Tequila Sunrise Cocktail Recipe & Ingredients

Rise and shine! The tequila sunrise cocktail. This cocktail is super easy, with just three ingredients.

Rise and shine! Today, we will take a look at one of the most popular cocktails of all time; The Tequila Sunrise. This cocktail is super easy, with just three ingredients. It’s no wonder the Tequila Sunrise cocktail has been such a hit for so long.

What is a Tequila Sunrise?

The Tequila Sunrise cocktail consists of Tequila, orange juice, and grenadine syrup. It’s served in a highball tumbler glass. This is a sweet, fruity cocktail is a classic that everyone should know how to make.

​​History of the Tequila Sunrise cocktail?

This cocktail’s name comes from its layers resembling a beautiful sunrise. The original Tequila Sunrise was made with Tequila, creme de cassis, lime juice, and soda water and was served at the Arizona Biltmore Hotel in the 1930s or 1940s by Gene Sulit.

Three tequila sunrise cocktails with cherry orange garnish and cocktail shaker
Three tequila sunrise cocktails with cherry orange garnish and cocktail shaker.

The more popular modern form of the drink, which includes Tequila, orange juice, and grenadine, was invented in the early 1970s by Bobby Lozoff and Billy Rice while working as young bartenders at the Trident in Sausalito. Mick Jagger tried one of the cocktails during a private party at the Trident in 1972 to kick off the RollingStones” 1972 tour in America and loved it so much that he and his entourage began drinking them. They later ordered them all over the country, even dubbing the tour the “cocaine and tequila dawn tour

At the time, the Trident was the largest tequila retailer in the United States. In 1973, Jose Cuervo saw the new drink as a marketing opportunity, putting the recipe on the back of their tequila bottles and promoting it in various ways. Later the same year, during the height of the drink’s popularity, the Eagles recorded “Tequila Sunrise” on their Desperado album. 

Adding to the popularity, Tequila Sunrise, starring Michelle Pfeiffer, Mel Gibson, and Kurt Russell, was released in 1988.

What Glass is Tequila Sunrise Served In?

The Tequila Sunrise is typically served in a highball glass capable of holding a ton of ice. If you don’t own the right glassware for this cocktail, consider some of the options below.

How to Make a Tequila Sunrise

Below are the ingredients and directions for a Tequila Sunrise. We hope you love this drink as much as we do.

Tequila Sunrise

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Recipe by Julian Solorzano Cuisine: Classic CocktailDifficulty: Easy ????

The Tequila Sunrise cocktail consists of Tequila, orange juice, and grenadine syrup. It’s served in a highball tumbler glass. This is a sweet, fruity cocktail is a classic that everyone should know how to make.

Ingredients

  • 1.50 Ounces Milagro Silver Tequila

  • 4-5 Ounces Orange juice

  • .75 Ounces Grenadine, Homemade, or Store Bought Creme de Cassis

Directions

  • Chill a highball glass.
  • Add Tequila, pour in the fresh orange juice, and pour the grenadine or cassis through the orange juice.
  • Add fruit for garnish.

Recipe Video

Conclusion

So what do you think of the Tequila Sunrise cocktail? Tequila Sunrise. Do you love it? Hate it? What would you rate it? Let us know in the comments below. 

If you want to see more awesome mixology content, check out our full blog here, and subscribe to our newsletter to get great recipes just like this one, straight to your inbox. Until next time, stay safe, get hammered.

Written by Chris Harris, Staff Writer

Howdy. I’m Chris Harris. One of the writers here at Cocktail Hammer. I have a passion for all things food, wine, and mixology. When I’m not I’m behind the bar or writing for this awesome blog, you can find me riding my bike all across New York City.

Edited by Julian Solorzano, Staff Editor

Hailing from Queens, New York, Julian Solorzano served four years in the United States Air Force, traveling throughout Europe and experiencing the best of the local cultures, including their passion for good food and wine. He has since grown an appreciation for all things wine and mixology. Julian fuses that passion with his skills in writing, photography, and video production to share his passion with the world.

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