Tequila Sunrise
Tequila and orange juice with grenadine sinking to the bottom like a sunrise.
Built in glass · Highball · Easy · about 2 minutes · about 11% ABV
Ingredients
- 45 ml Tequila (blanco)
- 90 ml Orange juice
- 15 ml Grenadine
- Orange slice (garnish)
- Cocktail cherry (garnish)
Method
- Ice the glass
- Pour 45 ml tequila (blanco) into the glass
- Pour 90 ml orange juice into the glass
- Top with 15 ml grenadine
- Garnish
Tip
Pour the grenadine slowly down the side and do not stir.
About the Tequila Sunrise
The original 1930s Tequila Sunrise, from the Arizona Biltmore, used crème de cassis and lime. The orange juice and grenadine version came from the Trident in Sausalito, California, in the early 1970s. The Rolling Stones helped make it famous on their 1972 tour.
The spirit-forward family. This is a spirit-forward drink, made mostly of spirit and liqueur with no juice to soften it. Drinks like this were the heart of the golden age of cocktails, from the 1860s to Prohibition in 1920, and many were collected in Harry Craddock's Savoy Cocktail Book (1930). Stir them cold and serve them small.
Tequila Sunrise FAQ
What's in a Tequila Sunrise?
45 ml tequila (blanco), 90 ml orange juice, 15 ml grenadine, garnished with orange slice and cocktail cherry.
How strong is a Tequila Sunrise?
About 11% ABV once mixed with ice, which is 1.4 Australian standard drinks per serve. That is about as strong as a glass of wine or lighter.
Should I shake or stir a Tequila Sunrise?
Neither. Build it straight in the glass over ice, then give it one gentle stir.
What glass do you serve a Tequila Sunrise in?
A highball, about 350 ml. Serve it over ice. No highball? Use any tall, straight-sided glass.
