Marin County has lost a legend of mixology with the passing of Robert “Bobby” Lozoff, the innovative bartender who forever changed cocktail culture with his creation of the modern Tequila Sunrise. Lozoff, who died in Hawaii earlier this month at 77, transformed a forgotten drink into an international sensation while working at The Trident restaurant in Sausalito in the early 1970s.
His simple yet visually striking combination of tequila, orange juice, and grenadine became a cultural phenomenon after being embraced by the Rolling Stones. The Tequila Sunrise has remained a staple of bar menus worldwide for over five decades.
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The Birth of an Iconic Cocktail in Sausalito
Long before craft cocktails became trendy in Mill Valley and Tiburon, Bobby Lozoff and his colleague Billy Rice were pioneering creative mixology at The Trident, a waterfront restaurant that became a cornerstone of Sausalito’s vibrant cultural scene. The pair’s experimentation led to the creation of what would become one of the most recognizable cocktails in the world.
Reinventing a Forgotten Classic
While a drink called “Tequila Sunrise” had existed since the 1930s or 1940s, it bore little resemblance to Lozoff’s creation. The original version used different ingredients altogether, lacking the signature layered appearance that would make Lozoff’s version instantly recognizable across Marin County and beyond.
His innovation was to create a drink with a beautiful ombré effect reminiscent of a sunrise over the Corte Madera marshlands. The grenadine created a red glow at the bottom of the glass that gradually blended into the orange juice above.
Rock and Roll Connection Launches Worldwide Fame
What might have remained a local Marin County favorite served in Sausalito bars was catapulted to international fame in 1972, when members of the Rolling Stones visited The Trident during their American tour. Lozoff personally served his creation to the legendary rock band during a private party at the restaurant.
From Sausalito to Stadium Tours
The band was so enamored with the cocktail that they took it on tour with them, ordering it at every stop from San Rafael to New York City. Their 1972 tour even earned the unofficial nickname “Cocaine and Tequila Sunrise tour” among insiders.
This celebrity endorsement helped establish the drink in cocktail culture from Novato to Nice, France.
The official recipe that Lozoff created calls for:
Legacy and Recognition in Marin
Despite creating one of the world’s most popular cocktails, colleagues report that Lozoff remained humble about his contribution to mixology. While bartenders from Fairfax to San Anselmo continue mixing his creation daily, Lozoff himself wasn’t particularly interested in his cocktail legacy.
He cherished memories of his time at The Trident.
In 2023, the Marin History Museum recognized the cultural significance of Lozoff’s creation by erecting a commemorative plaque in Sausalito. This ensures that visitors from Larkspur, Belvedere, and beyond could learn about this piece of local history.
The plaque stands as a testament to how a simple innovation at a Sausalito restaurant became an enduring part of global cocktail culture.
Here is the source article for this story: The Sausalito bartender who created the Tequila Sunrise, and served it to the Rolling Stones, has died
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