Home - World Recipes - Tequila Sunrise Cocktail: Recipe, 1-8 Servings
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Home - World Recipes - Tequila Sunrise Cocktail: Recipe, 1-8 Servings
If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation.
A Tequila Sunrise cocktail reminds me of Mexico’s Jalisco region.
El Arenal is the gateway to the Jalisco region in Mexico and the home to agave plants. One of the best things to do in El Arenal is to visit the tequila Distillery for a guided tour and tequila tasting. Which we’ve done.
Our guide did not teach us how to make a Tequila Sunrise Cocktail, but he was most informative and presented the information with sheer joy and pride. We were shown the process involved in making the world-famous Mexican drink, tequila.
And then, upon your return home, you can make your own Tequila Sunrise cocktail from the plenty of tequila shopping!
Tequila can only be produced in designated regions of Mexico, primarily Jalisco, where blue agave is grown. The first production in the 16th century was near the city of Tequila, northwest of Guadalajara, in the highlands of Jalisco. Because the spirit is so tied to Mexican identity, many assume the cocktail must be Mexican too. But in this case, the ingredients (Tequila) are Mexican — the cocktail is Californian.
Two different drinks share the same name:
The original Tequila Sunrise was created in the 1930s–40s at the Arizona Biltmore Hotel in Phoenix. It used tequila, lime, soda water, and crème de cassis — no orange juice, no grenadine.
The modern Tequila Sunrise cocktail — the one with tequila, orange juice, and grenadine — was created in the early 1970s at The Trident in Sausalito, California, by bartenders Bobby Lozoff and Billy Rice.
This is the version we all know today, and the one our recipe is based on.
Our recipe relies on the grenadine sinking and rising slowly to create the sunrise effect . If added to the pitcher, it blends into the whole mix and loses both the look and the gentle flavour gradient.
Did you know that Parras, in Mexico, is a well-known wine region?
Course: Drinks
Cuisine: Mexican
Serving: 1 Person
Time: 3 mins
Notes: The alcohol content of the Tequila Sunrise Cocktail is about 11% ABV (22 proof).
480 ml tequila
960 ml orange juice
Ice for serving
120 ml grenadine (added per glass, not to the pitcher)
Orange slices and maraschino cherries for garnish
Combine the tequila and orange juice in a large jug and chill well.
Fill each glass with ice and pour in the chilled mixture.
Slowly drizzle about 15 ml grenadine down the inside edge of each glass to create the sunrise effect.
Garnish with an orange slice and a maraschino cherry.
A small hosting trick: Chill the glasses ahead of time or keep them near ice. When you pour the pre‑mixed base into a cold glass, the grenadine cascade becomes even more dramatic.
A batch of tequila + orange juice keeps well for up to 24 hours in the fridge, but the sweet spot for best flavour and freshness is 4–8 hours before serving.
This timing protects:
the brightness of the orange juice
the clean tequila notes
the chilled temperature (so you don’t need to over‑ice the glasses)
Just store it in a sealed jug or bottle in the fridge.
Whether you stir it or not, it is a personal preference. But according to the general beliefs, the drink got its name because of the colors forming in the glass that resemble the sunset or sunrise. Therefore, it should actually not be stirred.
If you are hosting a Mexican event, try the Mexican glasses below. However, if you are looking for a more tropical feel (the one we like most), you need long-stemmed glasses. Serve it with a slice of lemon and an umbrella.
There’s something timeless about a tequila sunrise cocktail—the colours, the simplicity, the way it instantly transports you to warm evenings and slow sunsets. Now that you’ve seen how to mix it, batch it, and serve it beautifully, I’d love to hear from you.
Have you made a tequila sunrise cocktail before, or does this guide inspire you to try it for the first time? Share your favourite twist, memory, or serving idea in the comments below. Your stories always add a little extra sunshine to this space.
If you’re into cocktails, you’ll love our guide on 40+ cocktail recipes from around the world!
