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Two Dirty Shirley cocktails in tall drink glasses garnished with maraschino cherries.

Dirty Shirley Cocktail

Course: cocktails, Drinks
Cuisine: American
Diet: Gluten Free, Low Lactose
Keyword: dirty shirley cocktail
Prep Time: 2 minutes
Cook Time: 0 minutes
Total Time: 2 minutes
Servings: 1 cocktail
Calories: 300kcal
Some say the Dirty Shirley cocktail is the drink of summer. It can't hurt to find out. Try this grown up version of a Shirley Temple and see for yourself!
Print Recipe

Ingredients

  • 2 ounces vodka
  • 1 ounce grenadine
  • 8 ounces lemon-lime soda
  • maraschino cherries for garnish

Instructions

  • Fill a high ball glass with ice. Pour in vodka and lemon-lime soda. Add grenadine and top with a cherry. (or two or three!)

Notes

  • Add the grenadine last. It's heavier than the other liquids so if you add it first, it will just stay on the bottom. Adding it last will ensure it distributes throughout the drink as it falls.
  • Make sure all the ingredients are cold before you mix to minimize dilution when poured over the ice. Your fizzy soda will stay fizzy longer if it's already cold.
  • By the same token, serve in chilled or even frozen glasses! This will ensure that the taste stays crisp and refreshing, and not overly sugary.
Try these Dirty Shirley variations and substitutions to put your own twist on things.
  • Swap out the lemon-lime soda for ginger beer or ginger ale.
  • Make it with gin instead of vodka!
  • Try flavored vodkas or gins for a twist.
  • Use fancy amarena cherries in place of maraschino cherries.
  • If you can't find grenadine, use the syrup in the cherry jar.
  • Want to make it a skinny cocktail? Try it with sugar-free soda or club soda.
 
 
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Nutrition

Calories: 300kcal | Carbohydrates: 43g | Protein: 0.2g | Sodium: 31mg | Potassium: 11mg | Sugar: 36g | Calcium: 6mg | Iron: 0.1mg