Whether you're the freshman on the hall who can't even figure out what goes into a gin and tonic, or a senior who still doesn't know exactly what went into that last, unfortunate shot at your friend's 21st, this is the column for you. This is your education. This is your drink of the week.
1 « oz. tequila
orange juice to fill
splash of grenadine
The Tequila Sunrise is a lot of things. It's the title of the 1988 film starring Mel Gibson, Michelle Pfeiffer and Kurt Russell ("A business on the line. A friendship on the edge. A woman caught in the middle."). It's the title of the Eagles' famous 1973 track that topped out at #64 on Billboard's chart ("She wasn't just another woman/And I couldn't keep from comin' on/It's been so long/Oh, and it's a hollow feelin' when/It comes down to dealin' friends/It never ends."). It's also the name of a struggling Philadelphia record label ("Finally, we accept credit cards!").
Surprisingly enough, the Tequila Sunrise is also a drink. And if the point didn't get across already, it's a pretty depressing one. There just isn't anything all that uplifting about waking up at dawn to start the pre-pre-pre-game. And while it can serve as a nice nightcap to a drawn-out coke binge or a bad night at the bar, those situations tend to come with their own baggage.
If, however, you're in the need for some sort of 5 a.m. alcoholic pick-me-up, make sure you mix the tequila and orange juice first, splashing the grenadine in later without mixing. The latter should sink to the bottom of the glass and slowly float up, giving the drink its trademark sunrise colors. Go ahead. Be sad. Drink before noon.
