History & Heritage
“The original 1930s Tequila Sunrise from the Arizona Biltmore used tequila, lime, crème de cassis, and soda with a layered effect. In the 1970s, Bobby Lozoff and Billy Rice popularized the simplified orange juice and grenadine version at The Trident in Sausalito—its rock‑tour fame and the Eagles' song cemented the drink as an icon of the era.”
Ingredients
Quality ingredients make all the difference. Each component plays a crucial role.
Method
Technique transforms ingredients into something extraordinary.
Fill a chilled highball or Collins glass with fresh ice
Add tequila and orange juice, then gently stir to chill
Slowly drizzle grenadine down the side or over a spoon to sink and create the sunrise
Do not stir after adding grenadine
Garnish with an orange half-wheel and a quality cherry
Glassware
Tall glass to showcase the gradient
Garnish
Freshly cut
Master's Tips
Professional insights to elevate your craft
Use fresh orange juice and quality pomegranate grenadine
Add grenadine last to preserve the gradient
Serve immediately while the layers remain distinct
More to Explore
If you enjoyed this cocktail, these similar creations might capture your interest.
Freddie Fuddpucker
Tequila Wallbanger—blanco tequila, orange juice, and a Galliano float over ice.
Monkey Gland
Harry MacElhone's cheeky 1920s concoction—dry gin and fresh orange lit up with grenadine and a whisper of absinthe.
Smoky Gland
A modern and assertive variation of the classic Monkey Gland cocktail, where mezcal substitutes gin to create a complex, smoky, and earthy experience that bridges pre-Prohibition sensibilities with contemporary agave appreciation.