Corona Sunrise

With a simple and refreshing fizziness, the mouthwatering Corona Sunrise will be good company to keep this summer.

The air hose was sealed tight with a loud and forceful clank atop my diving helmet. With one last scratch of my nose, the porthole-shaped visor was slapped and clasped shut. Leaning forward as far as my heavy airtight suit would allow, I saw my destination… the inky and murky depths of the sea below. And what treasures lay at the bottom of these uncharted and potentially dangerous waters? Well… that’s why I get the hazard pay.

With a little help from its crew, I was pushed from the tramp freighter that steamed us out to the middle of a stormy and choppy nowhere. Splashing into the ocean with a deafening crash that echoed throughout my headgear, I began to sink into the deep like an anchor. For the first few agonizing moments, I was blind, my view obscured by a flurry of bubbles. The sensation of falling with zero visibility, helped along by the heavy weights around my waist and boots on my feet, made my stomach churn.

In the darkness, the only thing that existed was the sound of my heavy and steady breath. The smelly air being pumped into my suit, from the rickety compressor on the old ship’s deck above, was a constant reminder of the unknown that I was quickly sinking into. The bubbles began to dissipate and my eyes were beginning to adjust to the darkness. Outside my helmet was the vast and endless black. I trained my gaze downward, toward the seafloor, in order to keep my imagination from running away and filling me with a crippling fear of the unknown. Soon I began to see a large shape underneath my feet, a low blue light growing a little brighter with each passing second. I assumed it was coming from above…

My eyes widened in awe and fear as the shipwreck of an ancient galleon soon revealed itself under the soft but strong light that was growing all around me. And then I saw its source.

The mermaid appeared out of nowhere, glowing a soft and ethereal light. Her eyes were as blue as the brightest waters of the Caribbean, a million stars sparkling within them. Her hair was as black as the abyss, swirling and disappearing all around her, making it appear as though the whole ocean around us sprang from around her mesmerizing face. Equally angelic and spooky, she began to sing, beckoning me to follow her down beyond the wreck, into the promised paradise of mysteries never to be solved. I felt no fear, only an electric excitement, a longing to be with this cherub of the deep and to have the answers to every question ever known to history. All I needed to do was just let go…

My entire body shuddered violently as the hose I was attached to was pulled taut, yanking me swiftly back toward the boat. The mermaid’s face quickly turned into a storm of anguish and tears… tears like diamonds that twinkled out in the darkness around her. The last thing I saw was her grief, and then she was gone. My heart broke into a million pieces that shattered and bounced around my soul, splintering into a million more. My clumsy gloved hands reached up to the seal of my hose, desperately trying to sever my connection to the world above.

And then I broke through the surface, lurching over and onto the deck of our crooked and leaky vessel. The crew disconnected me from the suit, and the free air of the open waters met my face. My tears still stung my eyes, mixing with the salty wind and disappearing into eternity. It was soon explained to me what happened, as the rough waters caused the old air compressor to fall apart, cutting my journey to the bottom short. The ship began to make its way back to shore, sailing through the dark and tumultuous night. In the morning, as we made port and docked, the clouds broke, revealing a fiery and bloody sunrise.

I stayed aboard as my mates made for the city. Sitting and watching the waves beyond, I treated myself to an early drink. A favorite on long voyages, I drank half a bottle of Corona swiftly, letting the fizzy bite soothe me. With some tequila and grenadine we always keep in the galley, I poured those into my bottle, mixing them with the rest of my brew. I considered the deep red colors of the Corona Sunrise I had just made for myself, raising it to the vibrant morning sky that it seemed to steal its color from. I wondered if I would ever find that spot out in the middle of the ocean, where a mystical beauty still hopefully waited for me.

What is the Best Alcohol to Use to Make a Corona Sunrise?

For a start, an ice-cold bottle of Corona is what this entire cocktail is based around. Make sure you have at least a few bottles handy if you’re looking to enjoy more than one. If Corona isn’t your speed, pick a Mexican lager that you prefer. Personally, I find Corona is the perfect beer to make this cocktail with; its brisk flavor and balanced carbonation mix beautifully with a smooth, clear and slightly peppery blanco tequila. If you want a more complex and robust sip, go for a reposado or añejo variety, which are a more spiced and aged spirit.

FAQs & Tips

When I tried my first Corona Sunrise and turned it over to mix everything up, I forgot to cover the top with my thumb. Needless to say, I spent the next ten minutes cleaning the floor and changing my pants instead of drinking. Don’t be like me.

Similar Drinks to the Corona Sunrise

When the sun is high and you’re feeling a little cooked, reach for a bottle of suds to make your next tipple with. If you’ve never tried something like a Corona Sunrise before, check out a few of these other recipes from Twist & Toast that’ll keep you cool and quenched until the temperatures drop.

• Tequila and Beer Cocktail – Tequila, Cointreau and an ice-cold lager combine for the perfect poolside sipper.
• Michelada – Mexican spices mix with beer for an unforgettably potent beverage.
• Cointreau Margarita – An elegant and sophisticated take on the classic summer favorite.
• Margarita – Everyone needs to know how to make this legendary cocktail, and Twist & Toast has the perfect recipe.