Dirty Shirley

By Becky Hughes

Published May 10, 2022

  • Ryan Liebe for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Victoria Granof.
Media 1 of 1
Rating
4(662)
Comments
Read comments

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?

  • or to save this recipe.

  • Subscriber benefit: Give recipes to anyone

    As a subscriber, you have 10 gift recipes to give each month. Anyone can view them - even nonsubscribers. Learn more.

    Subscribe

  • Share this recipe

  • Print this recipe

    or to print this recipe.

Advertisement

Ingredients

Yield:1 drink 

  • Ice

  • 2 ounces vodka  

  • 1 ounce grenadine

  • 8 ounces lemon-lime soda (such as Sprite or 7Up)

  • 1 maraschino cherry, for garnish 

Ingredient Substitution Guide
Nutritional analysis per serving

44 grams carbs; 306 calories; 29 milligrams sodium; 36 grams sugar

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.

Powered by

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.

Private Notes

Leave a Private Comment on this recipe and see it here.

Ratings

4 out of 5
662 user ratings
Your rating

or to rate this recipe.

Have you cooked this?

or to mark this recipe as cooked.

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.

Food is love

This one is for you princess doughnut!!! DCC fans unite!

MagsOnTheBeach

We liked the Shirley Temple Black, use Coke instead of ginger ale. Black of course was her married name.

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

Private comments are only visible to you.

Recipe Tags

or to save this recipe.