Tequila sunrise

This classic tequila sunrise cocktail has everything you could want.

It looks fantastic, is made with 3 ingredients, tastes refreshingly sweet and you don’t need to be a bartender to pull off the sunrise effect – you can totally nail this recipe!

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Why you’ll love this cocktail

The visual wow factor of this cocktail is glorious, the red at the bottom of the highball glass that perfectly blends into the orange-yellow recreates the sunrise at the start of a hot summers day.

When we say this is an easy cocktail, we mean just that, it’s so easy!

If you follow our recipe then you can make this fruity cocktail look as good as any experienced bartender.

The taste is so good, it’s sweet but at the same time it’s also refreshing – sweet and tart blend perfectly, then you get the gentle hint of the tequila.

It’s impressive AND achievable, if you want guaranteed success, then the tequila sunrise is the perfect summer cocktail for you!

Where does it come from?

The original tequila sunrise cocktail dates back to the 1930s to the Biltmore Hotel in Arizona, but it’s not the tequila sunrise recipe that’s served today.

Originally it was made from tequila, creme de cassis, fresh lime juice and soda water.

This all changed back in the ’70s when Bobby Lozoff and Billy Rice created the modern-day classic version, made from tequila, orange juice and grenadine while working at the Trident in California, just north of San Francisco.

The Trident hosted a private party which was to start the 1972 Tolling Stones tour, the singer Mick Jagger, tried a tequila sunrise, liked it and then everyone else started drinking it.

It really caught on when Jose Cuervo put the tequila sunrise recipe on the back of their tequila bottle.

There are many variations of the tequila sunrise, take a look at the vodka sunrise cocktail.

Which tequila should I use?

You’ll need to use a silver tequila or tequila Blanco in your tequila sunrise.

Use a medium-range tequila, don’t break the bank, but try to avoid the cheapest brands but don’t use your best tequila, as there’s just a hint of tequila in this recipe.

How to make your own grenadine syrup

There’s no arguing the fact that homemade fresh grenadine syrup for your tequila sunrise is better than shop-bought, we’ve used shop-bought for ease.

It only takes around 20 minutes to make and is made from pomegranate juice, granulated sugar, and orange flower water.

Using fresh pomegranate juice produces a fresher flavor than shop-bought but you’ll need to factor in the time it takes to extract the juice from the little seeds.

Do I have to use fresh orange juice?

Yes, fresh orange juice is a must, as it’s such a large component of the tequila sunrise.

Nothing beats the taste of freshly squeezed orange juice but if you don’t have time to squeeze it yourself, then buy a high-quality orange juice.

What should I garnish this with?

There are two perfect choices for garnishing your tequila sunrise.

A maraschino cherry adds a bright red color to the top of the drink to mirror the sunrise from the grenadine at the bottom of your tall glass.

You can also add an orange slice, this is a cheerful reflection of the orange juice.

What glass should I use?

To make the most of the tequila sunrise effect, we recommend that you use a highball glass, which is essentially a tall thin glass.

You could use a tumbler, but you won’t get as much of the wow factor with it.

Can I make this ahead?

To a degree you can, you can mix the orange juice and the tequila but don’t add the grenadine until you are ready to serve because the sunrise effect will be diluted.

Tequila sunrise recipe tips

• Want to make a tequila sunset?
  Replace the substitute the grenadine syrup with crème de cassis or blackberry brandy and you’ll have a tequila sunset.
• Haven’t got any orange juice?
  Use grapefruit juice instead, it’ll change the flavor, but it still works very well.
• No orange slice or cherry?
  Just use a brightly colored straw instead.

How to make a tequila sunrise – step-by-step instructions

Your first tequila sunrise cocktail is going to be so easy to make!

Full ingredient measures are in the recipe card, scale up or down the ingredients to suit your glass.

You’ll need a highball glass filled with a handful of ice cubes, then pour tequila and orange juice.

Next, you’ll need to build your sunrise effect, using the back of a teaspoon, drizzle grenadine into the glass.

Garnish with a maraschino cherry or an orange slice.

Serve your sunny cocktails and enjoy!

More tequila cocktails you should try

Lemon margarita – a refreshing lemon take on the classic margarita.

Mexican mule – a tequila version of this spicy ginger cocktail that is SO good!

Watermelon margarita – Fresh watermelon juice, tequila and triple sec make this an awesome summer cocktail.

Passion fruit margarita – Wow, the combination of passionfruit, fresh lime juice and tequila are incredible!

Halloween cocktail – looking for a tequila-based spooky cocktail for a Halloween party? Try this!

We hope you love making our tequila sunrise recipe as much as we do and would really like to hear how you got on with yours, so please do leave a comment or feel free to ask a question below.

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