Original Tequila Sunrise
Build ∙ 2 min ∙ 11.5% ABV ∙
The Original Tequila Sunrise is a built highball of tequila, lime and crème de cassis topped with soda — not the orange-and-grenadine version. Bright and tart up front with a clean spirit backbone, the fizz lifts a deep blackcurrant sweetness that settles into a crisp, refreshing finish.
Ingredients
1
Servings
Garnish
Instructions for 1 serving
- Pre-chill a glass
- Pour the first 3 ingredients over ice into the glass: Tequila blanco 45 mlLime juice 15 mlCrème de Cassis 20 ml
- Top with Soda water
- Garnish with a lime wheel
Tips
- Pour the crème de cassis in last, gently against the ice, so it sinks and gives the sunrise its dark-to-pink fade before the soda goes on top.
- Build over fresh ice in a pre-chilled glass, then top with soda water gently to keep the carbonation from going flat.
- Use a real crème de cassis rather than a cordial — it carries both the colour and the berry depth the drink is named for.
History
This is the original version of the Tequila Sunrise, made with tequila, crème de cassis, lime juice, and soda water rather than the orange juice and grenadine most drinkers know today. It is credited to Gene Sulit, a bartender at the Arizona Biltmore Hotel in Phoenix, who is said to have devised it for a longtime guest requesting a new poolside tequila drink sometime in the late 1930s or early 1940s.
The name and layered look carried over to a very different drink: Tequila Sunrise, built from tequila, orange juice, and grenadine, which took shape in the early 1970s at the Trident bar in Sausalito, California, where it became associated with the Rolling Stones' 1972 tour. That later formula eclipsed Sulit's original in popularity and is now the version generally recognized under the name.
FAQ
What was the original Tequila Sunrise?
The original Tequila Sunrise was built from tequila, lime juice, and crème de cassis, topped with soda water — no orange juice and no grenadine. Those came in with the 1970s version that later became standard. This build follows the earlier recipe, finished with a lime wheel.
How do you make a basic Tequila Sunrise?
Pour tequila blanco, lime juice, and crème de cassis over ice in a chilled Collins glass, top with soda water, and garnish with a lime wheel. Building it in the glass rather than shaking keeps the drink light and lets the soda stay fully carbonated.
What are the ingredients in this Tequila Sunrise?
This build uses tequila blanco, fresh lime juice, and crème de cassis, topped with soda water and garnished with a lime wheel. That is three core ingredients plus a soda top, rather than the tequila, orange juice, and grenadine version many people expect.
