If you're hosting a special brunch this season, you'll definitely want a celebratory and eye-catching brunch cocktail on your menu. Most brunch cocktails tend to be overly sugary though; the flavors get obscured behind all that sweetness.
This tequila + coconut rum cocktail is going to change your mind forever about brunch-appropriate sips. A riff on the classic tequila sunrise, it makes a few key swaps that create a lot more flavor and ditch all the fake sugary stuff. This eye-catching rum tequila cocktail is a bit bitter, a bit tropical, and just a tiny bit sweet; that balance is a great complement to virtually any brunch menu and allows this drink to work for happy hour too.
Ready to dive in? Once you try this sunrise-inspired coconut cocktail recipe, you'll definitely be in the mood to host a fancy summer brunch party.
A tequila sunrise is a very classic brunch cocktail that typically involves just three ingredients: grenadine, tequila, and orange juice. The distinctive layers created by the density differences of the three components give the cocktail its name. However, the classic tequila sunrise is incredibly sweet. Most recipes call for a large amount of grenadine, which is a red-hued syrup.
My version of a tequila sunrise is a less sweet, more flavorful, island-inspired interpretation of the classic. In place of grenadine you'll use Campari, which has a similarly beautiful color but a much more complex flavor; it adds some nice bitterness to this drink. You'll also add some coconut rum into the mix to enhance the tropical sunrise vibe. (If you're intrigued by the idea of a rum tequila cocktail, you can read more thoughts about this fabulous combination in my Coconut Paloma post; these two spirits go beautifully together!).
This tequila + coconut rum cocktail is easily customizable to suit your needs. Most importantly, you have a lot of control over its strength, which can be important in a brunch setting. Feel free to decrease the amount of tequila to make it gentler. You could also add more orange juice, add some coconut water, or even top it with some soda water to make it more hydrating.
While I adore tequila and rum together (and I hope you'll try it!), you could use one or the other if you're not into the combined rum tequila cocktail concept. Both go beautifully with Campari, so this flavor profile would still work nicely with a single spirit.
Finally, one of my biggest suggestions if you're hosting is to make your drinks to-order and tailor them for people's preferences. For example, you could offer more or less boozy options and/or offer the option of a soda water topper to lengthen the drink. That way, everyone can have this coconutty rum tequila cocktail customized to their own tastes.
Here's what you'll need for this coconut cocktail recipe, as well as some thoughts, tips, and possible substitutions. If you make any substitutions, I'd love to hear about it in the comments section below.
Isn't this tequila sunrise riff a total show-stopper? I love the vibrant colors and tropical vibe. It's surprisingly easy to make too (even though it looks fancy), so it's a great option for entertaining.
Whether you mix some of these up for Easter brunch, Mother's Day brunch, a bridal shower, or even a tropical happy hour, this coconut rum cocktail is sure to be a hit. There's nothing better than watching the sunrise from the beach, and this cocktail will give you the same delight. Cheers and happy brunching!
It makes me so happy to hear from you and see your creations! Please leave a comment below and let me know what you think about this recipe. If you post a photo on Instagram, hashtag #TheRogueBrusselSprout and tag me (@TheRogueBrusselSprout) in the post text so that I'm sure to see it.
As with all my cocktail recipes, please enjoy responsibly!
Orange Ginger Blueberry Tahini Muffins
Berry Banana Breakfast Popsicles
Disclosure: This recipe has been developed through a paid partnership with Koloa Rum. However, all opinions and thoughts are my own. Thank you for supporting the brands that keep The Rogue Brussel Sprout running.
This tropical tequila sunrise riff is much more interesting (and less sugary) than the classic. Ditch the grenadine in favor of Campari and add some coconut rum to create the perfect brunch cocktail.
Did you make this recipe? Did you make substitutions? How did you serve it? Any helpful tips? Please share your thoughts, since these insights are really useful to both me and to other readers.
Leave a Comment