The Dirty Shirley cocktail is an adult version of the classic childhood Shirley Temple drink. A fizzy lemon-lime soda gets a splash of bright red grenadine, a shot of vodka, and a sweet maraschino cherry to top it off. 

The Dirty Shirley is the 2022 cocktail of the summer. From The New York Times to TikTok influencers, everyone is talking about it. And it’s no wonder…with all the drab adult drinks out there, we could use something sugary and whimsical. 

Sipping on a spinoff of the Shirley Temple is bound to transport you back to when you first sipped this iconic drink. Nostalgia with a spirited twist. 

Dirty Shirley Ingredients

Grenadine

This sweet red syrup is the star of the show!

Fun fact: Grenadine syrup is actually made of reduced pomegranate juice—not cherries. A high-quality grenadine will take this Dirty Shirley drink recipe to the next level. If you want to channel your inner mixologist, try making your own homemade grenadine. 

Vodka

Grab your favorite brand. Want to amp up the cherry flavor? Use cherry-flavored vodka!

Lemon-lime soda

Fizzy lemon-lime soda is a classic feature of the Shirley Temple drink. 

Ice

Cubed or crushed

Maraschino cherry

The literal cherry on top of this delightful drink.

Serving the Dirty Shirley

The Dirty Shirley cocktail is made in a highball glass—a tall glass that is roughly 10-16 ounces. 

Single Serving

Use a cocktail jigger to measure out the grenadine and vodka. Combine with ice, lemon-lime soda, and a maraschino cherry. 

For a Crowd

Serve Dirty Shirleys at your next get-together for a playful drink that is sure to be a hit. 

Since this cocktail is largely soda based, I don’t recommend making it in one large batch. The lemon-lime soda would lose its fizz quickly and make the cocktail flat.

Instead, you could serve this drink cocktail bar style. Set all the ingredients out and allow your guests to build their own Dirty Shirleys! Leave a little note card with the Dirty Shirley recipe to follow and then have some fun!

Looking for other Cocktail Recipes? Check these out!

Summer Sangria

Strawberry Smash Peach Margaritas

Blueberry Mojitos

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