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A Dirty Shirley is the grown-up twist on the classic Shirley Temple we all love. This fun cocktail mixes grenadine, lemon-lime soda, and vodka for a sweet and refreshing drink that’s perfect for any occasion!
Looking for more delicious single serving cocktail recipes? Try our refreshing Ranch Water, minty Mint Julep, vibrant Aperol Spritz, stunning Tequila Sunrise, and fruity Sangria.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Few ingredients needed: A Dirty Shirley is simple to make with only 3 ingredients, plus optional cherries for garnish.
- Perfect year-round cocktail: This fun and refreshing drink is ideal for summer and also perfect for the holidays with its vibrant red color.
- Easily doubled: You can easily scale up the ingredients to serve more people.
What Is A Dirty Shirley?
A Dirty Shirley is an adult twist on the classic Shirley Temple. The original Shirley Temple is a sweet drink made with lemon-lime soda or ginger ale, grenadine, and garnished with maraschino cherries. Named after the famous actress Shirley Temple, it’s rumored to have been created in the 1930s by a bartender at The Royal Hawaiian Hotel in Honolulu, where she often visited with her family. This classic 1970s drink brings back memories of the fizzy, red drinks I loved as a kid at parties with my parents.
Now, I’m excited to share an adult twist on this beloved mocktail: the Dirty Shirley. It’s just as sweet as the original but with a grown-up kick!
Ingredients
If you have any ingredients leftover from this Dirty Shirley recipe, check out our Leftover Ingredients Recipe Finder.
- Vodka: Use plain vodka for this recipe.
- Grenadine: This is a red, non-alcoholic syrup with a sweet and tart flavor, perfect for cocktails and mocktails.
- Lemon-lime soda: Sprite or 7UP work well, but you can also use ginger ale. A no-sugar version is fine too.
Recipe Variations
- Dirty Shirley with Ginger Ale: Use ginger ale instead of lemon-lime soda for a unique flavor twist.
- Tart Dirty Shirley: Add fresh lemon juice for a more tart and refreshing cocktail.
- Less Sweet Dirty Shirley: Replace the lemon-lime soda with sparkling water for a lighter, less sweet drink.
- Shirley Temple Black: Use dark rum instead of vodka for a richer, bolder variation.
How To Make A Dirty Shirley
For exact measurements and detailed instructions, check the recipe box below.
- Pour vodka into a tall glass.
- Add grenadine.
- Fill the glass with plenty of ice.
- Pour in the lemon-lime soda and stir well.
- Garnish with cherries (optional).
Expert Tips
- Gently stir the ingredients before drinking.
- Any lemon-lime soda works, like Sprite, 7UP, Fresca, or Sierra Mist.
- Adjust the grenadine to your taste for more sweetness and tartness.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, simply leave out the vodka to make a traditional Shirley Temple, which is non-alcoholic.
To make it less sweet, use sparkling water instead of lemon-lime soda or reduce the amount of grenadine.
Cherries are the classic garnish, but you can also use a slice of lime, lemon, or even a sprig of mint for a fresh twist.
Ways To Use Leftover Ingredients
If you have any ingredients leftover from this recipe, check out our Leftover Ingredients Recipe Finder or you might like to consider using them in any of these single serving and small batch recipes:
If you’ve tried this Dirty Shirley drink or any recipe on One Dish Kitchen please let me know how you liked it by rating the recipe and telling me about it in the comment section below.
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Dirty Shirley For One
Watch How To Make This
Equipment
- Tall glass
Ingredients
- 2 ounces vodka
- 1 ounce grenadine
- ice
- 4 ounces lemon-lime soda
- Optional: maraschino cherries, lime slice
Instructions
- Add vodka to a tall glass.
- Pour in the grenadine.
- Top with plenty of ice.
- Add the lemon-lime soda and stir to combine.
- Garnish with cherries and a slice of lime (optional).
Notes
- Gently stir the ingredients before drinking.
- Any lemon-lime soda works, like Sprite, 7UP, Fresca, or Sierra Mist.
- Adjust the grenadine to your taste for more sweetness and tartness.
Nutrition
The information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.
HA HA HA My sister’s name is Shirley. Guess what she is going to be served this Saturday evening at our twice monthly get together. Rose
This looks fantastic, I love using nips for single drinks.
Good recipe.