Dragon Sunrise Recipe

Build and shake

Fill a cocktail shaker with the measured ice (about 1 cup). Pour in 2 oz mandarin vodka, 0.5 oz triple sec, 3 oz fresh orange juice and 0.75 oz lychee syrup. Secure the shaker lid and shake vigorously for 10–15 seconds until the outside of the shaker feels cold.

Prepare glass

Fill a highball or Collins glass with fresh ice.

Strain and layer

Strain the shaken mixture over the ice in the prepared glass. Slowly pour 0.5 oz grenadine down the inside of the glass or over the back of a spoon so it sinks toward the bottom and creates a sunrise gradient from red at the base to orange at the top.

Skewer the pitted lychee on a cocktail pick and rest it across the rim or drop it into the drink. Add an orange or mandarin wheel to the rim and a sprig of mint tucked beside it for aroma.

Serve immediately with a straw. Before drinking, gently stir if you prefer a uniform flavor; leaving the layers unmixed highlights the grenadine sweetness at first sip and the citrus/lychee balance thereafter.