Dirty Shirley
Sweet nostalgia with a cheeky vodka twist: grenadine, lemon-lime soda and plenty of ice.
Ingredients
- Vodka60 ml
- Grenadine30 ml
- Lemon-lime soda120 ml
- Cocktail cherry, to garnish (optional)2 pieces
- Lime, to garnish, if you like (optional)1 wedge
Method
- Fill a highball glass with ice cubes.
- Pour the vodka over the ice.
- Add the grenadine and let it sink through the ice for a pretty layered look.
- Top up with lemon-lime soda, pouring slowly to preserve the bubbles.
- Stir briefly and gently, so the fizz holds.
- Garnish with cocktail cherries and, if you like, a lime wedge, and serve at once.
About this drink
The Dirty Shirley is the grown-up version of the Shirley Temple, the iconic children's drink named after the 1930s film star. The original was only soda, grenadine and a cherry; the vodka came along later as a playfully 'dirty' addition. The drink has become a fixture at parties and summer gatherings precisely because it tastes of childhood, just with a little kick.
Questions and answers
What exactly is a Dirty Shirley?
A grown-up Shirley Temple: the same grenadine and lemon-lime soda, just with vodka added. It is one of the easiest ways into cocktails you will find.
Does it have to be lemon-lime soda?
Plain soda water gives a drier, less sweet version, while ginger ale adds a spicy twist. The grenadine and vodka are what really carry the drink.
