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Corona Sunrise Recipe

The Corona Sunrise is one of those drinks that will never go out of style because it has such an interesting history behind it.

The Corona Sunrise came about as a result of Prohibition in 1920’s America.

You see, back then, Americans were not allowed to own alcohol so they had to find other ways to get their hands on some liquor.

So, what did people do?

They invented cocktails.

Corona Sunrise Recipe

What Are The Ingredients For The Corona Sunrise Recipe?

You can prepare this cocktail at home easily enough by mixing together equal parts of lime juice, tequila, triple sec (orange liqueur), and fresh squeezed grapefruit juice.

This is your basic Corona Sunrise recipe.

But there are a few more things you need to know before you try making the drink yourself.

  • There are two different types of tequilas available today, silver tequila and reposado tequila.
  • Silver tequila is aged in white oak barrels, while most reposados have been aged in charred American Oak barrels.
  • Triple sec or Cointreau is a sweetened orange-flavored liqueur that imparts sweetness to many cocktails including margaritas, mojitos, daiquiris, etc.
  • Triple sec should be used sparingly in any mixed beverage since its flavor profile tends to overpower everything else in the mix.
  • Grenadine is a thick syrup made from pomegranate juice, sugar, water, and sometimes almond extract.
  • Grenadines usually come in both light and dark varieties but we like using the darker variety in this cocktail since it adds extra depth to the overall taste experience.

How to Make the Corona Sunrise Recipe:

To make the Corona Sunrise, grab a glass measuring cup and fill it up halfway with ice.

Next, add 1/4 ounce of tequila, 3 ounces of triple sec, 2 ounces of lime juice, and 4 ounces of grapefruit juice into the measuring cup.

Stir well until all the liquid is combined.

Next, pour the mixture through a strainer into another glass filled with ice.

Garnish each glass with a slice of fresh lime wedge and serve immediately.

If you want to learn how to make the best margarita, check out our article here on how to make a great Margarita.

Corona Sunrise Recipe

How Do You Make The Corona Sunrise?

Ingredients:

  • 1 oz.
  • (30 mL) fresh squeezed lime juice
  • 1/4 cup (60 mL) sugar
  • 3/8 cup (100 mL) freshly squeezed lemon juice
  • 3/8 cup (100 mL) simple syrup
  • 6 ounces (170 mL) silver tequila
  • 3 cups (750 mL) freshly squeezed orange juice
  • Grenadine syrup [optional]

Step 1: Prepare the glassware.

First, pour all your ingredients into a tall glass filled with ice.

Then, stir them together well.

Step 2: Pour the ingredients over the ice.

Pour this mixture over the top of your prepared glassware and serve immediately.

Garnish with a slice of lime if desired.

What Is The Origin Of The Corona Sunrise Recipe?

This is where things start getting really interesting.

Because there was no way to legally purchase spirits during the years leading up to Prohibition, bars across the country started concocting recipes using ingredients like citrus juices, brandy, rum, and even coffee.

One of these concoctions became known as the “Sunrise Cocktail.”

In this cocktail, people would add a little bit of booze (usually whiskey) to the bottom of a glass full of fresh-squeezed orange juice and top it off with soda water.

This drink was served cold and was considered very popular at parties since it gave guests something different from the standard beer or wine options available at most social gatherings.

Eventually, a bar owner named Adolph Coors decided he wanted his establishment to serve this delicious beverage.

To achieve this end goal, he added a few more ingredients to the original “sunrise” recipe.

These additions included Cointreau, which is a French liqueur that tastes similar to triple sec, and grenadine, a sweet syrup that comes from pomegranate seeds.

He also replaced the soda water with limeade.

Limeade is nothing but diluted lemon juice mixed with sugar and water.

Now, when you combine all three of these ingredients together, you have the base of the Corona Sunrise recipe.

And just like that, we have a new favorite cocktail.

In fact, today, the Corona Sunrise is still a staple item at any party thrown by someone who wants to wow his/her friends and family with a unique twist on a classic cocktail.

How Many Calories Are In The Corona Sunrise?

The Corona Sunrise contains around 170 calories per 12 ounce serving, which means you can have two servings at once if you want (or even more).

If you like your beverages strong, I recommend using your favorite brand of tequila instead of adding any extra sugar or sweetener to this drink.

Corona Sunrise Recipe

What Is The Nutritional Value Of The Corona Sunrise?

Here is how you make the Corona Sunrise at home using ingredients from your pantry:

  • 1 ounce silver tequila (or another type)
  • ½ cup fresh squeezed orange juice (freshly pressed or bottled)
  • ¼ cup triple sec (orange liqueur)
  • Pinch of salt
  • 3 oz.
  • pineapple juice
  • Grenadine syrup (a sweetener like agave nectar)
  • Ice cubes

To be honest, I don’t know if this is the right way to make the Corona Sunrise but it tastes good.

If you want a more authentic version, check out these recipes below:

Original Recipe:

Ingredients:

  • 1 ½ ounces silver tequila
  • ½ cup orange juice
  • ½ lime
  • ½ teaspoon sugar
  • Club soda

Step 1: Fill up a tall glass with ice and pour in the tequila.

Top off with club soda.

Step 2: Squeeze half a lime over the top of the drink and drop into the side of the glass.

Step 3: Add the orange juice and stir gently.

Garnish with a wedge of lime before serving.

Recipe #1:

Ingredients:

  • 1 ½ ounces silver tequila
  • ½ cup orange juice
  • ½ lime
  • ½ teaspoon sugar
  • club soda

Step 1: Fill up a tall glass with ice and pour in the tequila.

Top off with club soda.

Step 2: Squeeze half a lime over the top of the drink and drop into the side of the glass.

Step 3: Add the orange juice and stir gently.

Step 4: Pour in the remaining ½ ounce of tequila and finish by adding a squeeze of lime.

Recipe #2:

Ingredients:

  • 1 ½ ounces silver tequila
  • ½ cup orange juice
  • ½ lime
  • ½ teaspoon sugar
  • club soda

Step 1: Fill up a tall glass with ice and pour in the tequila.

Step 2: Squeeze half a lime over the top of the drink and drop into the side of the glass.

Step 3: Add the orange juice and stir gently.

Step 4: Pour in the remaining ½ ounce of tequila and finish by adding a squeeze of lime.

Recipe #3:

Ingredients:

  • 1 ½ ounces silver tequila
  • ½ cup orange juice
  • ½ lime
  • ½ teaspoon sugar
  • club soda

Step 1: Fill up a tall glass with ice and pour in the tequila.

Step 2: Squeeze half a lime over the top of the drink and drop into the side of the glass.

Step 3: Add the orange juice and stir gently.

Step 4: Pour in the remaining ½ ounce of tequila and finish by adding a squeeze of lime.

What Are The Health Benefits Of The Corona Sunrise?

One of the most common alcoholic beverages consumed by humans throughout history is beer.

However, during the 1800’s, there was a shift towards more refined forms of alcohol consumption.

People started drinking wine instead of beer because it was considered healthier.

But that didn’t last long.

As soon as people discovered how delicious whiskey could be, they switched over to it.

Unfortunately, this new form of alcohol wasn’t exactly healthy either.

In fact, whiskey would eventually lead to alcoholism and even death.

So, naturally, people looked for something else to replace these unhealthy options.

Enter the Corona Sunrise cocktail which was created by the same man who invented the margarita.

Today, we know this drink as the Corona Sunrise but historically it was known as “the sunshine cocktail.”

As you might expect from its name, the Corona Sunrise is a very light-colored cocktail.

This is due to the addition of grenadine syrup into the mix.

Grenadine syrup is actually just sugar cane syrup mixed with water, lime juice, and pomegranate seeds.

The combination of all three ingredients creates a sweet, tangy flavor that makes any drink taste better.

It also adds color too – specifically pinkish red color.

That’s why when you order a Corona Sunrise at your favorite bar or restaurant, you’ll probably see a bottle of grenadine next to the glass.

But beyond adding sweetness and color to the mix, what else does the Coronas Sunrise have going for it? Let’s take a look at the nutritional facts.

What Are The Side Effects Of The Corona Sunrise?

So, when you think of the Corona Sunrise, you probably don’t picture someone pouring themselves a tall glass filled with rum, lime juice, soda water, and grenadine (a sweet syrup).

In fact, this concoction was actually created by mistake.

Drinkers at a hotel in Mexico City mixed up the ingredients and accidentally ended up creating something called a “Corona Sunrise.” This new beverage became popular after it was served at social events during the early 1930’s.

However, now we know much more about how the Corona Sunrise got its name.

To start off, the original Corona Sunrise didn’t have any alcohol in it.

Instead, it contained only a sugar-based liqueur.

When the Mexican government banned all types of alcoholic beverages in 1933, the Corona Sunrise was no longer able to contain any type of hard liquor or even be sold legally.

As a result, the Corona Sunrise became illegal and was renamed the “Sunrise Cocktail.”

However, over time, many drinkers decided to make their own versions of the Corona Sunrise using different spirits like tequila instead of liqueurs.

And today, there are still many variations of the Coronas Sunrise available from bars and restaurants across the globe.

But before you order your favorite version of the Corona Sunrise, here are some things you should keep in mind.

How to Make a Perfect Corona Sunrise

First thing first, you need to choose which kind of Corona Sunrise you want to make.

There are several different kinds of coronas including the classic Corona Sunrise, the Margarita Sunrise, the Sunset Sunrise, and the Mojito Sunrise.

Each of these varieties comes with its own unique flavors and combinations.

For example, if you decide to try making the Sunset Sunrise, you might add strawberries, mint leaves, and fresh lime juice to the mix.

Once you’ve chosen your preferred Corona Sunrise, you can move onto the next step and buy the necessary ingredients.

First, you’ll need a bottle of silver tequila.

Next, you’ll need either plain carbonated springwater or sparkling mineral water.

Then, you’ll also need a combination of simple syrups like grenadine and agave nectar.

Finally, you should add fresh citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, or limes depending on where you live.

If you want to use pineapple juice instead, just make sure that it’s 100% pure pineapple juice rather than canned fruit since canned juices usually include added sugars.

Now that you’re ready to begin mixing your own Corona Sunrise, you can follow our step-by-step guide below to learn everything you need to know about preparing the ultimate cocktail.

  • Add 2 oz.
  • of silver tequila into the base of your blender.
  • Fill the rest of the way with carbonated water and blend until smooth.
  • Next, carefully pour the mixture through a fine sieve set over another large bowl.
  • Discard anything left inside the strainer and discard the liquid contents of the blender along with any debris.
  • Finally, add 1/4 cup of simple syrup to the strained mixture and stir well.
  • Pour the resulting liquid back into the blender and fill the rest of the way with carbonated water.
  • Blend again until smooth.
  • Strain the blended liquid once again through a fine mesh sieve and discard the remaining liquid content inside the blender.
  • Lastly, place the last 1/4 cup of simple syrup and 1/2 cup of fresh lemon juice into the blender and combine thoroughly.
  • Fill the remainder of the way with carbonated water and continue blending until smooth.
  • If you prefer, you can strain the final product through a cheesecloth and serve immediately.

Is The Corona Sunrise Addictive?

You might be wondering if this is going to turn into a drinking game or something like that.

Well, there isn’t anything wrong with enjoying a good cocktail or two but you should know that mixing too many different ingredients can lead to addiction.

This applies to all kinds of drinks, not just alcoholic ones.

If you mix too much sugar into your coffee or tea, you could end up getting addicted to caffeine.

So, don’t mix too many things together when you make this drink.

Keep it simple by adding only three main ingredients – tequila, grenadine, and orange juice.

That way, you won’t have any problems with becoming addicted to this delicious drink.

Now that we got that out of the way, let’s talk about how to make the Corona Sunrise.

As I mentioned before, this beverage was created during Prohibition and came about from a bartender trying to come up with a new drink that would appeal to his customers.

He mixed tequila with orange juice and added grenadine syrup which gave the drink its name.

Soon enough, everyone at the bar loved this concoction so much that he decided to start selling them.

And thus, the Corona Sunrise was born.

What Are The Risks Of The Corona Sunrise?

Drinking alcoholic beverages can be dangerous but there are plenty of safe alternatives you should consider before going down this path.

For example, if you like your cocktails with citrus fruits or pineapple, you might want to avoid drinking them mixed with hard spirits (like whiskey) since these ingredients have a tendency to turn sour when exposed to air.

In addition, drinking too many glasses of alcohol can lead to dehydration which could cause nausea, dizziness, and even fainting spells.

If you enjoy consuming lots of booze, make sure you take frequent breaks from drinking to prevent yourself from getting drunk quickly.

What Are The Benefits Of The Corona Sunrise?

There are two main reasons why this cocktail is so popular today.

First, it was originally created by Don the Beachcomber who served his famous rum-based cocktails at his restaurant along the coast of Mexico.

People loved these drinks so much that he decided to create a new version of them using local ingredients like oranges from California instead of the traditional Caribbean ones.

Since that time, the Corona Sunrise became very popular throughout the United States and around the world.

Another reason why the Corona Sunrise is so sought after is due to its unique taste.

This particular cocktail contains three different types of fruit juices – lemon, lime, and orange – which all have distinct flavors.

When you combine these juices together, the end result tastes completely different than if you used just one type of fruit or another.

That’s why many people consider the Corona Sunrise to be “the best” way to enjoy citrus fruits.

Corona Sunrise Recipe

Corona Sunrise

This Corona Sunrise Cocktail is a refreshing summer drink made right in the bottle with beer, tequila, orange juice, grenadine, and lime juice.
Prep Time: 3 minutes
Cook Time: 3 minutes
Course: Drinks
Cuisine: American
Keyword: Corona Sunrise
Servings: 1
Calories: 161kcal

Ingredients

  • 1 bottle Corona beer
  • ounces tequila
  • ounces orange juice
  • ½ ounce grenadine
  • 1 lime wedge squeezed

Instructions

  • Drink or pour half of the Corona bottle all the way to the top of the label.
  • Fill the bottle halfway with all of the ingredients.
  • Insert your thumb into the bottle’s top and turn it upside down to shake all of the ingredients.
  • Squeeze the lime and place it in the bottle’s mouth.

Video

Nutrition

Calories: 161kcal | Carbohydrates: 16g | Protein: 0.4g | Fat: 0.1g | Saturated Fat: 0.01g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.03g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.02g | Sodium: 5mg | Potassium: 108mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 10g | Vitamin A: 94IU | Vitamin C: 27mg | Calcium: 11mg | Iron: 0.2mg
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