Sip on Sweet Nostalgia With These Shirley Temples (2024)

FAQs

What is a dirty Shirley drink made of? ›

A Dirty Shirley is simply a Shirley Temple with vodka. And the Shirley Temple is the most famous non-alcoholic co*cktail we have. It's a simple mixture of lemon-lime soda, grenadine and ice, topped off with a neon-red co*cktail cherry.

A Shirley Temple is a non-alcoholic mixed drink traditionally made with ginger ale and a splash of grenadine, and garnished with a maraschino cherry. Modern Shirley Temple recipes may substitute lemon-lime soda or lemonade and sometimes orange juice, in part or in whole.

The drink was named after iconic child actress Shirley Temple. Legend has it that when she was out to dinner at a nice restaurant with her parents and other Hollywood types who were all enjoying co*cktails, the bartender made her a special nonalcoholic drink so she could feel fancy too.

A Shirley Temple is a nonalcoholic co*cktail made with lemon-lime soda (such as Sprite or 7Up) and lime juice, plus grenadine syrup for a pretty red presentation.

I'm a bartender, and customers will often ask me what they should order if they want a sweet drink. For tropical flavors, you can't go wrong with a piña colada, daiquiri, or sex on the beach. Dirty Shirleys, amaretto sours, and chocolate martinis are classic co*cktails that'll fit the bill.

As the drink is still gaining popularity, it might be wise to order it just by its ingredients since some bartenders are not familiar with the name Dirty Shirley.

The cause of death, according to her death certificate released on March 3, 2014, was chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Temple was a lifelong cigarette smoker but avoided displaying her habit in public because she did not want to set a bad example for her fans. She is buried at Alta Mesa Memorial Park.

But how exactly did the Shirley Temple drink come to be? The most popular story suggests that this iconic drink was invented by a bartender at Chasen's, a famous Beverly Hills restaurant, who wanted to create a fun and fancy drink that the young actress could enjoy, like her adult counterparts.

"To make the best Shirley Temple you will need ginger ale or ginger beer, grenadine, lime, and of course, the maraschino cherry." Although many newer recipes call for lemon-lime soda like Sprite or 7-Up, a classic Shirley Temple uses ginger ale or ginger beer with a bit of lime.

And that's how the kiddy co*cktail, the Shirley Temple, was created, a drink traditionally made with ginger ale and grenadine, a sweet bar syrup, and a maraschino cherry. Eventually restaurants that featured Shirley Temples added a version to appeal to boys.

What's the difference between a Shirley Temple and a Roy Rogers drink? ›

While they are similar, a “Shirley Temple” has grenadine, lemon-lime soda, and a maraschino cherry while a “Roy Rogers” is made with grenadine, cola (like co*ke), and a maraschino cherry.

You start by filling a tall glass halfway with ice. Then pour the grenadine over the ice and finish up by adding the lemon lime soda (typically Sprite or 7UP) or ginger ale. Oh and don't forget to garnish with maraschino cherries too! Shirley Temples are a pink, fizzy mocktail that are sweet and always in style.

Tips for Making the Best Dirty Shirley

Use a good vodka, but since this is a sweet co*cktail, there's no need to break out the top-shelf stuff. A mid-priced bottle, such as Stoli and Tito's, is best. As for the mixer, any lemon-lime soda will do, such as Sprite, 7-Up, Sierra Mist, or Bubble Up.

After a year of sipping those, it makes sense that we want something different. The Dirty Shirley's popularity could also be a result of the longing for comfort and enjoyment we're feeling in response to the hardships of the last few years.

Grenadine is a syrup used in co*cktails, non-alcoholic drinks, and somewhat rarely in cooking. Made from pomegranate juice that gets cooked down with sugar, grenadine has a delicious balance of mouth-puckering tartness and sweetness that adds surprising depth to co*cktails.