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Home » Recipes » Tequila Cocktails

Tequila Sunrise Recipe

By Laura Fuentes Updated May 19, 2025

5 from 8 votes

Cocktail

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This Tequila Sunrise recipe is the perfect way to unwind after a long day or enjoy brunch with friends!

Made with a few simple ingredients and ready in no time, this Tequila Sunrise recipe is the perfect quick fix for happy hour!

three red and orange tequila sunrises in a glasses with orange wedges

What is a Tequila Sunrise

A Tequila Sunrise is a vibrant tequila cocktail named for its layered orange and red hues created by slowly pouring grenadine syrup into orange juice. Its sweet and tangy flavor combination paired with a boozy kick makes this drink perfect for enjoying with friends or unwinding at home.

Is A Tequila Sunrise Sweet?

Yes, a Tequila Sunrise cocktail is sweet and fruity. With the mix of naturally sweetened orange juice and sugary grenadine syrup, each sip brings a sweet touch to your happy hour!

Tequila Sunrise Ingredients

Easy ingredients like these prove that the quality of the ingredients really does matter! Here is what you'll need to make a delicious Tequila Sunrise cocktail:

  • Tequila: use your favorite brand of Blanco or Silver.
  • Orange juice: freshly squeezed or store-bought.
  • Grenadine syrup: makes the beautiful layered look of this cocktail.
  • Garnishes: orange slices and Maraschino cherries.

How to make a Tequila Sunrise

One of my favorite things about making a Tequila Sunrise is that it's quick and ready to enjoy in no time! Here are some additional tips to ensure the best sip:

  • Make the cocktail
    In a large glass filled with ice, combine tequila and orange and stir to combine. You'll want to slowly pour the grenadine syrup on top, and this will sink to the bottom, creating the layered effect!
  • Serve & Garnish
    Garnish with an orange slice and Maraschino cherries for the ultimate finishing touch. Enjoy!

How Strong Is a Tequila Sunrise?

Sipping on a tequila sunrise doesn't feel strong because the 2 ounces of tequila are mixed with plenty of orange juice and sweetened with grenadine. For a stronger drink, add ½ ounce more tequila.

Tequila Sunrise vs Tequila Sunset?

They're almost the same drink with one big difference. The "Sunset" is where the red hue sits at the top of the glass, achieved by adding soda water on top of the orange juice before adding grenadine. "Sunrise" has a red hue at the bottom of the glass since the syrup is denser than the juice, and it will sink.

When to Serve a Tequila Sunrise

A Tequila Sunrise is the perfect drink to enjoy any time of the day! From weekend brunch with friends to sipping at home on your couch after a long day. It's a bright and refreshing drink for any occasion.

What to Serve with a Tequila Sunrise

To take your happy hour to the next level, serve this cocktail with these epic rotisserie chicken tacos, tequila lime pulled pork tacos, or my easy taco lettuce wraps! Looking for a second drink to round out a party? Try this epic Cantarito!

Easy Tequila Sunrise Recipe

Servings: 1
Prep Time: 5 minutes mins
This Tequila Sunrise recipe is the perfect way to unwind after a long day or enjoy brunch with friends!
5 from 8 votes
Print Pin

Ingredients

  • 2 oz tequila
  • 6 ounces orange juice
  • ½ oz grenadine
  • Orange slices, for garnish
  • Maraschino cherries, for garnish

Instructions

Make the cocktail:

  • Fill a large glass with ice. Add the Mezcal and orange juice, and give it a stir.
  • Slowly pour in the grenadine, which will sink to the bottom, creating a layered effect.

Serve:

  • Garnish with an orange slice and a maraschino cherry.

Equipment

Grenadine Syrup
Cocktail Mixing Spoon
metal jigger
Jigger
the taco tuesday cookbook cover
Taco Tuesday Cookbook
Maraschino Cherries

Nutrition

Serving: 1 cocktail | Calories: 246kcal | Carbohydrates: 27g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 0.3g | Saturated Fat: 0.04g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.1g | Sodium: 6mg | Potassium: 345mg | Fiber: 0.3g | Sugar: 21g | Vitamin A: 340IU | Vitamin C: 85mg | Calcium: 20mg | Iron: 0.4mg

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5 from 8 votes (8 ratings without comment)

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