It's, like, so 70's it hurts. A Tequila Sunrise is sweet, pretty and SO easy to make. It's 3 ingredients you probably have on hand and ready in just minutes! It's a classic cocktail recipe that should not be overlooked! Try one now!
Years ago I made a Vodka Sunrise and it is one of my most popular recipes. But over the years I've fallen in love with tequila. So I decided to make a Tequila Sunrise.
You don't see it on cocktail menus. It's a drink you maybe would have seen on Three's Company (it's a 70's/80's sitcom from when I was little for you young people...). But it's really tasty.
Whether you're feeling nostalgic or just want to know everything you can make with a handful of ingredients, a Tequila Sunrise cocktail should be on your radar.
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Why This Recipe Works
If you don't know what's in a Tequila Sunrise I'm going to tell you. A little bit of tequila, some orange juice (no pulp, ew) and grenadine is all it takes to create a beautiful and tasty cocktail.
It's so super easy to make and I think people don't give it enough attention because it feels basic and maybe a touch outdated.
We know that Vodka and Orange Juice (or a Screwdriver) is good. So that extra hit of cherry flavor from the grenadine gives it even more magic.
And it's sort of a layered drink which gives it a great look and makes it seem a little more advanced than it really is. I don't like fancy techniques, so trust me when I tell you, you can do this.
If you've checked out my site before, you know I like to keep my home bar small and make every ingredient work hard for its spot in the lineup. Knowing the 2-ingredient cocktails and 3-ingredient cocktails you can make really gives you tons of options.
And while I usually love a cocktail that uses fresh ingredients, for this one it's really easy to keep these ingredients on hand and ready.
So put on your best Mrs. Roper outfit (another Three's Company reference) and make yourself a Tequila Sunrise. It's one of the easiest drinking tequila cocktails you can make!
Ingredients
See the recipe card for quantities.
Use your favorite tequila and orange juice for this recipe. We always have grenadine on hand because it's delicious in all kinds of soda and mixed drink recipes.
If you want to garnish your drink, make sure you also have an orange and a jar of maraschino cherries too. But usually, I just save garnishing for when I'm serving drinks to other people. Me = #lazy.
Instructions
Do I need to show you each step of pouring ingredients into a cocktail glass? No. But I have learned over the years that some people like to see each step. If you don't need it, you can skip right down to the printable recipe card and get to mixing!
Typically, a Tequila Sunrise is made in a highball glass. I'm not one for "proper" glassware. But in this case, to see the layers, a taller clear glass makes sense. But use what you have on hand.
To your tall glass, add ice.
Add the tequila.
Add the orange juice.
To add the grenadine, pour it on the back of a spoon down the side of the glass so it can settle to the bottom.
Now, I'm not sure why you just wouldn't add it to the glass first...but it really doesn't matter.
Garnish your tequila cocktail with a piece of orange and a cherry. Or don't. Totally up to you.
NOTE: Before drinking, mix this drink a smidge. You want the grenadine to get a little bit mixed in, but not all the way. The flavor is way better if you stir it up a little and the color gets, even more, graduated making it look like a freaking sunrise. Boom.
These photos are from before stirring. I always take my photos first and then taste test the recipes and adjust.
Variations
A classic recipe is delish. But you can make this your own by making a variation.
- Extra Fruit Flavors - Use another fruit juice to give it more layers of flavor. Try pineapple, grapefruit or even cranberry juice.
- Sparkling - Add some fizz by adding a little bit of club soda or even champagne.
- Kid-friendly - Ditch the tequila to make it a mocktail. What kid wouldn't love a little bit of grenadine in their orange juice?
- Different Liquor - Opt for vodka, gin or rum instead of tequila for a totally new flavor.
- Specialty Liqueur - Looking for something a little more complex? Try adding a little bit of flavored liqueur like elderflower liqueur, ginger liqueur or even almond-flavored liqueur.
- Blended - Make it more like a slushy (like I did with my Vodka Sunrise) for a blended drink that is perfect to sip by the pool.
Tips
If this drink is a little bit too sweet for you, try adding some fresh citrus (like lime juice) to tone it down.
You can make this drink with fresh-squeezed orange juice if you prefer to give it a more craft cocktail vibe.
Frequently Asked Questions
Not entirely. You do not stir it as you usually would to mix the flavors. But you do give it a very quick, gentle mix before drinking to allow the grenadine to not only flavor the cocktail but make the colors look like a sunrise.
I like to use Blanco tequila but you could also use reposado (which gets a little more flavor from the barrel it's aged in). There's no wrong answer here so use what you like best. If you need help deciding on what bottle to buy, you can read about what I think is the best tequila to use for margaritas and beyond.
Traditionally the Tequila Sunrise has the pink on the bottom and a Tequila Sunset has the pink on the top of the drink. It's not as easy as switching the order of ingredients since grenadine is heavy so it really does require a different recipe.
Sometimes, though, a Tequila Sunset has different ingredients in it like grapefruit.
A Tequila Sunrise is not necessarily a strong drink. It depends on how much tequila and orange juice you add. This recipe calls for 1.5 ounces to 4 ounces of orange juice. So it's not like a Tequila Gimlet where it's mostly alcohol.
A Tequila Sunrise is fruity, sweet and so pretty to look at. Serve this nostalgic tequila cocktail next time you're looking for something simple to sip.
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Tequila Sunrise Cocktail
Ingredients
- 1.5 ounces Tequila
- 4 ounces orange juice
- .75 ounces grenadine
Instructions
- To a highball glass filled with ice add tequila and orange juice.
- Pour the grenadine on the back of a spoon and down the inside of the glass so that it settles to the bottom of the glass.
- Give it a gentle stir to help incorporate the grenadine into the taste, but not enough to completely mix the colors.
Notes
- Extra Fruit Flavors - Use another fruit juice to give it more layers of flavor. Try pineapple, grapefruit or even cranberry juice.
- Sparkling - Add some fizz by adding a little bit of club soda or even champagne.
- Kid-friendly - Ditch the tequila to make it a mocktail. What kid wouldn't love a little bit of grenadine in their orange juice?
- Different Liquor - Opt for vodka, gin or rum instead of tequila for a totally new flavor.
- Specialty Liqueur - Looking for something a little more complex? Try adding a little bit of flavored liqueur like elderflower liqueur, ginger liqueur or even almond-flavored liqueur.
- Blended - Make it more like a slushy (like I did with my Vodka Sunrise) for a blended drink that is perfect to sip by the pool.
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