Cocktail Atlas

Spicy Tequila Sunrise

A spicy take on the Tequila Sunrise with jalapeño.

Cocktail Atlas · Updated

Spirit
Tequila
Method
Built
Difficulty
Intermediate
Jump to recipe
A tequila sunrise in a tall glass shading from orange to red, with an orange slice, next to a tequila bottle, an aloe plant, an orange half and a lime

Spicy Tequila Sunrise

Ingredients

Ingredients for Spicy Tequila Sunrise. Tick each one as you add it.
AddedMeasureIngredient
2 oz
3 oz
½ oz

Steps

  1. Muddle a few jalapeño slices in a glass.
  2. Add ice, tequila, and orange juice.
  3. Stir well.
  4. Slowly pour grenadine to create a sunrise effect.
  5. Garnish with an orange slice and a jalapeño ring.

Garnish Orange slice and a jalapeño ring

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Batch it For a party of 4–20

Makes 8 drinks, about 44 oz · 1320 ml before ice.

Spicy Tequila Sunrise batch
AmountIngredient
16 oz · 480 mlTequila
24 oz · 720 mlOrange Juice
4 oz · 120 mlGrenadine
Jalapeño Slices

No added water: this drink takes its dilution from the ice in the glass. Chill the batch and build each glass over ice.

Use a 2 liter pitcher, or split it between two 1 liter bottles.

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Why it works

The drink is built so the grenadine sinks, giving the red-to-orange sunrise look. Orange juice provides most of the sweetness and body, tequila adds an agave backbone, and jalapeño slices add a gentle heat that cuts through the juice’s sweetness. Stirring before drinking blends the layers if a more even flavor is wanted.

Substitutions

  • Use a real pomegranate grenadine for a deeper, less sugary flavor.
  • Remove the jalapeño seeds for milder heat.
  • Fresh orange juice tastes far brighter than bottled.

Variations

Questions

How do you get the sunrise layers?
Pour the grenadine last, slowly, down the side of the glass. It is denser than the juice and sinks to the bottom.
What is grenadine?
A sweet red syrup traditionally made from pomegranate.

Making it: Spicy Tequila Sunrise

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