Four Modern Riffs on the Tequila Sunrise

Like many classic cocktails, a couple different people claim to have invented the Tequila Sunrise. One story says that the drink was created at Agua Caliente, a Tijuana, Mexico, resort that was popular with Americans during Prohibition. But Arizona Biltmore, A Waldorf Astoria Resort also claims to have invented the drink. While we can’t hop in our time machines and tell you the true story, one thing’s for certain: the mix of tequila, orange juice and grenadine is undeniably delightful.

The Tequila Sunrise experienced a surge in popularity during the 1970s and ‘80s, decades that are often considered a low point in cocktail culture. Don Henley sang about the concoction, and the Rolling Stones considered it a favorite. There was even a 1988 film named after the drink. While the movie doesn’t seem like a winner, the cocktail is a classic for a reason.

The original drink is wonderfully lowbrow, but it got us thinking about how bartenders might interpret the cocktail. So we asked four pros to teach us how to make their version of the drink, upgraded with different juices, syrups and even spirits. If you’re in the mood for something fruity, juicy and easy to drink, these modern Tequila Sunrise variations will do the trick.

At Washington, D.C.’s Tiki TNT, you can sip lush, tropical drinks with waterfront views. “For years, I marveled over the South Pacific tiki bars I visited on dive trips as an instructor, the types where you pay for your drink with the soggy money stashed in your swimsuit pocket,” says Todd Thrasher, owner of Tiki TNT. “The blue curaçao is representative of the crystal clear waters from my diving days. Wet Money is a fun wink to that experience and speaks to the atmosphere that I wanted to create with Tiki TNT.” The bar is connected to Thrasher’s Rum, which is used in this Tequila Sunrise variation. But if you can’t get your hands on a bottle, any white rum will do.

There are few places more lovely than the tiled patio at Minnow Bar, which is tucked inside Miami’s Kimpton Angler’s Hotel. Their sweet-tart Tequila Sunrise variation is perfect for tequila drinkers looking to stray from their typical Margarita. “I like to say this is a mash-up of a Tequila Sunrise and a Mexican Firing Squad,” says bartender Diandra Parchment. “It’s the perfect cocktail for those who like to have the best of both words and is best enjoyed on a late summer afternoon.”

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It’s difficult to find food and cocktails that are more beautiful than what’s served at Baar Baar, a contemporary Indian restaurant in NYC’s East Village neighborhood. Not only is the Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge a riff on the Tequila Sunrise, but it’s also inspired by a classic ‘90s Bollywood movie of the same name. “Our version of the Tequila Sunrise includes a tamarind-blackberry syrup that gives the same sweetness/sourness you’d get from orange juice,” says Baar Baar head mixologist Chetan Gangan. “It’s refreshing and different but still brings to mind the classic.”

Puerto Rican sunsets are known for their vibrant purple, orange and red gradients, which is exactly what bartender Juan Gabriel Rosado at Flor de Sal — an open-air restaurant at Dorado Beach, A Ritz-Carlton-Reserve — wanted to convey with this modern Tequila Sunrise variation. “We created the Sunset Paradise while admiring the beautiful pink and purple sunsets at Flor de Sal,” Rosado says. “I love a good Tequila Sunrise — the simplicity and the look of it are spectacular. I wanted to make a play on the classic cocktail by adding butterfly pea flower tea, which better represented our scenery in Puerto Rico. Additionally, I swapped out the grenadine for cranberry to enhance the balance between the sweetness and tartness of the cocktail.”

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