The name "Tequila Sunrise" comes from the cocktail's visual appeal: the red, orange, and yellow colors evoke a sunrise, with the grenadine flowing to the bottom of the glass, creating a gradient. Its taste is smooth, fruity, and slightly sweet.
The Tequila Sunrise is a Long Drink. It is one of the official cocktails of the IBA (International Bartenders Association).
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Classic recipeFill the glass to the top with ice. Pour the tequila directly over the ice. Slowly add the orange juice. Slowly pour the grenadine down the side of the glass or directly into the center, without stirring (the grenadine will sink to the bottom of the glass and create a natural color gradient). Garnish with an orange slice on the rim of the glass and a cherry stuck on a toothpick or floating. |
The first Tequila Sunrise dates back to the late 1930s. It was the creation of Gene Sulit, a bartender at the Arizona Biltmore Hotel in Phoenix. This first version was made with blackcurrant liqueur and soda water.
The modern version dates back to the 1970s. It was created by bartenders Bobby Lozoff and Billy Rice at the Trident Bar in Sausalito, California. Its popularity exploded when the Rolling Stones tried the cocktail at a party and made it their signature drink. They even dubbed it the "official cocktail" of their 1972 US tour, dubbed the "Cocaine and Tequila Sunrise Tour." The cocktail became even more famous after the release of the Eagles' song "Tequila Sunrise" in 1973.
