Consisting of tequila, orange juice, and grenadine, the Tequila Sunrise is best served unmixed so as to create a sunrise effect. Orange colour dominates whilst the grenadine lends the drink a bottom red layer. Garnishes like cherry or orange slice dial up the visual detail but make no mistake, this tasty beverage is as simple as it sounds. On the other hand, there’s always room for variation and—perhaps not coincidentally—error.

Walk into three different bars, order the same exact cocktail, and you may very well end up with three different experiences. The Tequila Sunrise is no exception to this rule, even if it employs a simple recipe. Some bartenders might add a splash of seltzer water. Others will eschew a garnish or maybe mix everything together before serving, thereby compromising the layered effect. You get the idea.

Pour the tequila and orange juice over ice into a highball glass. Carefully add the grenadine so that it drizzles down the side of the glass and settles on the bottom, creating a layered “sunrise” effect. Garnish with an orange slice and maraschino cherry and serve unmixed, allowing the customer or guest to mix it for themselves. Sip and enjoy.

A Tequila Sunrise calls for silver tequila and you should make it one of a certain calibre, but that doesn’t mean it’s time to whip out the bottle of Clase Azul Plata. What’s important is that you avoid well spirits or anything too cheap so as to maximise the quality of your cocktail and minimise your impending hangover. You can find plenty of great examples on our recent list of the 17 Best Tequilas for a Fun-Filled Fiesta, which was put together with this very sort of thing in mind.