A Tequila Sunrise combines tequila and orange juice with grenadine that settles into a red layer. The effect comes from adding the syrup gently after the main drink is in the glass. You do not need to shake all three ingredients together.
Yield: one drink. Preparation: about five minutes. This guide uses the International Bartenders Association’s 45ml tequila, 90ml orange juice and 15ml grenadine specification. It is a sourced classic with original explanatory notes, not an independently kitchen-tested Sommblog recipe.
Ingredients
- 45ml tequila
- 90ml freshly squeezed orange juice
- 15ml grenadine syrup
- Ice cubes
- An orange slice and cocktail cherry for garnish
Method
- Fill a suitable highball glass with ice.
- Measure in the tequila and orange juice, combining them gently.
- Slowly add the grenadine so it sinks towards the bottom.
- Leave the drink unstirred to preserve the gradient.
- Add the orange and cherry garnish, then serve.
Why the layer forms
Concentrated grenadine is denser than the tequila-and-juice mixture, so it tends to sink. Pouring gently limits immediate mixing. The colour then grades from red at the bottom towards orange above it.
Different grenadine products vary in colour, concentration and flavour. The result need not match a photograph exactly. If the drink turns uniformly pink, turbulence from pouring or stirring is a likely explanation; the ingredients have not become unusable just because the visual effect is less distinct.
Choose ingredients deliberately
A blanco tequila is a straightforward starting style, although the IBA specification does not require a particular ageing class. Use the tequila types guide if the label is unfamiliar. A heavily wood-influenced spirit will change the flavour even when the layering still works.
Orange juice contributes sweetness as well as acidity. Taste and condition vary, so measure the juice rather than topping the glass without a plan. A large glass can make it tempting to add more juice and syrup until the original balance disappears.
Grenadine is not plain sugar syrup
Grenadine supplies colour and flavour as well as sweetness. Simple syrup cannot reproduce the same result. A red fruit syrup may make a pleasant variation, but it is not an exact substitute and may settle differently.
Likewise, adding more grenadine for a darker photograph makes the drink sweeter. Keep the stated measure for the first attempt and judge the flavour as well as the appearance.
Serving and preparation
Build each drink close to serving time. A jug prepared well in advance will not preserve individual layers, and melting ice changes dilution. You can organise the ingredients and glasses beforehand without assembling the drink.
The illustration is representative rather than a photograph of a measured test batch. For a different tequila format, see the cocktail guide beyond shots, including the Margarita and Paloma. Keep leftover tequila sealed as described in the bottle-storage guide.
Image: AI-generated editorial illustration, not a photograph of a tested recipe or a reviewed bottle.
