Tequila Sunrise

A bright but rich combination of orange juice, tequila and grenadine or black currant, the Tequila Sunrise is one of the nicer drinks to behold as well as sip.

This simple ingredient list also lends itself to so many impromptu variations, you could make another 20 cocktails that tasted a little lighter, more alcoholic, or even herbal.

Story of a Tequila Sunrise

With all the imaginative “stories” of the Tequila Sunrise, it’s most likely a variation on the Singapore Sling. A “Gin Sling”, Ngiam Toon Boon’s classic from Singapore, combines gin, cherry liqueur, Cointreau and pineapple juice with fresh lime juice and soda water.

Within twenty years, the Singapore Sling was reinvented, cherries traded for crème de cassis, pineapple juice for orange, and the Cointreau lost altogether. The lime juice and soda were also nixed but worth trying if you’re willing to experiment.

By the time of the Eagles, or Mick Jagger, or whoever is credited with reviving this ancient drink, the crème de cassis, a blackcurrant liqueur, was swapped out for the more easily found grenadine, and the lime and soda water were dropped altogether. Leave us with the cocktail you know and love.

What’s in a Tequila Sunrise?

The memorably beautiful drink is a no-frills blend of tequila, fresh orange juice, and grenadine. There are a good 4-5 encores that arguably enhance this drink, but you’re pretty much set up with just a 3 ingredient cocktail.

The tequila doesn’t need to be aged, the grenadine doesn’t need to be made, and the orange juice can be purchased at the store. If you balance the ingredients right, you’ll still have gorgeous, delicious beauty.

Grenadine or crème de cassis?

The deep red in a Tequila Sunrise usually comes from grenadine, a slightly tart pomegranate syrup easily found in grocery and liquor stores and used in a variety of classic cocktails.

It’s good to have on hand, but be careful with this: this syrup is quite syrupy and a little goes a long way. You can also easily make your own if you want a clean flavor without the high fructose corn syrup that commercial bottles offer.

Her other choice for this sunset is creme de cassis, a blackcurrant liqueur found at most liquor stores. The macerated blackcurrants give it a darker, more layered berry flavor than grenadine, and if you want a stronger cocktail, crème de cassis is the way to go — it’s 25% alcohol by volume (grenadine has only 3%, if any). It’s worth trying if you have it or can find it.

Best tequila for a tequila sunrise

Reposado (aged) tequila has an oaky-vanilla character and greater depth that many would think would work well with sunrises, but the truth is a blanco tequila will do the trick as well. It may not be that interesting in taste, but it will still get you there.

Tequila Sunrise technique

The bold, bright layering of a tequila sunrise is no accident, but it’s not such a difficult trick either.

1. Stir your tequila and orange juice together right in the glass and add several ice cubes.
2. Pour the grenadine onto a spoon and the ice.

This allows the liquor to slow its fall, allowing it to gradually sink to the bottom. There’s no need to be overly fussy; They don’t try to make separate layers, but let this darker, heavier layer go through on its way, creating this iconic, beautiful gradient.

Glassware for your Sunrise

A Collins or highball glass – both tall, with the Collins being slightly narrower – are ideal, although anything from a tulip glass to a brandy snifter would show off the beautiful colors and semi-mixed ingredients.

Garnish your sunrise

The classic garnish for a Tequila Sunrise is half a wheel of fresh orange and a single cocktail cherry, both perched on the rim of the glass.

The orange wheel complements the orange juice in the drink, suggesting a sun visible on the horizon, while the cherry either complements the grenadine or adds a nice accent to the creme de cassis.

Score your orange half wheel in half so it fits over the rim of the glass and do the same with the cherry, placing it right in front of the orange.

Tequila Sunrise variations

• The original sunrise: As with the original Tequila Sunrise, add 3/4 ounce dry curaçao and/or 1/4 to 1/2 ounce fresh lime juice. This makes for a slightly more acidic and even more lemony drink.
• Enamorada sunrise: Replace the grenadine with Campari and/or Cynar for added bitterness.
• Cherrier sunrise: Replace the Grenadine with Cherry Heering, which has a higher ABV. This variant gives you a more complex and rich taste.
• Spiced Sunrise: Refine your tequila with cinnamon for even more winter warmth. Added bonus: Cinnamon-infused tequila is pretty handy for a number of other great cocktails, too.
• Aperol sunrise: Replace grenadine with Aperol. The Italian aperitif made with rhubarb (with a healthy helping of gentian) will have a tropically bitter quality that pairs perfectly with the orange.

More tequila recipes perfect for summer

• Pineapple Jalapeno Pitcher Margaritas
• Frozen Cucumber Margaritas
• Classic Paloma cocktail
• Frozen siesta cocktail
• Classic margarita