So…you’re listening to The Eagles with your pals, one day…

I’m a fan of The Eagles, have been since the music was current, but I’ve never been crazy about Tequila Sunrise. I like it fine, it’ll do, but it is never something I’m gonna queue up first. I’m kind of the same way about the drink, they are nice on occasion, they are pretty, but a bit sweet for my taste and grenadine just makes me want a Shirley Temple. Which makes me think I need to work up an adult version of that famous kiddie cocktail. I remember ordering those with class and savoir faire as the most worldly 7 year old at the Red Lobster, but that’s another tale for another day. My wife, on the other hand, loves a fruity, sweet drink at the end of a long day, so Tequila Sunrise it is. 

You might as well go ahead and play the song while you do this, I don’t know if it helps, but it can’t hurt. I know I say this a lot, but this one is super simple. Grab a glass with an interesting shape and pour in 1 1/2 ounces of tequila, I went with that abandoned bottle of Cuervo, cause it was nearby. Add six ounces of orange juice, fresh squeezed, if you please. At this point I added 3 drops of 18-21 Havana and Hide bitters, cause I love them. Give that a quick stir and add some ice. Now, here comes the tricky part. Your going to want to pour 3/4 ounce of grenadine over the back of a bar spoon, or down the back of the inside of the glass. The trick is to slow how it enters the drink so it all runs to the bottom, giving you a nice stratification of color, like a sunrise. If you do it right the bottom level should be a lovely red that fades into orange the higher you go. I did not do it right, I did it almost right, which is pretty much the story of my life. Turns out that my super sexy bell jigger goes from pouring over the edge to pouring down the side about halfway through. So, you get what we have here today, a more pastel interpretation of the Tequila Sunrise. Garnish with a big old juicy orange wheel and a fancy luxardo cherry on one of those sophisticated silver cocktail picks. Turn on some Eagles and enjoy this throwback to the 70’s while trying to not think about how much better a Hotel California or a Doolin Dalton-Desperado (reprise) might taste. Stay safe, stay hydrated and stay sane, my friends.