Tequila Screwdriver

By
Colleen Graham
Photo of Colleen Graham
Colleen Graham
Freelance writer and cocktail book author Colleen Graham is a seasoned mixologist who loves sharing her knowledge of spirits and passion for preparing drinks.
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Updated on 01/5/23
Tested by
Sean Michael Johnson
Photo of Sean Michael Johnson
Tested by Sean Michael Johnson
Sean is an award-winning bartender with over 15 years of experience in the industry. He is the head bartender at the two-Michelin-star restaurant, Gabriel Kreuther, crafting cocktail menus that have caught international attention. To date, he has made over 1 million cocktails, and counting.
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Tequila screwdriver cocktail with orange wedges for garnish

The Spruce Eats / Karen Hibbard
Prep: 3 mins
Cook: 0 mins
Total: 3 mins
Serving: 1 serving
Yield: 1 cocktail
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
198 Calories
0g Fat
16g Carbs
1g Protein
Show Full Nutrition Label Hide Full Nutrition Label
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 1
Amount per serving
Calories 198
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 0g 0%
Saturated Fat 0g 0%
Cholesterol 0mg 0%
Sodium 2mg 0%
Total Carbohydrate 16g 6%
Dietary Fiber 0g 1%
Total Sugars 13g
Protein 1g
Vitamin C 78mg 388%
Calcium 17mg 1%
Iron 0mg 2%
Potassium 311mg 7%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

As the name implies, the tequila screwdriver is just like the famous vodka cocktail. Tequila and orange juice are all you need for this recipe. It is tequila's answer to vodka's screwdriver and essentially a tequila sunrise, hold the grenadine. If you have made either of those popular mixed drinks, then you'll have no problem here.

Switching out the base liquor in a simple juice highball makes a world of difference. Vodka is, for the most part, tasteless and even more so against the heavy flavor of orange juice. With a tequila background, you get an extra layer of flavor. That rich agave taste makes the tequila screwdriver stand out, even though the cocktail is just as easy to mix up. In terms of drink strength, tequila and vodka are comparable, but some vodkas can be much stronger than the average tequila.

Because we're looking at just two ingredients, make them as best as you can. Orange juice is the backbone of the tequila screwdriver and the drink will only be as good as the juice you pour. If you can, take the time to squeeze fresh juice. Citrus fruits are the easiest to juice and it shouldn't take but a few minutes to have enough for the drink and some leftover to stash in the fridge for the next round. If you are going to buy orange juice, try to avoid juices made from concentrate.

"This cocktail proves two things for your home bar—one, tequila is an excellent substitute for vodka and gin. Two, tequila should never be without orange. The Tequila Screwdriver's a delicious two-part cocktail that highlights the weight tequila can add to a cocktail. This recipe also demonstrates how incredibly orange and agave suit each other." —Sean Johnson

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Ingredients

  • 2 ounces tequila

  • 5 ounces orange juice

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Ingredients for tequila screwdriver gathered

    The Spruce Eats / Karen Hibbard

  2. Pour the tequila into a highball glass filled with ice.

    Tequila in a highball glass filled with ice with orange juice in a bowl

    The Spruce Eats / Karen Hibbard

  3. Top with orange juice. Garnish with fresh orange slices or cherries, as desired.

    Tequila screwdriver with orange slices for garnish

    The Spruce Eats / Karen Hibbard

Tip

Tequila has an underlying earthiness to its taste. There are many tequilas you can choose from, and it doesn't have to get complicated. This drink, however, is best with a decent blanco tequila and it's best to avoid any of the gold tequilas.

Variation


There are other types of orange juice you can use for this cocktail. You might also consider switching to blood orange juice when the fruit comes into season. This typically happens during the winter months and you will find them to be sweeter and less acidic than the average navel or Valencia orange.

How Strong Is the Tequila Screwdriver?

In reality, you can make the tequila screwdriver as strong or as weak as you like, it all depends on how much juice you pour. On average, you will probably add around 5 ounces of orange juice to fill a tall, ice-filled glass and this keeps the drink in a very mild alcohol range. With an 80-proof tequila, you can estimate the alcohol content to be around 10 percent ABV (20 proof). This is average for a tall mixed drink and equivalent to the average glass of wine.