Have I got a sweet cocktail for you — the Dirty Shirley Mimosa. Think of it as an adult Shirley Temple with a Mimosa twist: bright, cherry-forward, bubbly, and just sweet enough to be crowd-pleasing at brunches, showers, or casual get-togethers. This drink is simple to make, looks festive, and finishes with a cherry you can nibble while enjoying the last sip.
Dirty Shirley Mimosa
If you love the nostalgia of a Shirley Temple but want something with bubbles and a little kick, the Dirty Shirley Mimosa is perfect. It keeps the sweet grenadine and iconic maraschino cherry, adds vodka for adult warmth, and swaps lemon-lime soda for sparkling wine — Prosecco or Champagne — for elegant effervescence. The result is a refreshing, slightly indulgent cocktail that suits both casual evenings and celebratory moments.
Have a Cocktail with dinner!
What Is a Dirty Shirley?
A Shirley Temple is a classic mocktail of lemon-lime soda and grenadine, crowned with maraschino cherries. The Dirty Shirley is the grown-up version: you add vodka. For the Dirty Shirley Mimosa, the lemon-lime soda is replaced with sparkling wine, giving the cocktail a light, bubbly texture while the grenadine provides that familiar pink-red sweetness.
If you don’t have pre-made sour mix, you can easily make a simple citrus sour at home with fresh lemon juice and a touch of sugar or simple syrup to taste; it brightens the cocktail and balances sweetness.
Serve with these Shirley Temple Cherry Cupcakes!
More Favorite Cocktail Ideas
- Blackberry Margaritas
- Strawberry White Wine Spritzer
- Cranberry Orange Mimosa
Can You Make Dirty Shirley Mimosas Kid-Friendly?
Absolutely. Leave out the vodka and sparkling wine, and substitute ginger ale or lemon-lime soda instead. You’ll keep the grenadine and cherry for that playful color and flavor. It won’t be “dirty” in the alcoholic sense, but it will be a fun, fizzy, kid-friendly version that still captures the essence of a Shirley Temple with a Mimosa twist.
Origins: When Was the First Shirley Temple Invented?
The Shirley Temple mocktail is popularly said to have been created for child star Shirley Temple on her 10th birthday at the Beverly Hills restaurant Chasen’s. Over time, that innocent, sweet soda-based drink inspired many grown-up interpretations, including the Dirty Shirley and the sparkling Dirty Shirley Mimosa.
Can I Make a Dirty Shirley Mimosa in Advance?
Because sparkling wine loses carbonation when exposed to air or mixed, these are best made just before serving. The prep is fast — mix per glass or prepare the non-sparkling components in advance and add the chilled prosecco or champagne and the cherry at the last minute. This keeps the drink lively and bubbly for your guests.
This cocktail suits parties and brunches where a sweeter, festive drink is welcomed. It’s easy to teach friends and family how to make it, and the bright color plus the cherry garnish makes it visually appealing for photos and gatherings.
Have you ever had a Dirty Shirley Mimosa?
Dirty Shirley Mimosa for One
This single-serve Dirty Shirley Mimosa is light, refreshing, and easy to make — ideal when you want a special drink just for yourself.
Ingredients
- 1 small single-serve bottle Prosecco or Champagne
- 2 teaspoons grenadine
- 1 shot sour mix
- 1 shot vodka
- 1 cherry, for garnish
Instructions
- In a chilled glass, combine grenadine, sour mix, and vodka. Stir gently.
- Top with chilled Prosecco or Champagne. Stir once to combine, being careful not to lose the bubbles.
- Garnish with a maraschino cherry and serve immediately.
Tips & Variations
- For a lighter version, reduce the vodka to half a shot or omit entirely for a non-alcoholic Shirley Mimosa.
- Use fresh lemon juice with a little simple syrup as a substitute for sour mix to brighten the flavor.
- Batch the non-sparkling components (vodka, grenadine, sour mix) for a pitcher, then add sparkling wine by the glass to keep fizz.
Nutrition Information (per serving)
Calories: 244 • Total Fat: 0g • Sodium: 53mg • Carbohydrates: 50g • Sugar: 30g • Protein: 1g