My favorite part of Red Bull Sunrise is how orange juice, grenadine and a fizzy energy drink come together over ice. The syrup makes a red pool near the bottom, with a softer orange color above it. It is sweet, citrusy and quick to assemble.

This version contains no added alcohol. It does contain caffeine, so it is an adult drink rather than a children’s party punch. The instructions keep the original ingredients and explain how to get the colors without shaking away the bubbles.

Allow about five minutes once the ingredients are cold. This batch makes one prepared drink; its volume and caffeine depend on your chosen can, so check the label. Measure the juice and syrup, add grenadine last, and serve promptly while the drink is cold and fizzy.

Kitchen Equipment You Will Need

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• Small measuring jigger
• Long spoon
• Ice scoop
• Tall drinking glass

Preparing the Glass

A small measuring jigger helps measure the two ounces of juice and one ounce of syrup accurately. Have a long spoon, clean ice scoop and a tall drinking glass ready. Use a glass large enough for your particular can, the juice, syrup and ice, with room left below the rim.

Pouring directly into the serving glass keeps the process simple and helps preserve the carbonation. If your glass is too small, choose a larger one before starting; do not fill to the rim and try to balance the garnish on overflowing ice.

Red Bull Sunrise ingredients

1 can of Red Bull

2 oz orange juice

1 oz grenadine syrup

Ice cubes

Orange slice and cherry for garnish

Choosing the ingredients

Red Bull: The ingredient list says one can without fixing a size. Check the volume and caffeine information on the can you have. A larger can changes the balance of this drink because the juice and syrup amounts stay the same. Original Red Bull gives the most straightforward starting point for this version.

Orange juice: Use chilled, pasteurized orange juice with a flavor you enjoy. Pulp-free juice makes the color easier to see through the glass, while juice with pulp gives a cloudier appearance. Shake the juice container before measuring, then leave the carbonated energy drink undisturbed. Two fluid ounces equals one quarter cup.

Grenadine: Choose a nonalcoholic grenadine syrup and check its label. It adds sweetness and red color; it is not simply red fruit juice. Measure one fluid ounce, or two tablespoons. A measured pour is easier to control than a squeeze straight from a large bottle, especially over a narrow glass.

Ice and garnish: Use clean, solid ice cubes rather than crushed ice, which melts quickly and makes the drink harder to layer. Wash the orange before cutting a slice. Prepare the cherry according to its type, and remove the pit if using a fresh cherry. Keep garnishes modest so the glass stays easy to handle.

How to make Red Bull Sunrise

Step 1: This batch makes one prepared drink. Fill a clean, roomy glass with ice cubes, leaving space for the full can, juice, syrup and garnish. Check the chosen can label for volume and caffeine.

Step 2: Open the chilled Red Bull and pour it gently over the ice. Use the full can specified in the ingredient list; check its size and caffeine label.

Step 3: Slowly pour in the 2 ounces of orange juice. It can mingle with the energy drink; it does not need to form a separate bottom layer.

Step 4: Add the 1 ounce of grenadine in a thin stream down the inside of the glass. Let it sink to create a red lower layer.

Step 5: Garnish with the orange slice and cherry. Remove the pit if using a fresh cherry.

Step 6: Give the drink a gentle stir before drinking to spread the sweetness. The colors will blend as you stir.

Step 7: Serve immediately. This recipe contains caffeine and no added alcohol; do not mix it with alcohol.

Getting the sunrise effect

The red color comes mainly from the grenadine sinking through the drink. Pour it slowly down the inside of the glass or over the back of a spoon close to the surface. The goal is a soft gradient, so a little blending around the edges is normal. Do not expect three sharply separated stripes to remain indefinitely.

Orange juice generally mingles with the energy drink rather than forming a dependable lower layer of its own. Pour it gently to limit splashing, then let the grenadine create the deeper color below. A clear glass makes the effect easier to see. Strongly colored glass can hide the contrast even when the drink is assembled correctly.

There is a small tradeoff between appearance and an even flavor. An untouched glass looks more layered, but a sip from the bottom can be much sweeter than a sip from the top. Show the colors first, then use one or two gentle turns of the spoon to spread the syrup before drinking.

Troubleshooting the drink

The whole drink turned pink: A fast syrup pour or vigorous stirring can spread the grenadine immediately. The ingredients are still combined correctly, although the layered look is gone. On the next glass, lower the pouring height and add the syrup in a thin stream. Adding more syrup now would make the drink sweeter without reliably restoring the gradient.

The bubbles disappeared: Warm ingredients, an open can that has been sitting, and repeated stirring all work against a fizzy result. Chill the unopened can first and open it only when the glass is ready. Do not shake the can, shake the finished drink, or try to revive a flat mixture with a blender.

The flavor tastes watery: Ice melts faster when the other ingredients are warm or the glass sits for a long time. Start cold and serve soon after assembly. Avoid compensating with extra syrup, since that changes the original proportions and can leave the bottom of the glass overly sweet.

The syrup stays at the bottom: That is expected before stirring. Slide the spoon down the side of the glass and lift it gently through the syrup instead of beating the whole drink. This loosens the dense layer while keeping more of the carbonation. Stop when the sweetness is spread enough for your preference.

Caffeine and serving considerations

Check the can rather than assuming that all sizes contain the same caffeine. An 8.4-fluid-ounce can of original Red Bull contains 80 milligrams of caffeine. Count caffeine from coffee, tea and other sources too. Energy drinks are not recommended for children or teens; people who need to limit caffeine should follow their clinician’s guidance.

Keep this recipe alcohol-free. Caffeine does not reverse alcohol impairment, and mixing the two can make it easier to underestimate the effects of alcohol. This drink also should not be presented as a treatment for tiredness, a hydration drink for exercise, or a reason to consume multiple energy drinks in a sitting.

For an adult snack spread, four-ingredient chicken salad offers a savory option alongside the sweet drink. Nish Nosh salad adds something crisp, while Better Than Sex Fruit Salad fits a dessert table. Keep food pairings separate from the drink rather than adding extra ingredients to the glass.

Making ahead and storing

For the best result, prepare only the components in advance. Refrigerate the juice and unopened energy drink, measure the syrup, and keep washed garnishes covered and chilled. Set out the glass and measuring tool shortly before serving. Combining everything early saves very little time and costs the drink its clearest colors and freshest bubbles.

A finished drink is best enjoyed immediately. If you need to pause, cover it and refrigerate briefly, recognizing that it will lose fizz and become diluted as the ice melts. Do not return a partly consumed drink to the original containers. Follow the juice and syrup labels for storage after opening, and discard leftovers that were handled or stored unsafely.

Frequently asked questions

Is Red Bull Sunrise alcoholic?

The ingredients listed here contain no added alcohol. Use nonalcoholic grenadine and check the labels of anything you buy. The word sunrise describes the color effect; it does not require adding a spirit. This remains a caffeinated energy-drink recipe even without alcohol.

Can I use any size can?

The original recipe leaves the can size unspecified. Check your label and choose a glass that fits the full amount safely. A bigger can makes the same two ounces of juice and one ounce of syrup less prominent and changes the total caffeine in the glass.

Should I stir before serving?

Yes, gently, once you have admired the colors. A light stir spreads the sweet syrup so the first and last sips are more alike. Stirring thoroughly removes most of the gradient, so stop after just a few slow movements rather than whisking the drink.