Name: Tequila Sunrise Cocktail
Prep time: 5 min
Total time: 5 min
Ingredients: 2 ounces tequila; 4 ounces of orange juice (4 - 6 ounces depending on the size of your glass); 1/2 ounce of Grenadine; 1/2 orange slice; 3 maraschino cherries

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The tantalizing tequila sunrise cocktail delivers in so many ways! Not only is it pretty but the combination of the tequila, orange juice and grenadine makes it so delicious. Just imagine sipping one of these by the poolside.

A tulip glass is in front of two other glasses filled with the tequila sunrise cocktail

Yum. I wish I knew how many of these tequila sunrise cocktails I’ve made in my career as a bartender. Let’s just say it is a LOT.

One of the things I love about this cocktail other than it being delicious is how incredibly pretty it is. It always wows your guests when you serve it to them.

Do you have to serve this drink in a tulip glass?

No! You don’t. They just look really cool in the tulip glass. In the photos below you will see a variety of glassware. Each pieces showcases this delicious cocktail in its own way!

Why is this drink called a tequila sunrise?

Because it looks like a sunrise. Whether you drink it just as it looks above or you stir it up as I did below, it still looks like a very pretty sunrise in the summertime!

The colorful cocktail stirred so the colors meld

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Helpful tips

Although I almost always use premium liquor in my cocktails, this cocktail doesn’t require premium. The reason is there is a good amount of juice in this cocktail so the nuance of premium over mid range would be not pronounced
You don’t have to use a cocktail shaker, you can just pour the ingredients in the glass. I prefer the shaker because of the ice chips that result when you shake a cocktail, and it makes for a colder drink
You can use more than 4 ounces of orange juice, but don’t use more than 6 ounces because it will dilute the cocktail too much
I used an orange juice with pulp, but just know you will see it in the drink
If you use a big glass and you’ve hit the 6 ounce mark in juice, just add more ice
This cocktail is made in a tulip glass but use whatever you have on hand

How to make the tequila sunrise cocktail

Pre-step

Fill cocktail shaker halfway with ice. Other than the grenadine, after measuring each ingredient below, pour it into the shaker.

Step one

The ingredients – Patron Silver tequila, orange juice and grenadine. (1)

Step two

Measure 2 ounces of tequila. (2)

Tequila, orange juice and grenadine poured out for the cocktail

Step three

Measure 4 ounces of orange juice. (3)

Step four

Measure 1/2 ounce of grenadine. Set aside. (4)

Step five

Cap your shaker and shake for 15 seconds. Pour the contents into the glass. (This is when I adjust the ice cubes. I use the ice left in the shaker if needed. You want the mixture to be a quarter of an inch from the top of the glass.)

Step six

Prepare your garnish: three maraschino cherries and an orange slice. I use my much loved martini pick to skewer the cherries, alternating the colors!

Cherries on a skewer and an orange slice in a small white plate and a shot glass of grenadine ready to be poured in the cocktail mixed in the glass

Step seven

Pour the Grenadine shot slowly down the inside of the glass. The grenadine will sink to the bottom. See?

Grenadine poured into the glass and the garnish is in the background

Step eight

Garnish the cocktail and serve.

Garnish in the glasses of the tequila sunrise - tulip glass in front

The photo below shows a double old fashioned glass filled with the tequila sunrise cocktail. You can see the martini glass in the background.

Notice that the grenadine will start rising up the orange juice. You can also see I use orange juice with pulp.

Rocks glass in front with the other two cocktails are in the background

And the vertical view!

Vertical view of the tulip glass in front filled with the tequila sunrise

Other popular tequila recipes

I hope you enjoyed this tequila sunrise cocktail recipe and will make it very soon; it is so delicious!

And as always, may all your dishes/drinks be delish!

If you’ve tried this tequila sunrise cocktail or any other recipe on the blog, I’d love the hear what you thought about it in the comments below. I love hearing from you! You can also FOLLOW ME on FACEBOOK, TWITTER, INSTAGRAM and PINTEREST to see more of my delicious food and delightful cocktails!