Tequila Sunrise Cocktail

Tequila
Author: Smriti Dey
A layered tropical cocktail garnished with an orange slice and pineapple leaf, served in a tall glass with a straw. Orange slices and a pineapple wedge are beside the glass.

Recognised for its simplicity, the three-ingredient tequila sunrise cocktail combines easily available ingredients, enabling denser pomegranate syrup to settle below the citrus blend and produce a characteristic gradient that resembles shades of a sunrise. Known for its colour integrity and minimal ingredient complexity, the concoction was first developed in California during the early 1970s, gaining visibility through the media. It has remained part of the modern cocktail menus due to its accessible execution. While simple to assemble, it requires proper order of pour, ice placement and syrup control to maintain clarity between layers, and often adapted for non-alcoholic formats or scaled for large-format presentations.

What you’ll need

Ingredients

Serves:
1
  • Don Julio blanco tequila (or any other tequila of choice)
    30ml
  • Freshly squeezed orange juice
    60ml
  • Grenadine
    3ml
  • Orange slice
    For garnish
  • Cherry
    For garnish
  • Ice cubes

Method

  1. Step 1

    Fill a highball glass with ice cubes before pouring the tequila and freshly squeezed orange juice over it.

  2. Step 2

    Slowly drizzle the grenadine on the back of the spoon directed into the glass, by letting it sink to the bottom without stirring and letting it create a gradient effect.

  3. Step 3

    Garnish with a cherry and slice of orange before serving.

Tips & Suggestions

  • Stirring should be avoided during preparation; if preferred, advise the guest to stir gently after the presentation to retain the drink’s layering while allowing optimum flavour integration.

  • When preparing in batches, incorporate grenadine individually at the point of serving to maintain its signature layered appearance and prevent premature colour blending.

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