Vodka Summer Sunrise

Last updated on January 28th, 2026

Hot days, cold drinks – sometimes I wish summer would never end! This Vodka Summer Sunrise was bright, boozy, and bomb! You get that orange flavor, the lemon juice and zest punch, that sweet cherry, the bubbles from the sprite, and of course – the vodka! This drink was super easy to make and is sure to impress your friends! Cool off while you splash in the pool, chill out on the deck, or cheers your cups while you float down the river! A couple of these and you’re sure to catch a vibe!

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Why use vodka in this cocktail?

Vodka is a very versatile liquor! I like to pick a nice high-quality vodka when I’m making cocktails! While it might seem like an expensive ingredient, it’s an investment because you can make all kinds of drinks with it! Here are some of the most recognized high-quality vodka brands:

• Absolut
• Grey Goose
• Skyy
• Tito’s
• Svedka
• Ketel One
• Smirnoff

What about a drink makes it a sunrise?

The word “sunrise” is not specific to alcoholic beverages. It is simply a way of describing the gradient color produced by using orange juice and grenadine in a drink and layering it to mimic what a sunrise looks like! We all know and love a Tequila Sunrise, and we can recognize the sunrise effect right away based on the colors of the drink! The Tequila Sunrise became popular in the 1970’s because it was the Rolling Stones fav drink while they were touring at that time! Pretty neat, huh? This flavor combo has been trending ever since!

What do I need to make this Vodka Summer Sunrise?

Vodka
Orange Juice
Lemon Juice
Lemon Zest
Grenadine
Sprite
Ice

For garnish:

Granulated Sugar
Lemon Wedges
Splash of Sprite

How do I make it?

This recipe will make two large drinks. I used a big pitcher so it was easier to mix, but if just making one drink at a time, you can use a cocktail shaker. First, let’s decorate our rims!

To decorate the rims:

Add some sugar to a small dish and using a lemon wedge, run it around the edges of both glasses. Put the rims directly into the dish and jiggle it around a bit so that the sugar sticks to the edges!

To make the vodka summer sunrise:

In a large pitcher, mix all cocktail ingredients besides garnishes and grenadine until just combined. Don’t over stir because we don’t want the Sprite in there to go flat!

Fill the glasses up with ice and pour the mixture in. Top with grenadine and additional sprite, if desired. Garnish the glasses with lemon wedges and enjoy!

Tips:

• If you’d prefer to skip the Sprite, consider using club soda as a substitute. Keep in mind, you will lose some sweetness by doing this. Stir in a simple syrup to balance the flavors out!
• Double or triple this recipe for a group of friends or halve it to make just one!

Looking for some more summery recipes? Check these out!

• Shrimp Scampi Flatbread
• Strawberry Mousse
• Watermelon Mojito