This cocktail is basically an elevated, less-sweet version of the traditional Dirty Shirley! Made with vodka, orange liqueur, grenadine, fresh lime, and lemon soda, it’s a simple, refreshing cocktail for any time of the year. I like making these orange Dirty Shirley cocktails for bachelorette parties, bridal showers, birthday parties, and more!

An orange dirty Shirley cocktail on a marble plate next to a jar of cherries, limes, and alcohol bottles with a pink background.

Earlier this summer, the New York Times declared the Dirty Shirley the drink of the summer and the retired sorority girl in me lost her damn mind. Back in college, my friends and I would sit on the floor of my living room watching movies, eating snacks, and drinking way too many Dirty Shirleys. They were the pre-game drink of choice while applying eyeshadow before winter formals. I’m sure many a bartender rolled their eyes when we’d drunkenly roll up to the bar requesting a round for the whole party.

This was clearly before drinking more than 2 sweet cocktails gave me an instant hangover. 🙃

Anywayyyys, to find a solution for my now late-twenties stomach, I went ahead and created a Dirty Shirley that’s a little more headache proof!

(And if you’re looking for a drink that’s a little more grown up but still fun, try this peachy pink gin spritz or my classic berry rosé sangria!)

Sparkling lemonade

Instead of using ginger ale or lemon-lime soda, I like to use artisan sparkling lemonade like Lorina. It’s way less sweet than soda but still gives a nice fizz! Of course, if you like a sweet cocktail, you can definitely use lemon-lime soda (like Sprite) or ginger ale. Or, for an even drier drink, use sparkling water.

You’ll also need vodka, orange liqueur (like Triple Sec), grenadine, and fresh limes. For garnish, I like boozy cherries but they’re totally optional! You can also use maraschino cherries or just leave them out.

Make the drink

A hand using a copper shot glass to pour vodka into a glass of ice on a marble board next to cherries and limes with a pink background.
Add the vodka & orange liqueur to a glass full of ice.
A hand using a copper shot glass to pour grenadine into a glass of ice on a marble board next to limes and cherries on a pink backdrop.
Then, add the grenadine & a splash of lime juice.
A bottle of lemonade being poured into an orange dirty Shirley on a marble tray next to cherries and limes with a pink background.
Top the cocktail with sparkling lemonade & garnish.
Soda being poured into a pink cocktail placed on a white plate. In the back is another cocktail and a jar of cherries on a pink background.

For a crowd

This is the perfect cocktail for a party or get-together! Since it’s super easy and quick to make, you can mix these cocktails up all night long for your friendsies. Or, mix it up in a pitcher for an even easier drink situation.

  1. Mix the vodka, orange liqueur, grenadine, and lime juice in a pitcher.
  2. Right before serving, add the lemon soda. Stir well and serve immediately over ice.

Other spirits you can use

If you’re not a vodka fan, you can replace it with silver rum or tequila! Keep the Triple Sec for the citrus note. Grand Marnier would also be delicious with tequila if you want a Cadillac margarita-inspired drink.

An orange dirty Shirley cocktail on a marble tray next to a jar of cherries, limes, and bottles of alcohol on a pink table.

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Orange Dirty Shirley Cocktail

Yield: 1 cocktail
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 5 minutes
These orange Dirty Shirley cocktails are the best for bachelorette parties, bridal showers, and parties! It's a fancy, less-sweet version of the traditional Dirty Shirley with vodka, orange liqueur, grenadine, fresh lime, and lemon soda. It's simple, fun, and super refreshing!
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Ingredients

Single cocktail

  • 1 1/2 ounces vodka
  • 1/2 ounce Triple Sec
  • 1/2 ounce grenadine
  • 4 ounces lemon soda
  • Lime wedges
  • Boozy cherries or Maraschino cherries, for garnish (optional)

Batch cocktail (8 drinks)

  • 1 1/2 cups vodka
  • 1/2 cup Triple sec
  • 1 cup grenadine
  • Juice of 2 limes
  • 4 cups lemon soda
  • Boozy cherries or Maraschino cherries, for garnish (optional)

Equipment

  • High ball glasses, pitcher, or punch bowl

Instructions 

Single cocktail

  • Fill a highball glass to the top with ice. Pour the vodka, Triple sec, and grenadine over the ice. Next, add the lemon soda and a squeeze of lime juice.
  • Garnish the drink with boozy cherries and lime wedges, if desired. Stir gently right before enjoying.

Batch cocktail

  • In a pitcher or punch bowl, add the vodka, Triple Sec, grenadine, and lime juice. Stir, cover, and refrigerate until you're ready to serve the cocktail.
  • Right before serving, add the lemon soda. Stir well to combine. Serve over ice and garnish with boozy cherries and lime wedges.

Notes

Use a highball glass. Between 10-12 ounces is good!
I like San Pellegrino Limonata or Lorina sparkling lemonade. If you want a less sweet cocktail, use lemon seltzer in place of the lemon soda.
For a sweeter cocktail, use 1 ounce of grenadine instead of 1/2 ounce. Or, use lemon-lime soda instead of sparkling lemonade!
For a less boozy cocktail, use 1 ounce of vodka and 1/2 ounce of Triple Sec. You can also leave the Triple Sec out if you don’t have any.
You can double or triple the recipe for a larger crowd. Serve it in a pitcher or punch bowl.
Cuisine: American
Course: Drinks
Author: Sara Lynn Hunt Broka
Serving: 1cocktail, Calories: 287kcal, Carbohydrates: 39.2g, Sodium: 5mg, Potassium: 21mg, Sugar: 50.5g
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