Dirty Shirley Classic

Dirty Shirley Classic is a ready-to-drink take on the Dirty Shirley, the cocktail that adds vodka to a Shirley Temple. Esplanda has bottled it so it can be poured straight from the container with no mixing. The details supplied for this product don't list an ABV, ingredients, or a flavor breakdown. What follows describes the style in general, so check the label for the exact specifications. Drinks in this style usually taste of cherry and grenadine-style sweetness over a light, fizzy or soda-like base. Expect a gentle ginger-ale or lemon-lime note and a soft vodka backbone rather than a sharp spirit bite. The sweetness tends to be forward and nostalgic, closer to a cherry soda than a spirit-led cocktail. Serve it well chilled. Pour it over plenty of fresh ice in a highball or Collins glass, which keeps it cold and lets the bubbles and cherry aroma show. A wedge of lime or a maraschino cherry on a pick fits the style. If the drink is carbonated, pour gently and don't shake the container beforehand. A little extra citrus, such as a squeeze of lime, cuts through the sweetness if you find it too sugary. Because it is already built, the simplest use is straight over ice. It can also serve as a base for a quick long drink. Add a splash of soda water to lighten it, or a little more lemon-lime soda for a taller serve. For food, the sweetness and fruit suit salty, fried, or smoky dishes. Think wings, sliders, pretzels, pizza, or barbecue, where the cherry-citrus sweetness balances the salt and spice.