Dirty Shirley

All my bartender friends are talking about the Dirty Shirley. This cocktail seems to be all the rage right now, and even though it’s essentially just a spiked Shirley Temple, I’m glad it’s popular. I love the classic N/A drink. When I was a kid, soda wasn’t allowed at our house, so it was always a very special occasion when we were allowed to order the perfectly pink bubbly concoction when our family went out to dinner.

A Dirty Shirley is the grown-up remix: It has everything I love about the original, with a splash of vodka to turn it into a proper cocktail. I like to use ginger ale instead of lemon-lime soda for another layer of adulting, but either works just fine. It’s fizzy, sweet, just a little tart from the ginger ale, and finished with a cherry and the signature cherry red grenadine glow.

What is a Dirty Shirley?

The original Shirley Temple drink dates back to the 1930s, created in honor of the famous child actress. It’s a sweet, nonalcoholic sip of ginger ale, grenadine and sometimes orange juice. Rumor has it Shirley wasn’t a big fan of the drink, but eventually it became the quintessential “special occasion” drink—not just for my sister and me, but for all kinds of kids at fancy dinners and holiday parties.

The Dirty Shirley keeps the spirit of the original intact but adds vodka to the mix, making it an official cocktail for the adults. The “dirty” designation in cocktail culture usually signals the addition of alcohol to a traditionally nonalcoholic drink, but don’t let the name fool you: This drink is actually bright, bubbly and totally refreshing.

Ingredients for a Dirty Shirley

• Vodka: Vodka may be the ingredient that makes this drink dirty, but in actuality, the clean, neutral flavor of vodka adds a spirited kick to this cocktail without taking away the familiar cherry sweetness of a Shirley Temple.
• Grenadine syrup: There is no Shirley without grenadine! Not only does it give that gorgeous deep-red hue, but it also provides a sweet pomegranate-forward flavor. Look for a brand made with real pomegranate juice rather than just red dye and corn syrup for a noticeably richer, more complex taste. If you really want to control the sweetness and flavor, make your own grenadine by juicing your own pomegranates.
• Lemon-lime soda or ginger ale: Bubbles are what makes this drink so refreshing and light. Sprite or 7UP keeps things bright and citrusy and gives classic childhood vibes, but I like the more grown-up ginger ale instead for a Dirty Shirley. It adds a slightly spiced, mellow sweetness.
• Cherry: The cherry on top is non-negotiable, both for the flavor and the nostalgia factor. A neon maraschino cherry may be ideal for a Shirley Temple, but upgrade to a Luxardo cherry for the boozy version.

Directions

Step 1: Prepare the glass

Fill a tall glass with ice cubes.

Step 2: Add the ingredients

Pour in the grenadine and then the vodka. Add the lemon-lime soda or ginger ale, and gently stir. Garnish with a cherry.

Dirty Shirley Variations

• Try a flavored vodka: Swap in a citrus or raspberry vodka for a fun flavor twist that plays up the fruity sweetness of the grenadine. Cherry vodka is an especially fitting choice if you can find it.
• Add a squeeze of fresh citrus: A small squeeze of fresh lemon or lime juice brightens the whole drink and adds a tart counterpoint to the sweet grenadine. It takes two seconds and makes the cocktail taste noticeably more fresh and complex.
• Keep it cold: Use pebble ice for that almost-slushy vibe that doesn’t ruin the bubbles of the soda.
• Swap the spirit: Tequila is a great stand-in for vodka, adding that singular agave flavor, but I love the ultimate pairing of bourbon and cherries for a deeper, more complex cocktail.

How to Make Dirty Shirley Cocktails for a Group

Dirty Shirleys are one of the easiest cocktails to scale up for a crowd because they require zero shaking or muddling. To turn this into a batched cocktail, simply multiply the vodka and grenadine by however many servings you need and combine them in a large pitcher. Keep the soda separate and pour it over individual ice-filled glasses at serving time so the bubbles stay intact.

Any leftover vodka-grenadine mixture (without the soda) can be stored in a sealed container in the refrigerator for up to three days. Just add fresh ice and bubbles when you’re ready to pour again.

Dirty Shirley Tips

What can you serve with a Dirty Shirley?

The Dirty Shirley’s sweet, fizzy, fruit-forward profile makes it a natural match for salty and savory bites that balance out all that sweetness. It’s a stellar choice for a brunch spread that includes a breakfast casserole, a quiche or a big platter of pastries.

I love to lean into nostalgia and pair it with my childhood faves like pizza or a cheeseburger and fries.