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The classic Tequila Sunrise cocktail, which consists of grenadine syrup, tequila, and orange juice, is a stunningly beautiful drink due to the distinct separation of orange juice and syrup, making it a refreshing and uniquely fruity beverage.

If you are looking for some unique beverages for your parties or for simply sipping on while relaxing in the comfort of your home, this old-fashioned cocktail will become a favorite. You can also use grenadine syrup in our Roy Rogers Drink and our Shirley Temple Mocktail.
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🥘Ingredients
- Orange Juice
- Tequila
- Grenadine
- Ice
See recipe card for quantities.
🔪 Instructions
You will find the complete instructions in our recipe guide at the bottom of the page.
Add the ice.
Add the Tequila and orange juice.
Slowly add the grenadine.
Top with the garnish.
🧾Substitutions
- Juice - in lieu of orange juice, feel free to use pineapple juice or tropical juice.
📖Variations
- Mocktail - In lieu of the tequila, add sparkling water, non-alcoholic sparkling wine, or sparking white grape juice.
- Sweeter - you can use SunnyD instead of regular orange juice.
🍽 Equipment
You can use any type of glass, but a tall collins glass works the best as it creates a really lovely cocktail. Also, you will need a jigger so you can accurately measure out the ingredients.
🥫Storage
You can make this in advance, except don't add the grenadine. Due to how easy it is to make this cocktail, it's best to wait and make it right before you serve it.
💭Top tip
- After you add the grenadine, do not stir or shake the drink or you'll lose the gradient effect that makes this vintage cocktail so beautiful.
🔎The History Behind This Beverage
The original version of the Tequila Sunrise is believed to date back to the 1930s. It appears that Gene Sulit, who was a bartender at the Arizona Biltmore Hotel, created the original.The original version contains crème de cassis, tequila, and lime juice in a Collins glass topped with club soda and garnished with a maraschino cherry and lime wheel.
Then when The Rolling Stones came to the states for their 1972 tour kickoff party, Mick Jagger tried the cocktail for the first time and became a fan. Then once his crew started ordering it all over the states while they toured, it became a hit. And if you are familiar with the band The Eagles, they recorded a song called, "Tequila Sunrise" the following year and as they say, the rest is history.
⭐FAQ
The sunset uses grapefruit juice, and the sunrise uses orange juice.
Due to there being more sugar in the grenadine, it will slowly flow to the bottom of the glass, which create s beautiful drink and causes it to look like a sunrise.
All you do is add a maraschino cherry and an orange slice.
Yes! You can totally make this drink non-alcoholic! In lieu of the tequila, add sparkling water, non-alcoholic sparkling wine, or sparking white grape juice.
📖 Recipe
Tequila Sunrise Cocktail
Equipment
- jigger
- Collins glass
- straw
Ingredients
- 4 - 6 ounces orange juice
- 2 ounces Tequila
- ½ ounce grenadine syrup
- orange slices or maraschino cherry
Instructions
- Add ice to your glass. Make sure to not fill it more than ¾th of the way full.
- Add the orange juice.
- Next add the Tequila.
- Slowly add the grenadine by pouring it by the side of the glass.
- Top with an orange slice or maraschino cherry.
- Add a straw. Enjoy!
- Let your guests stir their own drink so the colors and layers aren't disturbed.
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