Original Tequila Sunrise
Build ∙ 2 min ∙ 10% ABV ∙
The Original Tequila Sunrise is a highball of tequila blanco, lime juice, and crème de cassis with optional soda, not the orange juice and grenadine version.
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 (opt.)
- Garnish with a lime wheel
Tips
- Pour the crème de cassis last, gently down the ice, so it sinks into a dark-to-pink fade; add the soda, if you use it, after that.
- Use a real crème de cassis, not a blackcurrant cordial; it gives the drink both its sunrise color and its berry flavor.
History
The Original Tequila Sunrise is the Tequila Sunrise as first made, with tequila, lime juice, crème de cassis, and soda water instead of 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: the Tequila Sunrise of tequila, orange juice, and grenadine. 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?
Tequila, lime juice, and crème de cassis, topped with soda water. There was no orange juice or grenadine; those came with the 1970s version that later became standard. This recipe follows the original, with the soda optional.
How do you make a basic Tequila Sunrise?
For the Original Tequila Sunrise, pour 45 ml tequila blanco, 15 ml lime juice, and 20 ml crème de cassis over ice in a chilled Collins glass. Add the cassis last and gently, so it sinks. Top with soda water if you like, and garnish with a lime wheel.
