Tequila Sunrise
Tequila and orange juice with grenadine sinking to the bottom. The 1970s Sausalito version that the Rolling Stones took on tour — pretty, sweet, and better with fresh juice and real grenadine.
Built to the standard modern spec; not yet tested in our kitchen. How we test.
The recipe.
Scaling adjusts quantities only. Prepare shaken drinks in individual portions.
Let’s make a good drink.
Fill a highball glass with ice.
Add the tequila and orange juice and stir once.
Pour the grenadine slowly down the inside of the glass so it sinks to the bottom.
Do not stir. Garnish with an orange slice and a cherry, and let the drinker mix it.
A thoughtful finish
- Fresh orange juice and real grenadine turn this from a sweet 1970s cliché into a good drink. Both are cheap upgrades.
- Pour the grenadine last and slowly; it is denser than the juice and sinks on its own.
- A squeeze of lime in the juice keeps it from being cloying.
Common mistakes
- Carton juice and red-dye grenadine, which is how it earned its reputation.
- Stirring the grenadine in. The gradient is the drink's whole point.
- A mixto 'gold' tequila. A blanco is cleaner and shows through the juice.
A few good questions.
What is the original Tequila Sunrise?
A 1930s Arizona Biltmore drink of tequila, crème de cassis, lime and soda — nothing like the orange-juice version, which is from 1970s California.
Why does the grenadine sink?
Sugar density. Grenadine is heavier than orange juice and settles to the bottom, then bleeds upward as the drink sits.
Did the Rolling Stones really drink it?
Yes. Mick Jagger had one at The Trident in Sausalito before the 1972 tour, and the band drank them across America that summer.
Can I use mezcal?
Yes — a Mezcal Sunrise is smoky and better than it sounds.
Variations
- Screwdriver — Vodka and orange juice.
- Harvey Wallbanger — Vodka, orange juice and Galliano.
- Paloma — Tequila and grapefruit soda.
- Margarita — Tequila, orange liqueur and lime.
Where it comes from
1930s original; 1972 modern version · Phoenix, Arizona; Sausalito, California · Gene Sulit (original); Bobby Lozoff and Billy Rice (modern) · Arizona Biltmore; The Trident
Contested. More than one origin is claimed for this drink. We show the competing accounts rather than pick one.
The original Tequila Sunrise, from the Arizona Biltmore in the 1930s, was tequila, crème de cassis, lime and soda — a different drink. The one everyone knows was made at The Trident in Sausalito in the early 1970s by Bobby Lozoff and Billy Rice: tequila, orange juice and a pour of grenadine that sinks and bleeds upward in a sunrise gradient. Mick Jagger drank one at a party there before the Stones’ 1972 American tour, the band adopted it — Keith Richards called that tour ‘the cocaine and tequila sunrise tour’ — and the Eagles sang about it the next year. It became the best-selling tequila drink in America for a decade and did more for the spirit than any other cocktail.
Sources
- Robert Simonson, A Proper Drink, 2016 (book)
- Keith Richards, Life, 2010 (book)
- Difford's Guide, Tequila Sunrise, 2015 (reference)
Strength. About 1.33 US standard drinks at an estimated 10.7% ABV, estimated from the ingredients and technique, not measured. What that means.
A little character in every sip.
A keeper?
Save this drink for your next cocktail hour.
Saved in this browser.The next great drink
might already be on your shelf.
Choose your bottles and mixers. Discover what you can make.