For most people, a Shirley Temple is a childhood drink: lemon-lime soda, grenadine and a few bright red cherries, often ordered at a family restaurant. The Dirty Shirley is the same drink with vodka. It’s been ordered in bars for a long time, but in 2022 it suddenly became a trend.
Where It Went Viral
In 2022, the Dirty Shirley spread on TikTok, where people posted videos of it and recipes, and it became a common order in New York bars. That summer, the New York Times ran a story asking whether the Dirty Shirley was the drink of the summer. It linked the trend to nostalgia: millennials going back out after the pandemic and wanting the comfort of a drink they had as kids at suburban chain restaurants.
Other outlets followed, and by the next summer, the Dirty Shirley was being described as ‘the drink of 2022.’ Some writers made fun of it as a kid’s drink with vodka — which is exactly what it is, and why people like it.
There isn’t a single creator, venue or video to credit. It’s a bar order that got noticed all at once.
Why It’s Popular
It’s simple, inexpensive, and you can order it anywhere: every bar has vodka, Sprite and grenadine. It’s sweet and fizzy, and the bright red color and cherries look good in photos. There’s no need to know anything about cocktails to order it.
Why Bar Versions Taste Like Candy
The typical bar Dirty Shirley uses grocery-store grenadine. Despite the name, most of it isn’t made from pomegranates — it’s mostly corn syrup with red coloring and artificial flavor. Mixed with Sprite, the drink is very sweet and a little chemical.
Two simple fixes make it much better:
- Real grenadine. Pomegranate juice and sugar, simmered together. It’s tart and fruity, and it tastes like fruit instead of red candy. It takes five minutes to make (see notes).
- A squeeze of lime. A quarter-ounce of fresh lime adds acidity and keeps the drink refreshing.
The Key Technique: Grenadine Last
Pour the vodka, lime and soda over ice first, then slowly add the grenadine. It’s heavier than the rest of the drink, so it sinks and makes a red-to-clear gradient. That’s the look people photograph. Stir if you want it evenly pink.
Use plenty of ice and very cold soda so the drink stays fizzy.
Making a Pitcher
Mix the vodka and grenadine ahead and keep them cold. When it’s time to serve, add the soda and stir gently. Don’t add the soda early or it will go flat. Put a bowl of cherries nearby so people can add as many as they want.
The Mocktail: Clean Shirley
The non-alcoholic version of a Dirty Shirley is a Shirley Temple, but there’s room to improve it. Add tart cherry juice and lime, and use real grenadine. The result is fruity, sour and fizzy, not just sweet.
Variations People Order
The Dirty Shirley is flexible, and bars and home bartenders have come up with lots of versions:
- Cherry vodka Dirty Shirley: Cherry vodka in place of plain vodka, for more cherry flavor.
- Ginger ale version: Ginger ale instead of Sprite, which is closer to some early Shirley Temple recipes and a bit less sweet.
- Dirty Shirley with rum: Some people use white or coconut rum.
- Frozen Dirty Shirley: Blended with ice for a slushy version (see the FAQ).
- Sugar-free: Diet lemon-lime soda and sugar-free grenadine syrup. It changes the taste somewhat but works.
The drink is cheap and easy, which is a big part of its appeal. You don’t need any special tools — just a tall glass and ice.
Enjoy responsibly — must be 21+.
