Dirty Shirley Cocktail Recipe

A Dirty Shirley is a spiked version of the classic kid’s drink, the Shirley Temple. Easy to make and nostalgic with a twist, this drink features fizzy lemon-lime soda, grenadine, maraschino cherries and a splash of vodka to make it an adult treat. The bright red color from the grenadine make this a standout drink, and it’s easy to make in a large batch for a party.

We’ve got the perfect ratio to make your Dirty Shirley in a snap, and recipe tips and tricks for a skinny version with less sugar as well as a homemade grenadine recipe.

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What is a Dirty Shirley Drink?

A Dirty Shirley is an alcoholic take on a classic sweet drink mocktail (called a Shirley Temple) made with lemon-lime soda (or ginger ale), grenadine, and a maraschino cherry for a garnish. Adding vodka to the drink makes it a Dirty Shirley and lemon-lime soda is usually used in place of ginger ale.

Why is it Called a Dirty Shirley Drink?

The original drink is named after the famous child star Shirley Temple. Legend has it that it was invented by a bartender at Chasen’s in Beverly Hills in the 1930s for the little actress so she could feel fancy at parties, and it has been a hit ever since. Kids love to feel fancy, too! The “dirty” part of the title comes from adding alcohol to the classic kid’s drink.

It’s not known who originally decided to spike the classic drink, but it’s been enjoyed this way for years. Sometimes it is referred to as a Shirley Temple Black as that is her grown up married name.

What type of vodka is best for a Dirty Shirley?

You don’t need to go high end for this kind of drink, so a mid-shelf vodka like Svedka, Tito’s, or Smirnoff will work perfectly.

Ingredients:

Lemon-lime soda: You can use either Sprite or 7Up for this drink, as both have the classic lemon-lime taste that pairs perfectly well with the flavor of the grenadine. You can also squeeze in some fresh lemon or lime for an extra citrus kick.

Grenadine: Aside from the sweet cherry flavor it adds to the drink, grenadine also give the cocktail the beautiful bright red hue associated with the classic Shirley Temple. This pomegranate syrup can be found in the mixer section of most liquor stores (and in grocery stores that carry alcohol) or it can be ordered online. You can also make your own grenadine at home!

Vodka: Vodka is the best choice for this drink with its more neutral flavor profile and you can make your drink stronger or weaker by adding more or less.

Ice: Whether you like fancy pellet ice, cube ice, or just ice from the fridge ice maker, pile it high and deep before pouring in your ingredients to keep your drink cold.

Cherries (for garnish): This drink just wouldn’t be the same without a few maraschino cherries for an edible garnish! You can either put them directly in the drink, or add them to a skewer with a lemon or lime slice.

How to Make a Dirty Shirley:

1. Fill a tall glass with ice (usually a highball glass is used, but you can use whatever glass you like).
2. Pour 1 ounce grenadine syrup
3. Add 2 ounces vodka to glass
4. Top off with 8 ounces of lemon-lime soda (or ginger ale) and stir gently.
5. Add maraschino cherries for garnish
6. Enjoy!

Tips and Variations of the Classic Dirty Shirley:

• For a skinny version, opt for a lime sparking water (or fresh lime juice or lemon juice squeezed into plain sparkling water) instead of the soda and sweeten with the grenadine to taste.
• Instead of all lemon-lime soda, try switching out half the soda for ginger ale or use all ginger ale instead of the lemon-lime.
• If you don’t have grenadine, you can use maraschino cherry juice, which gives you a cherry version.
• Rather than a store-bought version, try making your own easy grenadine and tweak the sweetness ratio to your liking.
• If you don’t have grenadine, you can also use the juice from the maraschino cherry jar and that will give the drink a stronger cherry taste along with a pink color.

To Make a Batch of Dirty Shirleys:

If you are having a party and want to make a batch of drinks to easily serve a larger crowd, just add:

• 2 cups of vodka
• 1 cup grenadine
• 8 cups lemon-lime soda
• Maraschino cherries for garnish

Add the vodka and grenadine to a large pitcher. Stir to combine. Pour in the lemon-lime soda and gently stir briefly. Add to ice-filled glasses and pop a cherry into each glass before serving. Serves 8.

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