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).
Dirty Shirley Cocktail

A Dirty Shirley cocktail is the grown-up version of your favorite mocktail, the Shirley Temple. Made with grenadine and lemon-lime soda, it has the same fruity taste you love along with a kick from vodka.
Prep: 1min
Total: 1min
Yield: 1
Serving Size: 1 cocktail
Nutrition Facts: calories 253 kcal, servingSize 1 cocktail, Carbohydrate 31 g, Protein 1 g, Sodium 20 mg, Sugar 25 g
Ingredients:
- Ice
- 2 ounces vodka ((see note 1))
- 1 ounce grenadine ((see note 2))
- 4 ounces lemon-lime soda ((see note 3))
- Maraschino cherries (for garnish, optional)
Instruction:
- Fill a glass with ice, then add 2 ounces (1/4 cup) vodka and 1 ounce (2 tablespoons) grenadine. Top with soda, then garnish with a maraschino cherry.
Dirty Shirley

Bright and colorful, sweet with just a hint of booze, the Dirty Shirley Temple is quickly becoming this summer’s favorite cocktail!
Prep: 5min
Total: 5min
Yield: 1 serving(s)
Ingredients:
- 2 oz. vodka
- 1 oz. fresh lime juice
- 1 oz. grenadine
- 4 oz. lemon-lime soda
- Maraschino cherries and lime wheels, for serving
Instruction:
- Fill a tall glass with ice cubes. Pour vodka, lime juice, and grenadine over ice. Add lemon-lime soda and stir with a long-handled spoon to combine.
- Serve topped with cherries and a lime wheel.
Dirty Shirley Cocktail Recipe

Serving Size: 1 drink
Nutrition Facts: calories 279 calories, Carbohydrate 38 grams carbohydrates, Cholesterol 0 milligrams cholesterol, Fat 0 grams fat, Fiber 0 grams fiber, Protein 0 grams protein, Saturated Fat 0 grams saturated fat, servingSize 1 drink, Sodium 39 milligrams sodium, Sugar 30 grams sugar, Trans Fat 0 grams trans fat, unSaturated Fat 0 grams unsaturated fat
Ingredients:
- 2 ounces vodka
- 1 ounce unsweetened tart cherry juice
- 1 ounce grenadine
- 1 ounce lime juice
- 4 ounces lemon lime soda
- Maraschino cherries and lime wedges for garnish
Instruction:
- Fill a glass with ice and pour the vodka over the ice.
- Pour in the cherry juice, grenadine and lime juice.
- Top with lemon lime soda and stir.
- Garnish with maraschino cherries and a lime wedge.
Dirty Shirley Cocktail

The official drink of the summer is here, and it’s the Dirty Shirley cocktail! A classic Shirley Temple mocktail gets an adult kick with the addition of vodka. This drink takes just minutes to whip up, and it couldn’t be easier to prepare.
Prep: 5min
Total: 5min
Yield: 1
Serving Size: 1 drink
Nutrition Facts: servingSize 1 drink, calories 300 kcal, Carbohydrate 43 g, Protein 1 g, Sodium 31 mg, Sugar 36 g
Ingredients:
- 2 ounces vodka
- 1 ounce grenadine
- 8 ounces lemon-lime soda
- Maraschino cherry (for garnish)
- Lime wedge or wheel (for garnish)
Instruction:
- In a tall highball glass, add a handful of ice and pour in the vodka and grenadine.
- Top with chilled lemon-lime soda. To combine, gently stir with a bar spoon.
- Garnish with a maraschino cherry and a lime wedge or wheel. Enjoy!
Dirty Shirley | How to make a cocktail with Vodka, Lemon-Lime Soda & Grenadine
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