Tequila Sunrise cocktail! Made with tequila, orange juice, and grenadine syrup which provides the red colour in Tequila Sunrise, with a vibrant colour that screams of summer!! One of the best tequila cocktails that’s refreshing and dangerously easy to drink!
Tequila Sunrise
Am I the only person who wonders why it’s called a Tequila Sunrise when it looks just as much like a sunset when it’s certainly more appropriate to be drinking these??! 😂
Name aside, this is one of the most popular Tequila Cocktails around, the other being margaritas. Orange and tequila is a classic combination and it’s a refreshing drink that even people who don’t like tequila will enjoy drinking because really, you can’t taste the tequila at all!
What goes in a Tequila Sunrise
Here’s what you need for this deceptively potential cocktail:
-
Tequila – use a mid range one which, in Australia, is around the $40 to $50 range. Reserve the better stuff for drinking straight! I use Jose Cuervo which is a top-mid range Mexican tequila;
-
orange juice – the fresher the better! Avoid the sweet reconstituted stuff with loads of added sugar;
-
grenadine syrup – a non alcoholic red sugar syrup made from concentrated pomegranate juice. This is what makes Tequila Sunrise red – see below for how!
What makes Tequila Sunrise red?
The signature red sunrise effect is created simply by pouring Grenadine in. Because it’s a heavy syrup, it sinks to the bottom when poured into the tequila-orange juice.
To achieve the “cleanest” sunrise effect ie. red on bottom, retain orange colour on top, drizzle the syrup down the side of the glass using the back of a teaspoon.
Otherwise, just drizzle it down the inside of the glass straight from the bottle.
Don’t just pour it in the middle of the glass – if you do this, the syrup discolours the orange juice more.
Garnishes
And here’s what is traditionally used to garnish Tequila Sunrises:
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orange slices; and
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Maraschino Cherries – sold in Dan Murphys in Australia! If you can’t find them, just use normal glace cherries sold in the baking aisle of supermarkets – it won’t have the stems but they still look good!
Potency
Each drink contains 1 part tequila to 2 parts orange juice. Being what’s called a “long drink” (a drink with relatively large volume as opposed to, for example, whisky on ice which is a “short drink”), Tequila Sunrises aren’t as potent as other cocktails.
But it’s dangerously easy to drink vast volumes because they’re so refreshing and you can’t taste the alcohol!
When to serve Tequila Sunrise
Make Tequila Sunrises all through the warm months, by the pool, for tropical themed gatherings and just anytime you want to pick up the mood with a vibrant colourful drink to get the party started!
It’s a good drink to serve that’s not overly potent so it’s a sensible choice for outdoor functions on hot summer days (dehydration and potent cocktails is never a good thing!).
What to serve for nibbles
As for nibbles to serve on the side, here are a few suggestions:
And for more cocktails, head over here -> Cocktail recipes. – Nagi x
Watch how to make it
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Tequila Sunrise
Ingredients
- 45 ml / 1.5oz tequila
- 90ml / 3 oz orange juice
- 15 ml / 0.5 oz grenadine syrup
Garnishes
- Orange slices
- Maraschino cherry
Instructions
- Pour tequila and orange juice in a tall glass. Scale up recipe as required for your glass side (1 part tequila to 3 parts OJ)!
- Mix, then fill with ice.
- Drizzle grenadine down the side of the glass over the back of a teaspoon (see video). Do not mix!
- Garnish with orange slice and Maraschino cherry. Serve immediately!
Recipe Notes:
- Tequila - use a mid range one which, in Australia, is around the $40 to $50 range. Reserve the better stuff for drinking straight! I use Jose Cuervo which is a top-mid range Mexican tequila.
- Orange juice - the fresher the better! Avoid the sweet reconstituted stuff with loads of added sugar.
- Grenadine syrup - a non alcoholic red sugar syrup made from concentrated pomegranate juice. This is what makes Tequila Sunrise red - see video!
- Maraschino Cherries - sold in Dan Murphys in Australia! If you can't find them, just use normal glace cherries sold in the baking aisle of supermarkets - it won't have the stems but they still look good!
Nutrition Information:
Life of Dozer
DOZER Sunrise!!
You give me a best recipe thank you
And you also ranch water recipe like:
https://www.recipemake.com/2023/01/Ranch-water-recipe-cocktail-flavored-.html
Very nice recipe, looking amazing
The ingredients say 2 to 1 Orange juice to Tequila the instructions say 3 to 1 ?
Hi Nagi!
Your recipes are awesome!
Thank you so much.
Do you have a (red) Sangria recipe?
Thanks again Nagi!
I have been a Sunrise enthusiast since 1972 enjoyed them all my life. To add a twist try adding some Asti Spumante I called it Ammosa at Sunset. Try it you will come back for more
Happy Sunset Tom Wilson Phila. Pa.
YUM!!! Thanks for the ideas Thomas! N x
I love making a small batch of tequila sunrise on ice for a relaxing time in the jacuzzi with my wife. Put on some soft music and forget life’s troubles!
Sounds perfect Chris! N x
I knew that tequila sunrise is made from tequila, orange juice, and grenadine syrup, but I did not have orange juice. So, for that reason, I used pomegranate juice and it was really good.
Always reminds me of the Eagles song!!! I love both 😋 I love that you’ve started doing cocktails. Our closest town is 45 ninutes away so our “date nights” are at home – and your recipes are so awesome for “eating out at home”! ❤️
That’s so nice to hear Luann, thanks so much ❤️
“Deceptively Potential Cocktail”. That’s a moniker always associated with Tequila..LOL!
Totally!!!!