A Tequila Sunrise combines tequila, orange juice, and grenadine syrup to create a beautiful cocktail named for the colors of a morning sunrise. The way the red from the grenadine and the orange from the juice come together makes for a gorgeous drink.
Why people love this drink
This show stopping adult beverage is usually served in a highball glass over ice and is a gorgeous display. You can use this Tequila Sunrise recipe to wow your friends. The key to its beauty is that you can’t stir it.
Serve this drink and its sunrise effect on a hot day, and don’t skimp on the ice cubes.
Expert Tips and FAQs
- Thread maraschino cherries onto cocktail toothpicks, and add a wheel or slice of fresh orange. These garnishes will top it off perfectly and truly impress your friends.
- Pouring the grenadine over the back of a spoon allows the syrup to glide down the side of the glass and allowing it to gather at the bottom.
- A Collins glass is taller and more narrow, but often used interchangeably with the highball glass.
Ingredients you will need
- Tequila, orange juice, and grenadine syrup (print recipe down below for all measurements)
- Orange slice/wheel and Maraschino cherries for garnish
How to Make a Tequila Sunrise Drink
- Fill a cocktail shaker with ice. Using a jigger for measuring, pour in orange juice and Tequila. Shake for 20 seconds.
- Fill a highball glass or a Collins glass with ice and strain the tequila mix into the glass.
- Slowly pour the grenadine over the back of a spoon held over the top of the glass. This guides the grenadine syrup down the side of the glass. It will sink to the bottom of the glass creating a red layer at the bottom.
- Do not stir the drink. Garnish with an orange wheel and 1 or 2 maraschino cherries. You can skewer the cherries on a cocktail toothpick or just add them on top of the ice.
- Right before serving, very gently and slowly, stir one turn from the bottom of the drink to create the sunrise effect.
More Drinks You’ll Love
Have some tequila left? Be sure to make either frozen strawberry margarita, mango margarita slush, or a classic paloma. You can make a Screwdriver with all that orange juice too. While they don’t use actual orange juice, these orange jello shots are super fun and delicious!
And just for fun, make this Sex on the Beach!
The Tequila Sunrise Song
- It’s hard to say the name of this drink without “It’s another Tequila Sunrise, starin’ slowly ‘cross the sky” entering your head. This song reminds me of when I was in grade school and when my mom was still alive. She loved The Eagles and so did I. I still do and this song carries a lot of nostalgia for me.
- The song was written in 1973 by Don Henley and Glenn Frey and recorded on the Eagle’s record, Desperado. I could listen to this album all day.
- In 1993, country super star Alan Jackson recorded his version of the song for the album Common Thread: Songs of the Eagles. When that album released I was 26 years old and my first baby was just a year old. I have that CD in my car and have listened to it hundreds of times!
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Tequila Sunrise
IMPORTANT - There are often Frequently Asked Questions within the blog post that you may find helpful. Simply scroll back up to read them!
Print It Rate ItIngredients
- 2 ounces Tequila
- 4 ounces orange juice
- ½ ounce grenadine syrup
- Orange slice/wheel
- Maraschino cherries
Things You'll Need
Before You Begin
Instructions
- Fill a cocktail shaker with ice. Pour in orange juice and Tequila. Shake for 20 seconds.
- Fill a highball glass with ice and strain the tequila mixer into the glass.
- Pour the grenadine over the back of a spoon held over the top of the glass. This guides the grenadine syrup down the side of the glass. It will sink to the bottom of the glass creating a red layer at the bottom.
- Do not stir the drink. Garnish with an orange wheel and 1 or 2 maraschino cherries. You can skewer the cherries on a cocktail toothpick or just add them on top of the ice.
- Right before serving, very gently and slowly, stir one turn from the bottom of the drink to create the sunrise effect.
Nutrition
Amanda Davis
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Vee says
Tequila sunrise is probably my favorite retro drink.
Recently had to sit at a bar in a crowded restaurant, and the bartender had no clue what a tequila sunrise is!
I walked him through how to make it and got it on the house. Lol.