Name: Tequila Sunrise
Total time: 4 min
Cuisine: Cocktail
Ingredients: 5 ml Grenadine syrup; 5 ml Crème de cassis; 45 ml Reposado tequila; 22.5 ml Orange Curaçao; 15 ml Lime juice; 75 ml Orange juice

Tequila Sunrise
Jump to

Serve in a Collins glass

Ingredients:
¹⁄₆ oz	Monin Grenadine Syrup
¹⁄₆ oz	Joseph Cartron Double Crème de Cassis de Bourgogne
1 ¹⁄₂ oz	Patrón Reposado tequila
³⁄₄ oz	Orange Curaçao liqueur
¹⁄₂ oz	Lime juice (freshly squeezed)
2 ¹⁄₂ oz	Orange juice (freshly squeezed)

Read about cocktail measures and measuring

How to make:

Select and pre-chill a Collins glass.
Prepare garnish of lime slice wheel.
POUR grenadine and cassis into ice-filled glass.
SHAKE other ingredients with ice.
STRAIN (pour slowly) into glass to sit over red base layer (to create a sunrise effect).
Garnish with lime wheel.

Strength & taste guide:

No alcohol

Medium

Boozy

Sweet

Medium

Dry/sour

More cocktails with similar strength and taste profile

Review:

This 1970s zesty citrus version of the Tequila Sunrise looks the part and comes with a sweet treat at the bottom of the glass.

View readers' comments

Variant:

Original Tequila Sunrise

History:

A variation on the original 1930s Tequila Sunrise, created in 1970 by Bobby "Robert" Lozoff, when a 22 year-old rookie bartender working at the Trident in Sausalito, California, USA.

The Trident was popular with rock 'n' roll stars and one Monday night in June 1972, when the Trident was normally closed, it was the venue for an intimate Rolling Stones American Tour kick-off party. While Mick Jagger was at the bar waiting for Lozoff to make the Margarita he'd just ordered, Lozoff asked if he had ever tried a Tequila Sunrise. Jagger replied, "no." So, Lozoff made one of his signature drinks. Jagger loved the taste and that it was simple enough for the band to make while on tour. In chapter nine of Keith Richard's 2010 book Life, he says "The '72 tour was known by other names-the Cocaine and Tequila Sunrise tour." The drink's notoriety led its being printed on the back label of Jose Cuervo bottles. Then, in April 1973, the Eagles released their song Tequila Sunrise.

Nutrition:

One serving of Tequila Sunrise contains 236 calories

Alcohol content:

1.5 standard drinks
12.27% alc./vol. (12.27° proof)
20.5 grams of pure alcohol

More Classic/vintage cocktails
More Elevenses/afternoon cocktails
More Fruity (e.g. Pornstar Martini) cocktails
More Hall of Fame & must know/try cocktails
More Layered cocktails
More Long drinks & highballs cocktails

Difford’s Guide remains free-to-use thanks to the support of the brands in green above. Values stated for alcohol and calorie content, and number of drinks an ingredient makes should be considered approximate.

Join the discussion

Showing 10 of 12 comments for Tequila Sunrise.
See discussion in the Forum

Please log in to make a comment

Chris Dimal

27th May at 15:39

As much as it is probably much better than the original version, this is rather underwhelming. Feels like a Screwdriver with Tequila when it feels like it would be a lot more. I feel like the Agua Caliente Sunrise is still the winner.

Massimo Cremieux

14th April at 18:12

It happened orange juice was not enough. So I add Mango juice. Can be a good idea but needs more lime juice.

Alexander Mzelski

2nd January at 23:52

For me, it's just a waste of tequila. Just drink a regular screwdriver and save some money on your booze.

Oranges (IMHO) do not pair well with tequila. With oranges it tastes just like vodka (unlike grapefruits or limes)

Avery Garnett

11th May 2024 at 18:29

Sweet tequila and orange juice. Not a fan.

Maz Mellem

13th January 2024 at 15:34

Not being a fan of tequila, I recently came across the concept of a limoncello sunrise, using limoncello instead of tequila. I surprised myself by liking it.

Maz Mellem

13th January 2024 at 15:38

Edit: I'd be interested in whatever recipe you could suggest for it.

John Hinojos

5th May 2023 at 20:17

Had this with Cinco de Mayo Mexican lunch (more of an American day than one in Mexico). Only difference we made is once the cocktail was done to take a bar spoon and stir at the bottom slowly, This move the red into the bottom of the cocktail and created a more gradual effect of the sunset. It also lessened the sweetness at the bottom of the cocktail.

Hunter Newsome

1st August 2023 at 22:57

That's a must in my eyes. It really creates a beautiful gradient, like a Garibaldi cocktail.

Dávid Ugróczi

31st January 2023 at 17:14

Can i use triple sec instead of orange curacao?

Simon Difford

6th February 2023 at 15:35

You can. Better is a 40% alc./vol orange curacao.

Boromyr Roborym

20th January 2022 at 06:22

I like the conception of smooth gradient from orange to grenadine. Very tasty, easy, beautiful.

Kelsey Birtch

6th January 2022 at 01:10

Wondering where to find the original 1930’s recipe by Jean at the Arizona Baltimore Hotel that @thelucasassis mentions in his Instagram. Just don’t want to duplicate the recipe if it’s already out there.

Simon Difford

6th January 2022 at 15:14

I've added a link to the Original Tequila Sunrise above. It's a better drink.

Stuart Davies

16th December 2021 at 17:17

Excellent on a grim December evening. Classic for a reason. One large orange and one lime conveniently delivered just the right amount of juice for two of these ?

See discussion in the Forum