Dirty Shirley

By Becky Hughes

Published May 11, 2022

Dirty Shirley
Ryan Liebe for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Victoria Granof.
Rating
4(648)
Comments
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The Dirty Shirley, a vodka-spiked variation on the classic, kid-friendly Shirley Temple, is a syrupy-sweet nostalgia trip for adults. Topped with a cheeky maraschino cherry, the cocktail is evocative of a time before drinks had to be balanced or nuanced, a time when a bright red glass of sugary bubbles was the pinnacle of festivity. While a classic Shirley Temple is made with either lemon-lime soda or ginger ale, the “dirty” version is commonly made with the former (Sprite or 7Up).

Featured in: Is the Dirty Shirley the Drink of the Summer?

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Ingredients

Yield:1 drink 
  • Ice
  • 2ounces vodka  
  • 1ounce grenadine
  • 8ounces lemon-lime soda (such as Sprite or 7Up)
  • 1maraschino cherry, for garnish 
Ingredient Substitution Guide
Nutritional analysis per serving (1 servings)

305 calories; 0 grams fat; 0 grams saturated fat; 0 grams trans fat; 0 grams monounsaturated fat; 0 grams polyunsaturated fat; 44 grams carbohydrates; 0 grams dietary fiber; 36 grams sugars; 0 grams protein; 29 milligrams sodium

Note: The information shown is Edamam’s estimate based on available ingredients and preparation. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.

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Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Fill a highball glass with ice. Add the vodka and grenadine to the glass. Top with soda and garnish with a maraschino cherry.

Ratings

4 out of 5
648 user ratings
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Comments

Adrienne

I do this with club soda and it’s less calories. Tastes better too. Get the high end cherries.

JP

My preferred name for this drink is a Shirley Temple Black. In honor of the star all grown up.

Richard

I remember drinking Shirley Temples ( we called them Roy Rogers at the time) at the Brown Derby in Beverly Hills in the late 50s and early 60s. Always ginger ale. Sprite might be sickly sweet. I’m with Adrienne on the club soda idea.

Bsupple601

First of all you don’t want to use soda or ginger ale, you want to use club soda. Secondly, get rid of the grenadine. You want to use the cherry syrup, you can actually buy it without the cherries. Best recipe: - 4 oz of cherry vodka. Pinnacle makes a good one. - Splash of cherry syrup. Just enough to turn it red. - Fill your glass with Club Soda. Make sure it fizzes. - Give it a few quick swirls to mix it up. - Garnish with a cherry. Enjoy the best version of a Dirty Shirley

Renee

Any opinions on the best (most natural tasting) grenadine?

colin

Shirley Temple is with sprite. Roy Rogers is with coke.

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