Simple Cranberry Tequila Sunrise Cocktail Recipe

Showcasing a wonderful exhibit of layering in cocktails, the tequila sunrise is as beautiful to look at as it is refreshing and easy to drink. With the hues of red and orange, it’s easy to understand how it got its name. I’m going to take the standard tequila sunrise and give it a festive twist, resulting in a cranberry tequila sunrise cocktail.

Why I’m Making a Cranberry Tequila Sunrise Cocktail Recipe

I love experimenting with new cocktails during the holidays and infusing them with holiday flavors. I ended up making a bit too much cranberry sauce this year, so I wanted to find additional ways to use it. I figured I’d try creating a recipe that combined a tequila sunrise and cranberry sauce for a tangy holiday drink.

In my cranberry tequila sunrise I’m going to augment the bottom layer of grenadine with cranberry sauce to give more substance to the drink without making it quite so sweet. This cranberry tequila sunrise cocktail is perfect for the holidays and for people who prefer less sweet-tasting cocktails. 

Ingredients

A tequila sunrise cocktail is a layered drink using tequila, with the overall effect of the layering to resemble a sunrise. The most common version today is made with tequila, orange juice, and grenadine. Here’s what you need:

• Cranberry sauce adds cranberry flavors and sweetness to the drink. If you don’t have cranberry sauce, you can use cranberry juice. Just know that the flavor and thickness of the drink will be weaker.
• Ice is a staple for mixed drinks. I’ll be using cubed ice for this.
• Tequila is the standard alcohol used in a tequila sunrise. I’ve found Milargo to be a good brand for mixed drinks. Ideally, use a silver tequila since it has a more neutral flavor.
• Orange juice adds some tanginess to the drink. You can use pulp or pulp free, since the cranberry sauce is also a bit chunky.
• Grenadine adds more sugar to the drink, a slight pomegranate flavor, and a vibrant color.

Recipe Instructions for a Tequila Sunrise with Cranberry

Step 1: Add Cranberry Sauce to Glass

Start with a tall glass, such as a Highball or Collins. Add cranberry sauce to the bottom of the glass. If you want to have a clean presentation, be careful not to have the sauce touch the sides for a clean look.

Step 2: Add Ice

Add ice to the glass to fill about 3/4 of the glass.

Step 3: Drizzle with Grenadine

Drizzle the grenadine and allow a few seconds for it to settle.

Step 4: Add Tequila

Pour 1.5 ounces of tequila into the glass.

Step 5: Add Orange Juice

Fill the rest of the glass with orange juice. This will be about 3 ounces.

Step 6: Add a Garnish

Add a garnish to the drink if you want, such as a cranberry, orange, strawberry, lime, or cherry.

Step 7: Mix and Enjoy

Stir the drink with a spoon or straw just enough so the ingredients combine. Drink responsibly and enjoy!

Cranberry Tequila Sunrise Cocktail Tips

Here are some tips when creating this cocktail:

• Since I want this to be a layered cocktail, ingredients that contain a lot of sugar will be added to the drink first. This is because sugar is heavy and will sink. The cranberry sauce will be the heaviest ingredient (both because of the sugar and thickness of the sauce), so that will sit at the bottom of my glass.
• Typically, you shake drinks that contain citrus and ice. However, in order to get the layered effect that tequila sunrises are known for, I’m not going to shake it. But, you can stir it before drinking.

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