Roy Rogers Drink Recipe

Before you start

The Roy Rogers is one of the simplest mixed soft drinks: cola over ice with a splash of grenadine and a cherry on top. It is often called the companion to the Shirley Temple, built the same way with cola instead of ginger ale. The grenadine adds a fruity, cherry-like note that turns a plain cola into a small treat.

With so few parts, small choices show. Cane-sugar colas are a little less syrupy than standard ones, and real pomegranate grenadine adds tartness instead of only sweetness. Keep the grenadine to a modest splash, since cola is already sweet, and make sure everything is very cold so the drink stays fizzy.

Ingredients

• 240 ml (8 oz) cola — well chilled
• 15 ml (½ oz) grenadine — pomegranate-based if possible
• 1 cup (about 150 g) ice cubes
• 1 or 2 maraschino or cocktail cherries
• 1 lime wedge — optional

Method

1. Fill a highball glass with ice cubes. A full glass of ice keeps the cola colder and fizzier for longer.
2. Tilt the glass and pour the cola slowly down the inside, stopping about 2 cm (¾ inch) from the rim.
3. Drizzle the grenadine over the top. It will sink through the cola and pool at the bottom.
4. Drop in the cherries and squeeze in the lime wedge if using. Give the drink one gentle stir with a straw before serving.

Tips for success

• Open the cola right before pouring. A bottle opened earlier loses carbonation quickly, and the grenadine flattens it further.
• A squeeze of lime is not traditional but cuts the sweetness and brightens the cherry flavor.
• For a party, set out cold cola, grenadine and a bowl of cherries and let guests build their own.

Substitutions

Cola

Caffeine-free cola gives the same drink without caffeine, good for children or evening serving. Diet cola works with the same grenadine amount.

Grenadine

10 ml of the syrup from a jar of cocktail cherries gives a stronger cherry flavor. Tart cherry juice adds fruit with less sugar.

Maraschino cherries

Dark cocktail cherries in syrup taste more like real fruit. Fresh pitted cherries work in summer.

Variations

Cherry vanilla Roy

Add 5 ml vanilla syrup with the grenadine for a soda-fountain flavor.

Roy Rogers float

Pour over a scoop of vanilla ice cream instead of ice.

Troubleshooting

The drink is flat

Cola was warm or opened in advance. Use a freshly opened, cold bottle and pour gently down the side of the glass.

It is too sweet

Cut the grenadine to 10 ml and add a squeeze of lime.

It foams over

Grenadine poured fast into cola causes a burst of foam. Drizzle it slowly over the ice.

Storage

Make it to order and serve right away. Leftover opened cola goes flat within a day even when capped and refrigerated.

Safety notes

Regular cola contains caffeine, and amounts vary by brand. Use caffeine-free cola for children or anyone limiting caffeine.