Fresh and fruity Mexican Sunset cocktail with tequila, peach schnapps & pineapple juice finished with grenadine for a vibrant layered drink!
Skip the Tequila Sunrise for tonight and pour a Mexican Sunset instead. What makes this cocktail work so well is how the amaretto and peach schnapps round out tequila’s bite while still letting its crisp finish come through, creating a drink that feels balanced, fruity, and easy to sip. The proportions also make the signature grenadine layer much easier to achieve, which is one reason this recipe works especially well for newer home bartenders. Finished with pineapple juice and a slow pour of grenadine, it delivers the colorful sunset look you want without being complicated to make.
What Readers Say
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Beautiful color and easy to make for taco night.
Table of contents
What to Serve With a Mexican Sunset
With its sweet-tart flavor, this tequila cocktail pairs beautifully with tacos, grilled chicken, shrimp, and other smoky or citrus-forward dinner favorites.
What You’ll Need
Best Tequila for a Mexican Sunset
Silver tequila gives this cocktail a cleaner, crisper finish, keeping the drink bright and refreshing. I don’t recommend swapping in gold tequila unless it’s your only option, since it can make the overall flavor taste a little heavier and sweeter.
Where the Sweetness Comes From
This drink gets its layered sweetness from peach schnapps, pineapple juice, amaretto, and grenadine, but they don’t all do the same job. The peach schnapps and amaretto soften tequila’s edge, while the pineapple juice keeps everything tasting juicy and tropical instead of syrupy. Add the grenadine separately at the end so it sinks to the bottom and creates that signature sunset effect.
How the Flavor Stays Balanced
A lime slice adds just enough tangy contrast to balance the sweeter ingredients and keep the cocktail from tasting one-note.
How to Make a Mexican Sunset Cocktail
STEP ONE: Pour the spirits and juice into a cocktail shaker filled with ice. Cover and shake until cold, and then strain into a large glass with ice.
STEP TWO: For the cleanest sunset effect, pour the grenadine very slowly down the inside of the glass or over the back of a bar spoon so it sinks rather than blending into the drink. Garnish with some cherries and a lime slice, and enjoy!
Troubleshooting
If the grenadine blends instead of sinking, your pour was too fast. Slowly pour the grenadine so it trickles down to the bottom of the glass.
If the drink tastes too sweet, use a little less grenadine next time. You can also squeeze a little fresh lime juice into the cocktail shaker to brighten it up even more.
Tips for Success
A few simple tips will help you get the prettiest layers and best flavor every time.
- Substitution: Mango schnapps works when you want a more tropical finish.
- Chilling: Cold tequila, Schnapps, and a glass will help keep the cocktail crisp and make it easier for the grenadine to settle.
- Presentation: Leave a little room at the top of the glass so the grenadine can fill the bottom.
- Balance: Taste the base cocktail mixture before adding the grenadine. This gives you a chance to adjust the cocktail before moving on to the final layering step.
*This post originally posted on 04/24/2020.
Ingredients
- 1 ounce amaretto
- 1 ounce peach schnapps
- 3 ounces silver tequila
- 6 ounces pineapple juice
- ½ ounce grenadine
- 1 lime slice per glass for garnish
- 3 maraschino cherries per glass for garnish
Instructions
- Fill a cocktail shaker with ice and add the 1 ounce amaretto, 1 ounce peach schnapps, 3 ounces silver tequila, and 6 ounces pineapple juice.
- Cover with the lid and shake vigorously for 30 seconds until the shaker is nice and cold.
- Fill two tall glasses with ice, then divide the tequila cocktail mixture between them, almost filling each glass. Slowly pour 1/2 ounce grenadine down the side of each glass so that it falls to the bottom.
- Garnish each glass with 1 lime slice and 3 maraschino cherries on a cocktail toothpick. Serve immediately.
Nutrition
FAQ
You can mix the tequila, amaretto, peach schnapps, and pineapple juice a few hours ahead and keep it chilled in the fridge until you’re ready to serve. Wait to add the grenadine, ice, and garnishes until right before serving so the layers stay pretty and the drink doesn’t get watered down.
Absolutely. To make a pitcher, just double or triple the base ingredients and stir them together in a 2.5-quart pitcher. For that pretty layered look, pour the cocktail into ice-filled glasses and add the grenadine to each glass individually. You can also stir the grenadine right into the pitcher if you don’t mind skipping the layered effect, then chill it until you’re ready to serve and pour it into glasses over ice with your garnish.
This cocktail is best served fresh, especially once the grenadine has been added. If you do have leftovers, strain to remove the ice and store in the fridge for up to 24 hours. Give the cocktail a good stir before serving and pour over fresh ice.
Other Cocktail Recipes with Peachy Beachy Vibes
White Peach Sangria is a fruit-filled, poolside favorite drink!
Peach Mango Rum Splash is the ideal drink for beating the heat and the hustle and bustle of your busy life!
Other Silver Tequila Cocktail Recipes
If you enjoy this Mexican Sunset, here are a few more silver tequila cocktails to try next.
- Classic Tequila Sunrise
- Apple Margarita
- Summer Berry Sangria
- Tequila Blackberry Hard Lemonade
- Long Island Iced Tea
- Plum & Peach Margaritas
Jorge says
Too sweet for us. The amaretto is overpowering. It is slightly better with 1/2 the amaretto amount but still very sweet.