The Best Tequila Sunrise Recipes: 19 Mouth-Watering Variations

by Randy Woodward May 06, 2020

    1. Original Tequila Sunrise
    2. Tequila Sunrise Margarita
    3. Firefly
    4. Candy Corn Cocktail
    5. Sunrise Mimosa
    6. Tequila Sunset
    7. Berry Vodka Sunrise
    8. 212 Cocktail
    9. Amaretto Sunrise
    10. Florida Sunset
    11. Slushy Tequila Sunrise
    12. Clementine Sunset
    13. Spicy tequila sunrise
    14. Jamaican Sunset
    15. Jamaican Sunrise
    16. Caribbean Rum Sunset
    17. Caribbean Sunset Rum Punch

Hope comes when a day starts anew, with the sunrise being a constant reminder that it’s wise to start your day bright and happy. One of the most picturesque scene nature paints is the sunrise. Its beauty captivates the hearts and eyes of many because it is symbolic. Fortunately, the same can be said with the famed cocktail called Tequila Sunrise. It is named so because it resembles the sunrise, evidently shown by its vibrant orange - red colors forming a nice ombre.

The most common recipe of this fine drink calls for three ingredients: tequila, orange juice and grenadine syrup. It is full of citrus flavor and sweetness and it’s ideal for brunch and summer parties. This drink originated in Sausalito, California in the 1970s by two bartenders by the names of Bobby Lozoff and Billy Rice while working at The Trident. The drink gained popularity especially when famous bands such as the Rolling Stones and the Eagles enjoyed it dearly and even named a tour and a song after it. Additionally, one brand of tequila, Jose Cuervo, also promoted the cocktail by putting the recipe at the back of their bottles.

Years before, around 1930s in Phoenix Arizona, there seemed to be the original version of the drink which contained tequila, creme de cassis, lime juice and soda water. However, the modern 3- recipe version is what’s more paid attention to these days. Here lays the recipe of the Tequila Sunrise along with its amazing variations for you to try:

Classic Tequila Sunrise

Three simple ingredients make up this wonderful cocktail. It is a drink basically made for summer and beaches. It is fruity, tangy and refreshing, not to mention the amazing aesthetics that it gives to the drinker.

Ingredients:

Instructions to Make:

  1. Fill a collins glass with ice cubes.
  2. Measure ingredients with jigger . Pour in the tequila first then the orange juice.
  3. Add a splash of grenadine syrup. Don’t stir. The grenadine is a heavy syrup so just let it sink to the bottom to get the sunrise effect.
  4. Garnish with an orange wedge and cherry. Serve with a straw .

Virgin Tequila Sunrise

Orange juice is the ideal juice to drink for kids. It is tangy and sweet and its citrus flavors make it refreshing. When kids see a tequila sunrise, they may be tempted to drink because, well, this drink is irresistible-looking. Actually, they can enjoy this great drink without having their parents worry for them. If you’re not into alcohol, then this recipe is perfect for you.

Ingredients:

Instructions to Make:

  1. Measure ingredients with a jigger .
  2. Fill a shaker with ice cubes. Pour in the juices. Shake well for about 10 seconds.
  3. Pour contents into a tall flute glass .
  4. Garnish with an orange wedge.

Our Tequila Sunrise Pick

1. Original Tequila Sunrise

As mentioned earlier, there was indeed the first ever version of tequila sunrise created long before the tequila sunrise that’s famous these days. It contains different ingredients with orange juice out of the way while creme de cassis, which is a black currant syrup, is present. Still, it is guaranteed a great drink and a true forerunner.

Ingredients:

Instructions to Make:

  1. Measure ingredients with a jigger .
  2. In a shaker filled with ice, pour all the ingredients. Shake for about 15 seconds.
  3. Strain the mixture into an ice filled tall glass and garnish with a lime wheel.

2. Tequila Sunrise Margarita

A classic tequila sunrise with a twist. Sure, a tequila sunrise is great on its own but how about adding something a bit more to the drink? Perhaps make it into a margarita? Try this and you are in for a treat.

Ingredients:

Instructions to Make:

  1. Place sugar and salt on a plate. Rim a scotch glass with a lime wedge and dip the glass on the sugar-salt mix. Set aside.
  2. Measure ingredients with a jigger and pour in all liquids in a shaker and fill it with ice. Shake for about 15 seconds.
  3. Strain and pour mixture into the rimmed glass. Add more ice cubes.
  4. Slowly pour grenadine syrup to create the layer.
  5. Garnish with a lime wheel and maraschino cherry.

3. Firefly

This drink is somehow similar to the tequila sunrise in that it has alcohol, and citrus fruit juice. The common ingredient they have is grenadine syrup. It is also less sweet since it uses grapefruit instead of orange juice. Have a go at this!

Ingredients:

Instructions to Make:

  1. Fill a tall glass with ice.
  2. Measure with a jigger and pour vodka and grapefruit juice into the glass.
  3. Add the grenadine syrup.
  4. Garnish with a lime wheel.

4. Candy Corn Cocktail

Another delightfully layered drink, the candy corn cocktail is fancier and more on the sweet side cocktail. Its whole look is that of a candy, thus, it is perfect to have at Halloween parties.

Ingredients:

Instructions to Make:

  1. In a bowl, Place the candy corn. Then, pour in the vodka. Let the vodka steep into the candy until it dissolves and fully infused to the vodka.
  2. In a shaker , add the candy corn infused vodka and ice cubes. Pour in the orange juice as well. Shake for about 15 seconds.
  3. Strain the mixture into a martini glass .
  4. Slowly pour in grenadine.
  5. Top with whipped cream and garnish with candy corn or orange and yellow sprinkles.

5. Sunrise Mimosa

Sunrise in the form of mimosa. This particular drink requires extra procedures for two components: the syrup and the puree. Of course you can use grenadine syrup for convenience. It also has an additional fruit, the mango to compliment the orange juice.

Ingredients:

For the pomegranate syrup:

For the mango and orange puree:

For assembly:

  • 0.8 z. mango-orange puree
  • Morrisons Prosecco
  • 0.8 z. pomegranate syrup
  • Mango wedge (for garnish)

Instructions to Make:

  1. To make pomegranate syrup, put sugar and pomegranate juice in a saucepan on medium-high heat. Stir occasionally until sugar is fully dissolved. Set aside.
  2. For the mango and orange puree, place mango and orange juice in a blender and blend on high until it is pureed. Set aside.
  3. Grab your flute glasses and pour in the puree. Then, fill the glass with prosecco three quarters of the ways. Make sure prosecco is cold. Stir with a bar spoon . Lastly, slowly pour in the syrup.
  4. Garnish glass with a mango wedge.

6. Tequila Sunset

If the sun rises, at some point, it will have to set. A variant of the tequila sunrise is the tequila sunset. Some say that both have the same ingredients, only that the sunset has an added soda water to leave some red hues at the top instead of at the bottom. Here is another recipe you can try that is quite different from the classic cocktail.

Ingredients:

Instructions to Make:

  1. Measure ingredients with a jigger . Pour the tequila into a highball glass.
  2. Fill glass with crushed ice. Pour in the orange juice.
  3. Drizzle with the creme de cacao.
  4. Garnish with an orange slice and cherry. Serve with a straw .

7. Berry Vodka Sunrise

If you’re having a party and you want to serve your guests with a refreshing drink, try this awesome twist on a classic: the berry vodka sunrise. It is tart from the berries and sweet and citrusy from the orange and of course, some vodka to spice everything up.

Ingredients:

Instructions to Make:

  1. In a pitcher , combine vodka, orange juice and sparkling water. Stir with a wooden spoon and then add the orange slice. Let this chill in the fridge.
  2. In a food processor or blender , add in the berries, cherry juice and maraschino liquid. Blend until pureed. Strain the mixture into another pitcher.
  3. Fill a mason jar with ice. Pour in the orange mixture three quarters of the way. Then add the berry mixture until the glass is full.
  4. Garnish with an orange wedge and maraschino cherry.

8. 212 Cocktail

This is a delectable drink with a hint of bitterness that go well with the fruity flavor of grapefruit and a slight sweetness. It is a very complex flavor that you get to savor once you get the hang of it.

Ingredients:

Instructions to Make:

  1. To garnish your drink. Peel your grapefruit carefully so as to achieve a nice peel. Cut it into a long strip and place the peel in a twist form inside a collins glass . Set aside.
  2. Measure ingredients with a jigger . Pour the liquids in a shaker with ice. Shake vigorously for about 10 seconds.
  3. Strain and pour the mixture into the glass filled with fresh ice.

9. Amaretto Sunrise

If you like almonds and have a thing for its delightful bitterness, then you should the amaretto version of the tequila sunrise. It’s very easy to make, you just have to replace the tequila with amaretto and you got yourself an amaretto sunrise. It clearly tastes different because almonds are the star here which is also great.

Ingredients:

Instructions to Make:

  1. Measure ingredients with a jigger and pour amaretto and orange juice in a shaker filled with ice.
  2. Shake vigorously for about 10 seconds.
  3. Fill a collins glass with fresh ice. Pour the mixture into the glass.
  4. Drizzle the grenadine syrup slowly.

10. Florida Sunset

The view of sunset in Florida is majestic and what better way to intensify this than to have a drink with the same name? The florida sunset drink is pretty much the tequila sunrise, only it has an additional blue curacao and rum to make a third layer. It is refreshing wonderfully colored drink that makes you wanna savor the sunset. This is also known as the Barbados Surprise.

Ingredients:

Instructions to Make:

  1. Measure ingredients with a jigger . Combine rum and blue curacao together. Set aside.
  2. In a tall glass , pour the grenadine syrup. Then, fill the glass with ice.
  3. Using the back of a bar spoon , slowly pour over the orange juice.
  4. Using again the back of the bar spoon, slowly pour over the rum-blue curacao mixture.
  5. Garnish with an orange slice.

11. Slushy Tequila Sunrise

Wanna make your tequila sunrise more fun? Try blending it and you got yourself a slushy drink with the taste of Mexico and the iconic citrus fruit.

Ingredients:

Instructions to Make:

  1. Measure ingredients with a jigger .
  2. Combine tequila and orange juice in a blender filled with ice. Blend just until it forms a slushy texture. Don’t blend too long, otherwise the consistency will be not right.
  3. Pour the grenadine syrup into a scotch glass .
  4. Slowly pour the slush into the glass.
  5. Garnish with fruit on top.

12. Clementine Sunset

Ah yes, no other color can go well with the sunrise or sunset other than orange. Speaking of orange, have a burst of citrus and orange flavors with this drink and it will undeniably remind you of a beautiful scenery that is the sunset.

Ingredients:

Instructions to Make:

  1. Measure ingredients with a jigger .
  2. Combine all ingredients in a shaker filled with ice. Shake for about 10 seconds.
  3. Fill a rocks glass with fresh ice. Strain and pour the drink into the glass.
  4. Garnish with an orange slice.

13. Spicy tequila sunrise

There's nothing in the name that’s confusing here, this recipe is literally a spicy tequila sunrise. With the standard ingredients but with an added twist: jalapeños to spice things up. It’s not scary at all, it’s actually exciting and has a nice kick to it.

Ingredients:

Instructions to Make:

  1. In a shaker filled with ice, measure with a jigger and pour the tequila and orange juice. Add about 2 - 3 slices of jalapeños. Shake vigorously for about 10 seconds.
  2. Fill a collins glass with fresh ice. Strain and pour the mixture into the glass.
  3. Drizzle the grenadine and let it settle at the bottom.
  4. Garnish with an orange slice and 2 jalapeño slices.

14. Jamaican Sunset

Try making this luxurious cocktail at the comfort of your home. At first sip, you get to taste that beautiful dark rum and finish off with the tropical taste of orange and pineapple.

Ingredients:

Instructions to Make:

  1. Measure ingredients using a jigger .
  2. Fill a shaker with ice and combine the rum, orange and pineapple juices and sour mix. Shake vigorously.
  3. Fill a collins glass with fresh ice. Strain and pour the mixture into the glass.
  4. Pour the pomegranate syrup down the side and let it settle in the bottom.
  5. Top it off with the dark rum.

15. Jamaican Sunrise

There’s already a Jamaican sunset so it’s only natural to have a Jamaican sunrise. This recipe uses 2 alcohols, one features peach. And the topping is cranberry while the base has orange so all in all, you get three delicious fruit flavors embedded in a strong alcohol that is vodka.

Ingredients:

Instructions to Make:

  1. Fill a shaker with ice. Add in the vodka, orange juice and peach schnapps.
  2. Shake well for about 10 seconds.
  3. Pour contents in a highball glass .
  4. Top it off with the cranberry juice to give that sunrise effect.

16. Caribbean Rum Sunset

It’s a hot day and you want something to refresh yourself. Here’s something to cross your mind. A delicious, frothy, slushy drink that’ll get you through the heat. This pretty-looking drink is blended to get that nice slushy consistency and of course, it’s packed with Caribbean flavors to enhance the experience.

Ingredients:

Instructions to Make:

  1. Put ice cubes in a blender .
  2. Use a shot glass to measure and pour the liquors. Combine coconut rum and white rum in the blender.
  3. Add in the orange juice. Blend on high until smooth or until a slushy consistency is achieved.
  4. Pour the mixture into a hurricane glass . Drizzle the grenadine syrup. Serve with a straw and a tiny umbrella .

17. Caribbean Sunset Rum Punch

One of the best drinks ever invented: the Caribbean rum punch and making it into a sunset just makes it prettier and more exciting. It is always good to serve at parties to entertain your guests and let them have a taste of Caribbean and tropical luxury.

Ingredients:

Instructions to Make:

  1. In a punch bow l, add in your fruit slices.
  2. Measure ingredients using a jigger . Combine all liquids except the lemon lime soda and grenadine syrup into the bowl.
  3. Top it with the lemon lime soda. Lastly, add in the grenadine syrup to get the sunset effect. You can put the mixture in the refrigerator so it can be served cold.

Our Conclusion

Easiest Recipe

The easiest vote always goes to the classic recipe. Simple yet evocative, it gave rise to the other recipes listed here.

Fanciest Recipe

Our fanciest vote goes to the Candy Corn Tequila Sunrise. Topped with whipped cream and candy corn, nothing is fancier than that on this list

Most Innovative

Slushie in a cocktail? This recipe always captivates us that’s why we voted it to be the most innovative. If you are not into tequila sunrise, this recipe will surely convert you.

Most Beautiful

Hands down to the Tequila Sunset! This beautiful cocktail transports you to a clear blue sea and an amazing sunset even if you are in a bar.

Margarita: a Special Concoction from Tequila

Obviously, tequila is the alcohol featured in tequila sunrise as the name suggests. Another famous cocktail you can make from tequila is the margarita. It is citrusy which compliments the strong flavor of the tequila. And there isn’t just one type, there are more. Here are margarita recipes you can try at home.

Life doesn’t just give you Lemons, it also gives Oranges

The other star of the tequila sunrise is the orange juice. Oranges are versatile as they can make it into desserts, main dishes and drinks. They are tart and at the same time, sweet, also, they give drinks a nice color that is perfect for summer. Here are 3 orange cocktails that you can try to appreciate this glorious fruit more.

How to Make Summer Fun and Exciting

Tequila sunrise is ideal for summer. And, if you're planning to serve it at parties in the summer, you can’t just prepare the cocktail and call it a day. You need a proper party that’s gonna knock people’s socks off. You need a plan and here is something that can get you through the pre-party event without getting stressed. It’s easier if you try to have fun along the process.

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