Classic Tequila Sunrise Cocktail

Heavy pomegranate syrup sinks through fresh orange juice to create the striking two-toned look of The Classic 3-Ingredient Tequila Sunrise Cocktail. You can mix this long, low-alcohol drink in just a few minutes. It uses a simple ratio of three parts juice to one part tequila.

The ingredients

Save your expensive liquor for sipping. Mid-range tequila works perfectly well here because the large volume of fruit juice easily masks the raw alcohol flavor. Fresh orange juice produces a much better drink than sweetened reconstituted juice. Grenadine is a dense, non-alcoholic pomegranate syrup. Its heavy weight pulls it straight to the bottom of the glass to form the red base layer.

Glass size and ratios

You can scale this recipe to fit any size drinking vessel. Just stick to the basic volume ratio. Measure one part tequila for every three parts orange juice. Stir the tequila and juice together in your tall glass.

Fill the glass to the top with ice.

The grenadine layer

Achieving the distinctive red and orange layers comes down to your pouring method. Position a spoon upside down within the tumbler. Drizzle the grenadine over the back of the spoon to route the heavy liquid straight down the interior wall. As an alternative, you can carefully pour the syrup directly against the inner surface of the cup without using a spoon at all.

Keep the syrup near the edge of the glass. A direct pour straight into the center of the liquid discolors the orange juice layer prematurely. Leave the drink alone once the grenadine hits the bottom. Any extra stirring destroys the layered visual effect immediately.

Garnishes and serving

Use classic Garnishes on the rim. An orange slice and a Maraschino cherry finish the look. Stemless glacé cherries work just as well if you do not have traditional Maraschino cherries.

Serve the drink immediately after garnishing. This long drink holds a relatively low alcohol concentration. The heavy volume of juice and ice make it a great option for hot weather.