This Dirty Shirley recipe is delightful, refreshing and nostalgic.
And you can’t serve this Dirty Shirley recipe without a cherry and a swizzle stick!
Remember the “kiddie” co*cktail?
LOL. I most certainly do.
In retrospect, I’m not sure that was the most appropriately named drink to serve a six year old …
But alas, I also rode backwards in my aunt’s station wagon with my cousins in between downing kiddie co*cktails.
We all survived.
The kiddie co*cktail (or Shirley Temple as it is also called) was a staple of my Friday nights during the late seventies.
While my parents unwound before ordering dinner at a nice restaurant, they also enjoyed a Manhattan or a Rob Roy, and I sipped on my Shirley Temple.
It was colorful, pretty, a little tart, and always garnished with a maraschino cherry.
And the drink was simply not complete without a swizzle stick!
This long-last tradition, often took the shape of a paddle, giraffe or featured the restaurant’s name in some fancy design. Remember those?
The swizzle stick is nostalgia at its best.
When I got wind of the Dirty Shirley craze, I simply had to jump on board.
It almost felt like a call of duty.
As a nod to my Friday nights of yesteryear and in keeping with my fondness for a good “adult” co*cktail to end the week, I summoned Matt to concoct the best Dirty Shirley recipe.
And I think he did an excellent job.
He even included a pastel swizzle stick! Keep reading to find out how you can make this delightful drink at home too!
But first, a few fun facts about this drink genre:
WHY IS IT CALLED A SHIRLEY TEMPLE?
The drink is named after the famous childhood actress Shirley Temple and is considered to be the world’s first mocktail.
Since its creation, non-alcoholic co*cktails have come a long way. In fact, we’ve previously shared some delicious mocktail recipes.
WHAT IS THE ORIGIN SHIRLEY TEMPLE co*ckTAIL?
According to one legend, a bartender at Chasen’s restaurant in Hollywood, Calif. invented the Shirley Temple co*cktail.
The restaurant closed in the mid nineties but historians describe Chasen’s as “old Hollywood personified,” with classic red booths and lots of wood-paneled walls.
You can totally picture it. And even today, I love those kind of restaurants.
Young Shirley became a bit aggravated when the bartender wouldn’t serve her the same Old Fashioned co*cktail as the adults she was with were drinking. Smart.
So he came up with a more appropriate children’s version.
And it makes sense. The Shirley Temple co*cktail is similar in color to the Old Fashioned.
I’m sure Shirley was fooled!
WHAT IS THE SHIRLEY TEMPLE DRINK?
The traditional ingredients of a Shirley Temple drink are ginger ale, with a splash of grenadine and a maraschino cherry garnish. You can also use Lemon lime soda instead of ginger ale.
WHAT FLAVOR IS GRENADINE?
Grenadine is a non-alcoholic syrup, with a deep red color, and is traditionally made from pomegranate.
The origin of the word grenadine is the French word grenade (pomegranate). It is commonly found in co*cktails such as the Singapore Sling, Tequila Sunrise and the Zombie, among others.
WHAT IS A DIRTY SHIRLEY?
A Dirty Shirley is an adult spin on the classic Shirley Temple co*cktail that includes vodka.
It is delightful and nostalgic, which has no doubt led to its recent rise in popularity!
HERE IS THE BEST DIRTY SHIRLEY RECIPE …
This co*cktail should not simply be a spiked version of your Shirley Temple from the seventies.
As an adult, I find a Shirley Temple can be rather syrupy and overly sweet.
This Dirty Shirley recipe uses high-end ingredients, like these spectacular maraschino cherries by Filthy as a garnish.
This Dirty Shirley recipe is also lower in calories, since it uses Diet Sprite.
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DIRTY SHIRLEY INGREDIENTS
Two ounces Ketel One vodka
One ounce Rose’s Grenadine
Eight ounces Diet Sprite
Filthy Maraschino Cherries
Ice Nuggets
HOW TO MAKE A DIRTY SHIRLEY
Fill your favorite co*cktail glass with ice nuggets
Add vodka and grenadine.
Top with Diet Sprite.
Garnish with a single Filthy Maraschino cherry and add a fun swizzle stick.
Did you enjoy this Dirty Shirley recipe? Check out these other great entertaining ideas you don’t want to miss:
Discover the Daiquiri … It’s Not What You Think!
Five Great Tablescape Ideas for a Casual Summer Dinner Party
Rose All Day with These Rose co*cktails
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