Sunray

Difford’s Guide
Discerning Drinkers (57 ratings)

Photographed in an UB Coley Coupe Gold 6oz

Ingredients:
23 oz Bourbon whiskey
23 oz Grand Marnier or other cognac orange liqueur
13 oz Aromatized wine (e.g. Lillet Blanc)
13 oz Blanc quinquina/kina (e.g. Mattei Cap Corse, Bonal or Kina L'Aér
34 oz Orange juice (freshly squeezed)
× 1 1 serving
Read about cocktail measures and measuring

How to make:

  1. Select and pre-chill a Coupe glass.
  2. Prepare garnish of orange zest twist.
  3. SHAKE all ingredients with ice.
  4. FINE STRAIN into chilled glass.
  5. EXPRESS orange zest twist over the cocktail and use as garnish.

Strength & taste guide:

No alcohol
Medium
Boozy
Strength 7/10
Sweet
Medium
Dry/sour
Sweet to sour 6/10

Review:

Citrusy, bourbon-laced and gently bittersweet with fresh zippy rich orange.

View readers' comments

History:

First published in William James "Billy" Tarling's 1937 Café Royal Bar Book where the invention of this cocktail is credited to "A. L. Jones." The Sunray was brought to our attention by Jason E. Clapham of St. Edward's MCR at Oxford, England who recommends making it with Cocchi Americano in place of the Kina Lillet used in the 1937 recipe.

SUNRAY
Invented by A. L. Jones
1/4 Grand Marnier.
1/4 Bourbon Whiskey.
1/4 Lillet.
1/4 Orange Juice.
Shake.

William James Tarling, Café Royal Bar Book, 1937

Nutrition:

One serving of Sunray contains 141 calories

Alcohol content:

  • 1.1 standard drinks
  • 18.32% alc./vol. (18.32° proof)
  • 15.1 grams of pure alcohol

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.

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John CARR’s Avatar John CARR
24th April at 16:04
A wonderful vintage cocktail, and one to surprise ppl with! Sweet fruit up front, backbone from bourbon and Cocchi Americano (in this case), freshened up by the bitter and herbal characters of the Kina L’aero d’Or and Americano. Superb balance 5 stars!
Frederic D.’s Avatar Frederic D.
23rd May 2024 at 00:11
Since my wife is no fan of bitter drinks, I omitted the kina and doubled the Lillet Blanc instead. The drink came our great, and deserving of its name: fresh and bright, but with a sturdy bourbon foundation. One of the better orange juice drinks I've found.
Robert Spain’s Avatar Robert Spain
28th March 2024 at 21:47
Jim Beam, Pierre Ferrand Curaçao, and Cocchi Americano. Very good, but the Curaçao takes over all the other ingredients.
Tuber Magnatum’s Avatar Tuber Magnatum
25th May 2023 at 22:17
While I'm not entirely sure if it qualifies as a Kina aromatized wine, I used Sacred English Amber Vermouth in its stead. Regardless, it was excellent! Definitely a repeat.
G. M. Genovese’s Avatar G. M. Genovese
8th June 2022 at 17:10
One of the more palatable oj drinks I've tried. Used Old Bardstown, Bauchant, Lillet Blanc, and Kina L'Aero d'Or. This will be a go-to when I'm trying to rid of that pesky unwanted oj. (8 Jun 2022, 1:10p)
Matthew French’s Avatar Matthew French
17th February 2022 at 22:27
Great balance of bitter and sweet, and since I had some blood oranges...Red Sky cocktail.
Sander Pastoor’s Avatar Sander Pastoor
20th May 2020 at 19:43
Made this one with Pierre Ferrand's Dry Curacao instead of Grand Marnier and it came out great. Great summer evening drink.