Let’s Talk about Mixology, Part 44

by Amer A. Vargas

Tequila Sunrise

One of the most successful sitcoms in recent years, The Big Bang Theory, says goodbye to TV screen audiences this season. And as anyone who enjoyed this TV series knows, all of the characters in this show maintain a healthy relationship with wine, liqueurs and cocktails.

A few years ago, we already discussed the miraculous “Grasshopper” cocktail that allowed Raj Koothrappali to start talking with ladies. Do you remember the article in our newsletter from March 2016?

In our current issue, we take a look at yet another classic cocktail that appears in the same episode of the show. Before Penny mixes the Grasshopper for Rajesh, she prepares a Tequila Sunrise for Leonard.

The usual presentation of the Tequila Sunrise asks for the drink to be served in a highball glass, which is filled with ice, then showered with 60 ml/2.1 oz of Tequila (white or aged, to the preference of the drinker). Next, fill the glass with orange juice, leaving some room for a long dash (about 15 ml/0.5 oz) of grenadine, and garnish with an orange slice or wedge, and a maraschino cherry.

Some additional trivia: the colour gradient of the drink sort of emulates the colours of the sunrise with its orange and yellows; of course the name Tequila Sunrise comes from the fact that it contains tequila, but if you have another alcohol of preference, change it and you can produce a Gin Sunrise, an Amaretto Sunrise, a Rum Sunrise…you name it!

Thank you for many years of fun and laughs to the whole team in front of and behind the cameras on The Big Bang Theory set, and cheers to you all!

Updated June 6th

Thanks are due to Mr. Larry Iverson, an industry veteran with more than 45 years of experience in preparing and serving drinks, for his kind contribution on how to prepare the Tequila Sunrise correctly. His advice is as follows:

“The preparation starts with pouring the grenadine in the bottom of the glass, adding your ice, and then your tequila and orange juice without disturbing the grenadine. When you tilt the glass for drinking, the sun rises.”

Mr. Vargas is the Institute’s President—feel free to contact him via email, AmerVargas @ modernbutlers.com

The Institute is dedicated to raising service standards by broadly disseminating the mindset and superior service expertise of that time-honored, quintessential service provider, the British Butler, updated with modern people skills, and adapted to the needs of modern employers and guests in staffed homes, luxury hotels, resorts, spas, retirement communities, jets, yachts & cruise ships around the world.