Vodka Sunrise
Vodka, OJ, and grenadine — the Tequila Sunrise formula with vodka substituted, the Rolling Stones popularizing the original at Sausalito's Trident in 1972.
- 1Fill a highball glass with ice.
- 2Add vodka and orange juice.
- 3Stir gently.
- 4Slowly pour grenadine down the inside of the glass.
- 5Let settle to create sunrise effect.
- 6Garnish with orange and cherry.
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The Vodka Sunrise is a direct variation of the Tequila Sunrise, which has roots in a 1930s Arizona recipe before being revived and refined by California bartenders Bobby Lozoff and Billy Rice at the Trident restaurant in Sausalito in 1972. The Rolling Stones popularized the modern version during their 1972 Exile on Main Street tour when they discovered the drink at the Trident. The Vodka Sunrise substitutes vodka for tequila while keeping the orange juice and grenadine of the original, creating a lighter, less agave-forward version of the gradient drink. The visual appeal — grenadine sinking through orange juice to create a sunrise color gradient — remains unchanged regardless of the base spirit, making the Vodka Sunrise equally photogenic to its predecessor and particularly popular in venues where tequila drinkers were scarce.
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