A DIRTY SHIRLEY is a cocktail version of your favorite childhood mocktail, the Shirley Temple! It’s sweet and refreshing with a fun cherry to nibble at the end!
Growing up we didn’t go out to eat a lot. My mom cooked dinner for us most nights. When we did go out to eat, it was a special occasion and my parents would let us order a special drink, a Shirley Temple!!! They were the best thing ever from the second I got to order. First, the name was fun! As a kid I grew up watching old movies with my mom and grandmother starting with Shirley Temple movies. She was so fun to watch and crazy talented. She always outgoing something I admired. I was the shiest little girl ever! Then the drink would come and it was so beautiful!! Red would fade to pink then to clear and bubbles rising up! I loved when the maraschino cherries were at the bottom because when my drink was gone too fast, and it always was, I’d have a sweet treat there to console me. My parents were in a constant battle with me to not finish my drink so fast. There were threats of only water after I finished or going thirsty during my meal but I could usually get another one because I really do have some pretty nice parents. 🙂 As I grew up I didn’t order them as often. Free refills on regular soda were pretty hard to pass up as I got older and had to start paying for my bill when I’d go out with friends. Now I’m older and my Shirley has gone dirty. I picked up some cherry vodka and thought that it was time to up my Shirley Temple game and make a Dirty Shirley!
This cocktail is so easy to make it’s ridiculous! Everyone has memories of ordering Shirley Temples and loving them! Your friends will love sipping on such a nostalgic drink with a grown up twist. On it’s own it’s a very refreshing drink and the sweetness of the 7 Up and grenadine make it a great cocktail to serve guests that don’t tend to drink cocktails often. I squeezed a lime wedge in mine because I like the way the citrus cut through the sweetness a bit. If you’re looking for an easy cocktail to entertain with or just to relax with at the end of the day this is it! And if you love fizz, but what something a little less sweet, my Raspberry White Claw Cocktail is perfect!
Snap a pic of your Dirty Shirley and tell us your favorite memory of going out with the family! Make sure to tag it #RHFood so we can see too!
Ingredients
- 2 oz. cherry vodka
- 4 oz 7 up soda
- 1 tsp grenadine
- lime wedge
- maraschino cherries
Instructions
- fill a glass with ice
- pour cherry vodka over ice and top with 7 Up
- slowly pour the grenadine into the drink along the side so that it can sink to the bottom of the drink
- garnish with a lime wedge and maraschino cherry or two
- enjoy!
Adam says
I like the name, I never thought of that. I’ve made a slightly different version of what we’re calling the “Dirty Shirley”. Very simple Just Crown Royal and Cherry 7up and of course a maraschino cherry garnish. I try to get a little bit of the syrup in there too for a little extra sweetness and Cherry flavor.