Vodka Sunrise: The Tequila Alternative

No doubt, you’ve at least had our heard of a Tequila Sunrise. But have you ever had a Vodka Sunrise? Is the lesser known Sunrise style cocktail and is equally if not more tasty!

What is a Vodka Sunrise?

Sunrise cocktails are typically made with a mix of liquor and orange juice with grenadine or some other sweet and red syrup floated on top. Since the syrup is heavier than the liquor and OJ, or will slowly sink towards the bottom of the glass giving your drink the blended color scheme of a beautiful sunset.

A Vodka Sunrise uses vodka as the liquor instead of the more commonly used Tequila.

What’s the difference between a Vodka and Tequila Sunrise?

Obviously, as both their names indicate, they each use a different liquor. However, the flavor differences are also pretty distinct. Tequila, being made from Agave cactus, usually has a stronger, sometimes sweet, flavor depending on the region in which the Agave was grown and method of distilation and aging.

Vodka usually has a more mild and smooth flavor. This allows the other mixers to dominate a drink’s flavor profile.

Both drinks are delicious and bring something unique to the drinking table.

How to make this drink:

This cocktail is fun and easy to make. You’ll find yourself admiring the sunset visual longer than you would think.

Equipment

• 8″ cocktail pick
• bar spoon
• highball glass
• cocktail shaker
• Hawthorne strainer
• jigger

Ingredients

• 2 oz Vodka
• 5 oz Orange juice
• 1 oz grenadine
• 2 Maraschino cherries
• 1 orange wedge

Step One

Chill your highball glass in the freezer and fill your cocktail shaker with ice.

Step Two

Pour your Vodka and OJ over the ice.

Step Three

Replace the lid and give a good couple of shakes.

Step Four

Place a maraschino cherry, an orange wedge, and the second cherry on an 8″ cocktail pick and place it in your glass

Step Five

Either, using a Hawthorner strainer, pour the drink slowly into the highball glass over fresh ice or skip the fresh ice and strainer and, again slowly, pour the drink with ice into the glass (in either situation, you may have to move the garnish around a bit to make sure the ice doesn’t bottleneck and spill everywhere)

Step Six

Pour your grenadine over the back of a bar spoon into the drink for the sunset effect

Step Seven

Enjoy the show and then the drink!

Jazz It Up

You can add a splash of Sprite, 7-Up, or Club soda to give it a little fizz.

Recipe

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Vodka Sunrise

Mixing time3 minutes mins

Course: Drinks

Keyword: Vodka Sunrise

Equipment

• 8" cocktail pick
• bar spoon
• highball glass
• cocktail shaker
• Hawthorne strainer
• jigger

Ingredients

• 2 oz Vodka
• 5 oz Orange juice
• 1 oz grenadine
• 2 Maraschino cherries
• 1 orange wedge

Instructions

• Stick a highball glass in the freezer to chill it and fill your cocktail shaker ¾ full with ice
• Add in 2 oz Vodka
• Add in 5 oz Orange juice
• Put lid on shaker and shake for 10-15 seconds
• Skewer a maraschino cherry, orange wedge, and a second maraschino cherry on an 8″ cocktail pick and slide them to the top
• Place garnish inside highball glass, and fill empty space with fresh ice (you may have to move the cocktail pick around some to get all the ice in)
• Use a Hawthorne strainer to pour drink into glass over fresh ice (you can pour drink with ice from the shaker into the glass without straining)
• Float 1 oz Grenadine on top by slowly pouring over the back of a bar spoon just over the surface of the drink (float means to add the ingredient on top without mixing it in)
• Sit back and enjoy the view!

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