Tropical Sunset And Other Sun-Inspired Cocktails

by Randy Woodward May 23, 2020



Cocktails inspired by the beauty of the sunset and the sunrise is an attempt to pay homage to this amazing wonder of nature. This is achieved by the addition of grenadine into the orange or pineapple juice to evoke the gradients of the sky as the sun sets or rises.

Nutritional Facts

Calories - 272 kcals

Calories from fat - 0

Total Fat - nil

Cholesterol - 0

Total Carbs - 50

Sugars - 43 g

Protein - 0.3 g

Tools Required to Make

  • Jigger - used to measure the ingredients
  • Cocktail Shaker - used to shake the cocktails although this cocktail does not need much shaking
  • Glasses - depending to the presentation, this cocktail may use hurricane glass, Collins glass, martini glass, and rocks glass

Ingredients

Steps to Make

  1. In a hurricane glass , add ice and combine the vodka, pineapple juice and orange juice.
  2. Add a splash of grenadine.
  3. Garnish with a cherry and lime wedge.

Recipe Variations

Because of the interesting look of this cocktail, there are a lot of variations, mostly the alcohol. The juices and the grenadine are staples in the tropical sunset cocktails.

Admiral Tropical Sunset

This cocktail is made with blood orange instead of the regular California oranges and added club soda to make it the lighter version of the Tropical Sunset cocktail.

Ingredients:

  • 1 Tbsp sugar
  • 2 Tbsp hot water
  • 5 fresh mint leaves
  • Juice of ½ a lime
  • Juice of 1 blood orange
  • 2½ oz Admiral Nelson’s Coconut Rum
  • 2 oz club soda

Steps to make:

  1. Combine sugar and hot water in a glass and stir to dissolve sugar; set aside.
  2. In a shaker , mash mint leaves with a spoon.
  3. Add sugar/water mixture, lime and orange juices, rum and ice; shake vigorously.
  4. Strain into a tall glass filled with fresh ice and top with club soda; stir gently.

Jamaican Sunset

Instead of the standard grenadine syrup, this recipe uses pomegranate syrup. This gives a different vibe to the cocktail to temper the sting of the Jamaican spiced rum. The dark rum also adds to the color of the cocktail.

Ingredients:

  • 1 ½ oz Sailor Jerry's Spiced Rum
  • 1 ½ oz Fresh-squeezed Orange Juice
  • 1 ½ oz Pineapple Juice
  • 1 oz Fresh Lemon Sour Mix
  • ¼ oz Pomegranate Syrup
  • ½ oz Myers's Dark Rum

Steps to make:

  1. Combine the first 4 ingredients with ice in a mixing glass and shake .
  2. Strain into an ice-filled Collins glass .
  3. Pour the pomegranate syrup down the side and let it float to the bottom.
  4. Top off with the Myer's rum.

Caribbean Rum Sunset

This frozen cocktail is a cross between the tropical sunset cocktail and a strawberry daiquiri as it uses daiquiri mix instead of grenadine syrup.


Ingredients:

Steps to make

  1. In a blender , add the white rum, coconut rum, and orange juice.
  2. Add lots of ice. Blend until slushy in consistency.
  3. Pour 1 tbsp of the strawberry daiquiri mix into the hurricane glass .
  4. Add the slushie and add more daiquiri mix. Garnish with a cocktail umbrella.
Caribbean Sunset Rum Punch

Rum and fruit overload is just one phrase to describe this rum punch. Delicious would be the other word we can use for this. The cacophony of flavors interestingly makes this cocktail more amazing. Best to make with frozen fruits so they keep the punch cold for longer without watering it down.


Ingredients:

Steps to make

  1. Make sure all ingredients are chilled before mixing.
  2. Fill a large fish bowl with the sliced fruits.
  3. Add the light rum, coconut rum, mango rum, spiced rum, and the juices.
  4. Add a splash of grenadine.

Tequila Sunrise Margarita

Tequila sunrise and margarita meets its other in this fusion of flavors. The sweet-salty combination of the rimming gives character to this beautiful cocktail.


Ingredients

Steps to make

  1. Chill a rocks glass for 15 minutes before rimming with sugar and salt mixture.
  2. Fill cocktail shaker with ice then combine tequila, triple sec, orange juice, and lime juice.
  3. Shake vigorously for 30 seconds
  4. Fill the glasses with ice as desired and pour the margarita mixture into the rimmed glass.
  5. Use a spoon to move the ice and slowly pour grenadine down the side of the glass, being careful not to get any on the salt and sugar rim.
  6. Garnish with a slice of lime and a maraschino cherry .

Whipped Tropical Sunset Cocktail

What better way to glamorize a cocktail than to top it with whipped cream? The simple cocktail goes a long way with the addition of this simple ingredient.

Ingredients

  • 1.5 fl. oz. Vanilla Infused Vodka
  • 3 fl. oz. Sour Mix
  • 2 fl. oz. Pineapple Juice
  • 1/2 fl. oz. Grenadine Syrup
  • Whipped cream for garnish

Steps to make

  1. Fill a Collins glass with lots of ice.
  2. Pour the vodka, sour mix and pineapple juice over the ice.
  3. Add grenadine syrup.
  4. Top with whipped cream.

Sunset Paradiso

Okay, admittedly this cocktail deviates from the norm in this list but who can resist a beautiful martini with a hint of the early afternoon sun?


Ingredients

  • 1 ½ oz orange vodka
  • ½ oz limoncillo
  • ½ oz Aperol
  • ⅔ oz orange juice
  • Dried cranberries for garnish
  • Ice

Steps to make

  1. Fill a cocktail shaker with ice.
  2. Pour in the vodka, limoncillo, Aperol, and orange juice.
  3. Shake vigorously until chilled well.
  4. Strain into a martini glass.
  5. Garnish with skewered dried cranberries.

Malibu Sunset

Malibu coconut rum gives a new take to this cocktail paired with the golden rum, lending the cocktail its sweet golden color. Everyone will love the vivid sunset on this beautiful cocktail.


Ingredients

  • 1 oz golden rum
  • 2 oz orange juice
  • 1 oz Malibu
  • ½ oz simple syrup
  • ½ oz lime juice
  • Splash of grenadine

Steps to make

  1. Fill a cocktail shaker with ice.
  2. Pour in the rum, orange juice, Malibu, syrup, lime juice, and grenadine.
  3. Shake well.
  4. Strain into a Collins glass .
  5. Garnish with a lime wedge, mint leaf, and a cherry.

Grand Marnier Sunset

Adding egg yolks to a cocktail gives it a creamy and rich flavor, making it frothy and full-bodied Just be sure to take hygienic habits when preparing cocktails using raw eggs.

Ingredients

  • ⅔ oz light rum
  • 2 oz orange juice
  • ⅔ oz Grand Marnier
  • 1 egg yolk
  • 1 oz pineapple juice
  • 1 tsp grenadine
  • Lime wedge for garnish

Steps to make

  1. Pour the ingredients into a cocktail shaker .
  2. Add ice. Shake well.
  3. Strain into a Collins glass .
  4. Garnish with a lime wedge.

Rum Sunset

This is one easy cocktail to make - no shaking, not even stirring needed. Just some basic bar ingredients and you’re good to go.

Ingredients

Steps to make

  1. In a Collins glass , pour in the light rum.
  2. Top with orange juice and add the grenadine syrup.
  3. Garnish with lime wheel

Tropical Sunrise

The addition of the melon liqueur is an interesting take for this cocktail, giving it an early morning vibe as suggested by the cocktail’s name. It can be presented in two ways. One is to serve it plain while the other is served with a tipped 50-ml bottle of vodka into it. This adds vodka into the cocktail, making it a bit stronger as you drink it.


Ingredients

  • Orange juice
  • Dash of grenadine
  • 2 oz Melon liqueur
  • 1 oz Vodka

Steps to make

  1. In a hurricane glass , pour in the orange juice and grenadine.
  2. In a cocktail shaker , add the melon liqueur and vodka.
  3. Add ice and shake well.
  4. Pour the melon liqueur-vodka mix into the hurricane glass.
  5. Garnish with a pineapple wedge.
  6. If you want to add more vodka, tip a small bottle of vodka into the glass, allowing it to mix slowly.

Tropical Tequila Sunrise

Prepare to be surprised with this frozen cocktail with the interesting combination of the strawberries and the oranges. With just one ounce of tequila in it, you can indulge in this cocktail as it does not have added sugars too.


Ingredients

For the frozen strawberry

  • 1 lb strawberries
  • Juice of ½ lemon
  • ½ c water

For the frozen orange

  • 3 oranges, peeled and sections separated
  • Juice from ½ lemon
  • ½ c water

For the cocktail

  • 1 oz tequila
  • Schweppes Tropical Sunset

Steps to make

  1. Make the frozen strawberry
    1. In a blender , add the sliced strawberries, lemon juice and water.
    2. Blend well.
    3. Pour into an ice cube tray and freeze overnight.
  2. Make the frozen orange
    1. In a blender, add the oranges, lemon juice and water.
    2. Blend well.
    3. Pour into an ice cube tray and freeze overnight.
  3. Make the cocktail
    1. Blend the frozen strawberry and frozen orange separately until it is slushy in consistency.
    2. Pour the strawberry slushie first then the orange slushie.
    3. Add the tequila and top with Schweppes Tropical Sunset.
    4. Garnish with a strawberry, orange wedge, and a mint sprig.

Mexican Sunset

This cocktail gets a nutty flavor from the amaretto liqueur while keeping it together with the fresh take of the Mexican flavor with the addition of the tequila and the fruity peach schnapps. Each flavor works together for this lovely cocktail.

Ingredients

  • 2 oz Tequila
  • 1 oz Amaretto
  • 1 oz Peach Schnapps
  • 2 oz pineapple juice
  • Splash of grenadine
  • Lime slice and cherries for garnish

Steps to make

  1. Pour the tequila, amaretto, peach schnapps, and pineapple juice into the cocktail shaker .
  2. Add ice. Shake well.
  3. Strain into a Collins glass .
  4. Add a splash of grenadine.
  5. Garnish with a lime wedge and cherries skewered together.

Mocktails

Here are some mocktail choices for non-alcoholic drinkers and kids alike. Everyone will love these mocktails.

Arizona Sunset

This is the classic tropical sunset recipe minus the vodka and other possible alcohols. The lemon-lime soda makes the pineapple juice less tangy and gives it a bubbly vibe.


Ingredients

Steps to make

  1. Mix together the Sprite and orange juice.
  2. Add ice into your glass.
  3. Pour in a splash of grenadine.
  4. Pour in the Sprite-orange juice mixture over the ice.
  5. Garnish with a cherry.

Mango Sunrise Mocktail

Here’s another sunrise mocktail even kids will love. The combination of the mango and orange juice is a welcome treat for the kids and the kids at heart.


Ingredients

Steps to make

  1. Add ice to your serving glass.
  2. Pour in the orange juice and mango nectar.
  3. Add the grenadine.
  4. Garnish with orange wedge

Tropical Sunset Mocktail

Even if you are not into alcoholic beverages, there is no need to skimp on the beauty of the sunset cocktail with this mocktail. This is a beverage for the whole family to enjoy on a hot summer day. No fuss as it can be prepared with juice from a box.

Ingredients:

  • Tropika Dairy Flavored Fruit Mix
  • Passion fruit flesh with seeds
  • Orange wheels and cherries to garnish

Steps to make

  1. Fill a tall glass with ice.
  2. Pour the Tropika fruit mix into the glass, leaving just enough space to add the passion fruit.
  3. Slowly pour in the passion fruit flesh.
  4. Garnish with orange wheels and cherries.

Sunrise Mocktail

With the alcohol taken from the tequila sunrise recipe, the resulting mocktail is a good alternative to drinking alcohol without dropping out of the party.


Ingredients

Procedure:

  1. Fill a sling glass with lots of ice.
  2. Squeeze half a lemon into the glass..
  3. Add the sugar syrup.
  4. Top with orange juice and pineapple juice.
  5. Add some grenadine syrup.
  6. Garnish with a lemon wedge.

Food Pairing

According to cocktail experts, the best way to pair cocktails with food is either by mixing or contrasting. Mixing is when you choose the same flavor spectrum as the flavor of your cocktail. For example, lemon meringue would work best with a lemon-flavored cocktail as they have the same sweet-sour flavor.

By contrasting, on the other hand, is finding a flavor that evens out the taste of the cocktail and the food. For example, fried foods do well with slightly tangy and tart cocktails. With tropical cocktails, there is a wide variety of food that may work well with them.

Cream Cheese-filled Jalapeno Peppers

For tequila-based cocktails, this can be a good choice for an appetizer. Try it with the Tequila Sunrise Surprise and Mexican Sunset.


Honey Lime Grilled Shrimp Salad

This dish is a good choice to pair with any of the cocktails here because the lime works well with the tart and tangy flavor of the cocktails and shrimp works with anything tropical.


Coconut Cream Pie

Try this delicious pie with the Caribbean Sunset Rum Punch and Malibu Sunset. The coconut cream works well with the coconut flavor of these cocktails.


Hawaiian Teriyaki Meatballs

This dish works with anything that has pineapple juice in it, so it’s basically any cocktail in this list.


Grilled Salmon with Mango Salsa

Fish works well with tropical cocktails so any of these can be paired with the grilled salmon with mango salsa.


FAQs

What are tropical drinks?

Tropical drinks are alcoholic drinks made with a variety of spirits, usually whiskey, vodka, gin, tequila, brandy, and rum and flavored with tropical fruit juices.

What is the difference between tequila sunrise and tequila sunset?

The main difference is how the red color is incorporated into the cocktail. In the Tequila Sunrise, the grenadine is added without mixing it as it sinks into the bottom. In Tequila Sunset, the grenadine or red food coloring is added to the club soda to mix it for a mellower color.

Can you get drunk off grenadine?

No. Grenadine has a very low to 0% alcohol content.

What mixes well with Malibu?

The original flavor of Malibu is coconut and pairs well with tropical fruits, citrus fruits, cola, ginger beer, and RumChata. Malibu is also available in other tropical fruit flavors like banana, pineapple, passion fruit, melon, and mango.

Can you get drunk off coconut rum?

With an ABV of 21% (42 proof), you can get drunk with coconut rum after 5-7 shots and wasted at 7-9 shots. So, don’t go easy on it as the low ABV may be tempting to drink more.

Conclusion

Tropical cocktails are very timely during this spring-summer season and everyone is looking forward to having an excuse to go all out in these cocktails. However, if you are into Moscow Mules, here’s a good list of tropical mule recipes . Maybe you’re too busy or are not in the proper venue for a drink but needs the buzz of the booze, why not try these ice pops ? With just 100 calories to it, you get the booze, cool you down, and keep your waist on the slim side.


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