🍒 Dirty Shirley

The childhood favourite, all grown up — vodka, grenadine, and a maraschino cherry.

2 minutes
Serves 1
Built
Vodka cocktail
Ingredients
  • 2 oz vodka
  • 4 oz lemon-lime soda (Sprite or 7UP)
  • 1 oz grenadine
  • 1 oz fresh orange juice (optional but recommended)
  • Ice
  • Maraschino cherries — to garnish
  • Orange slice — to garnish
Method
  1. 1
    Fill glass with iceFill a highball or rocks glass to the top with ice. The more ice, the slower the soda dilutes.
  2. 2
    Add vodka and orange juicePour the vodka over the ice, followed by the orange juice if using. The OJ softens the sweetness of the grenadine and makes the drink more balanced.
  3. 3
    Add grenadinePour the grenadine in — it will sink to the bottom for a layered look. Don't stir yet if you want the red-to-clear gradient effect.
  4. 4
    Top with sodaGently pour the lemon-lime soda down the side of the glass. Give a single brief stir to incorporate slightly while preserving the layers.
  5. 5
    GarnishSpear 2–3 maraschino cherries on a cocktail pick and rest across the top. Add an orange slice on the rim. Serve with a straw.

Use Real Grenadine

Most commercial grenadine (Rose's, for example) is corn syrup with red food colouring and artificial flavour — it has nothing to do with actual pomegranate. If you use it, the Dirty Shirley will be very sweet and one-dimensional.

Real grenadine (Liber & Co., Small Hand Foods, or homemade from pomegranate juice and sugar) has tartness, complexity, and genuine pomegranate flavour. The difference in the final drink is dramatic. It's worth seeking out.

Variations

🍑 Dirty Shirley Peach

Replace lemon-lime soda with peach soda or add ½ oz peach schnapps. Sweeter and more summery.

🫐 Dirty Shirley Blueberry

Add a splash of blueberry juice and use blueberry vodka. The colour goes deep purple — visually stunning.

🌶️ Spicy Dirty Shirley

Add 2 dashes of hot sauce (Cholula works well) or use a jalapeño-infused vodka. The heat against the sweet grenadine is genuinely surprising.

🍹 Frozen Dirty Shirley

Blend all ingredients (minus soda) with ice. Pour into a glass, top with a splash of soda for fizz, and garnish as normal.

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