What better way to start happy hour than with a sweet and refreshing Tequila Sunrise! Vibrant and beautiful, every sip tastes like summer!
Why We Love This Tequila Sunrise Drink
- You don’t have to be a morning person to appreciate this sunrise- the stunning colors of this cocktail are just as beautiful whenever you enjoy your happy hour!
- Tequila Sunrise is the perfect balance of sweet, refreshing, and easy to make with just three ingredients.
- Make this gorgeous drink by the glass or by the pitcher when you’re doing some patio party entertaining!
- Add an orange slice and a maraschino cherry or two to complete the look and really enjoy the beach vibes with this delicious and iconic drink!
Tequila Sunrise Ingredients
TEQUILA: For this drink, you want to use silver tequila (blanco tequila). Since silver tequila isn’t aged in a barrel, it has a stronger, purer taste that cuts through the juices. You can use gold tequila if that’s what you have on hand.
JUICE: The main body of this drink is orange juice and while freshly squeezed is always the more delicious option, your favorite bottle of orange juice will work just as well. You will also need grenadine, which you can find in the liquor section of the grocery store with the mixers.
GARNISH: Pick up an orange to slice and a jar of maraschino cherries. If you want to cut the sweetness of the drink you can also garnish the drink with a wedge of lime to squeeze as needed. Also, make sure you have enough ice for all of the drinks you’ll be making!
How to Make a Tequila Sunrise
Jump to RecipeSTEP 1 Fill a highball glass with ice and add the tequila.
STEP 2 Pour the orange juice into the glass.
STEP 3 Top the drink with grenadine. It will sink to the bottom of the glass, creating a beautiful sunrise look. Garnish the drink with an orange slice and cherries.
Tips & Tricks
- You can make this a cocktail for a crowd too! Just add 2 cups of tequila and 4 cups of orange juice to a large pitcher and stir together. (This is enough for 8 servings) Pop the pitcher in the fridge to chill until later. To serve, add some ice to a tall glass, pour in the OJ/tequila mixture, and then top with the grenadine before garnishing.
- Have you seen the Corona Tequila Sunrise on TikTok? Here’s how to make one. Drink about half of the beer until it’s down to the top of the label. Then pour in 1 1/2 ounces of tequila, 1 1/2 ounces of orange juice, and 1/2 ounce of grenadine. Put your thumb over the bottle opening, turn the bottle upside down to mix, and then carefully remove your thumb before garnishing with a lime wedge. (If you don’t want to drink the bottle down, you can pour half of the beer out into a glass and mix up a second cocktail as directed. That way you don’t waste any beer!)
Tequila Sunrise Recipe FAQ
What is the difference between a tequila sunrise and a tequila sunset?
The tequila sunset and sunrise both have a beautiful striation of colors but are made with a different juice. The tequila sunset uses grapefruit juice while the tequila sunrise uses orange juice.
In some sunset recipes blackberry brandy or creme de cassis is used instead of grenadine. These changes give the sunset a more tart flavor with a slight berry flair.
Which tequila is best for sunrise?
The best tequila to use when making a tequila sunrise is blanco or silver tequila. This smooth spirit is easy to drink and doesn’t change the colors of the drink, as gold or añejo tequila would with their darker color.
Blanco tequila is a great tequila to have on hand for a variety of tequila-based drinks so it’s a good choice overall if you don’t go through tequila quickly and want to keep a tequila you like on the shelf.
What is the origin story of the Tequila Sunrise?
In the 1930s, Gene Sulit of the Arizona Biltmore Hotel combined Tequila, soda water, lime juice, and liqueur to create the first Tequila Sunrise.
Then in Sausalito, the bartenders at The Trident, Bobby Lozoff, and Billy Rice, remade the Tequila Sunrise, this time with just Tequila, orange juice, and grenadine.
The Rollings Stones had it at The Trident, loved, it and it became their go-to drink while on tour in 1972. They’d order it in every town they came across, spreading the drink across the nation. In 1973 The Eagles further enshrined the cocktail into pop culture with their hit, “Tequila Sunrise”, featured on their album Desperado.
Other Recipes You May Like
- The Best Margarita Recipe
- Pomegranate Margarita
- Rum Runner
- Midori Sour
- Lemon Drop
- How to Make Sweet and Sour Mix
Tequila Sunrise
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 ounces silver tequila
- 4 ounces orange juice
- ½ ounce grenadine
- Ice
- Orange slice for garnish
- Maraschino cherry for garnish
Instructions
- Fill a tall glass with ice. Pour in the tequila and then the orange juice.
- Pour in the grenadine and let it sink to the bottom of the drink.
- Garnish with an orange slice and cherry. Serve immediately.
Notes
Nutrition
All nutritional information is based on third party calculations and is only an estimate. Each recipe and nutritional value will vary depending on the brands you use, measuring methods and portion sizes per household.
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