history. This simple cocktail is served over ice in a highball glass, then garnished with an orange slice and maraschino cherries.
Not only is this tequila sunrise pretty to look at but tastes fantastic. Enjoy this cocktail recipe on hot summer days while sitting around the pool. Or when relaxing on the deck while watching the sun go down. Like our classic Margarita with fresh lime juice, this cocktail is one of my favorites.
Did you know the classic tequila sunrise has a bit of rock and roll history? From what I have read, two bartenders by the names of Bobby Lozoff and Billy Rice created the tequila sunrise in Sausalito in the early 1970s. It was so popular that Mick Jagger from the Rolling Stones drank it while on their two month North American tour.
That tour became legendary because of fan riots. And because Mick Jagger and Keith Richards were arrested on this tour for fighting a photographer. The band would dub this tour the cocaine and tequila sunrise tour.
Tequila Sunrise Ingredients
Tequila sunrise cocktail is made using only three ingredients. Blanco tequila, orange juice, and grenadine syrup. Garnished with the optional orange slice and maraschino cherry.
The grenadine syrup helps to mellow the tartness of the orange juice. While not weakening the flavor of the silver tequila, making it a perfect drink.
How To Make
A tequila sunrise drink is easy to make. Add ice cubes into a cocktail shaker and add in the tequila Blanco and orange juice. Shake the tequila mixture then pour it into a highball glass that is filled with ice.
Using the back of a spoon place the spoon on the rim of the highball glass. Slowly pour the grenadine syrup onto the back of the spoon. The syrup will flow down the side of the glass creating a red layer at the bottom of the glass. Garnish with an orange wedge and maraschino cherries, before enjoying stir the grenadine into the tequila mixture.
Variations And Questions
There are only a couple of variations for this tequila sunrise recipe. The first would be replacing the orange juice with grapefruit juice. Then you would be enjoying a tequila sunset. And the next one would be to replace the grenadine syrup with the juice from the maraschino cherries.
To keep that bright sunrise color I would use a silver tequila. My favorite is 1800 tequila, my next favorite would be Don Sergio.
Our tequila sunrise is made with 2 ounces of tequila so it can be kind of strong. You could back the amount of tequila down to 1.5 ounces.
The deep red color of the grenadine in this classic tequila sunrise reminds me of a summer sunrise. So when the mood strikes head to the liquor store and grab a bottle of your favorite tequila to mix up this gorgeous drink. Of course please always remember to drink responsibly.
If you enjoy this great drink recipe then you may also enjoy some of our other classic cocktail recipes.
More Tequila Cocktails You Are Sure To Enjoy
Tequila Sunrise
This classic cocktail recipe for Tequila Sunrise is made with blanco tequila, orange juice, and grenadine. Served over ice in a highball glass.
Ingredients
- 2 Ounces Tequila blanco
- 4 Ounces Orange Juice
- ½ Ounce Grenadine Syrup
- Orange Slice optional for garnish
- Maraschino Cherry optional for garnish
- Ice
Instructions
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Add ice into a cocktail shaker. Pour the blanco tequila and orange juice into the shaker. Shake fro 20 seconds to blend the ingredients together.
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Into a highball glass add more ice. Pour the tequila mixture over the ice.
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Pour the grenadine syrup over the back of a spoon that is held over the top of the glass. This will guide the grenadine syrup down the side of the highball glass. And settle to the bottom of the glass creating a red layer at the bottom of the glass.
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Do not stir the drink, garnish with an orange wheel and maraschino cherry.
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Right before serving slowly stir with a straw from the bottom of the drink. This will create a sunrise effect and blend the grenadine in with the tequila and orange juice.
Recipe Notes
Nutritional information on this website is provided as a courtesy and for your convenience only. In addition to the USDA Food Composition Database, other online calculators are used to gather nutrition data.
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