Roy Rogers Drink

The Roy Rodgers Drink is a classic cola and grenadine mocktail! Here’s how to do it and some ways to step it up.

Looking for a classic mocktail to impress? try it Roy Rodgers, a non-alcoholic cocktail made with cola and grenadine! This drink originated in the days of soda fountains, an even more popular accompaniment to Shirley Temple. Although known as a kid’s cocktail, you can drink a Roy Rodgers at any age! Here’s the classic recipe and some tricks to make it a little tastier (read: less sweet) for adults.

What is a Roy Rodgers drink?

The Roy Rodgers Drink is a non-alcoholic mocktail made with cola and grenadine. It’s similar to a Shirley Temple but uses cola instead of ginger or lime ale. The drink is named after Roy Rodgers, a 1940s and 1950s movie star and singer famous for portraying cowboys in westerns (he’s the man behind the song “Happy Trails”).

The story behind Roy Rodgers’ drink is a little dark. It was probably invented in the 1940s, probably so named because Roy Rodgers himself did not drink alcohol. It was popular as an accompaniment to Shirley Temple in the 1950s and 1960s. (Some say it’s the “boy version,” but we’d rather not sex the drinks here!) To make a Roy Rodgers, you’ll need:

• cola
• grenadinePomegranate flavored bar syrup

How to get Roy Rodgers to drink… and intensify it

Because it’s based on cola, it’s the Roy Rodgers drink very sweet. Of course, the little ones like this! But if you’re an adult looking for a good mocktail, it’s a bit too sweet. Here’s how to make a Roy Rodgers, then add a few tweaks to make it more balanced for adult tastes:

• Add ½ ounce of grenadine to 6 ounces of coke and stir. Make sure to mix well or you’ll have a massively sweet first sip.
• Intensify it: Add a squeeze of lemon. Balance all the sweetness with some acidity! A slice of lemon adds brightness here.
• Step up: Fill up with sparkling water! How do you make an even better Roy Rodgers? Top it off with sparkling water, also known as club soda. This makes the flavor more nuanced and interesting, with a more subtle sweetness. But don’t worry, it’s still very cute!

Do you want to intensify it? If you’re okay with a touch of alcohol, add in some bitter cocktail shakes! It gives the finish a nuanced grassy flavor that’s AOK in our book.

Grenadine: Find a quality brand or try homemade

Many people think that grenadine has a cherry flavor, but it’s actually made from pomegranate! Grenadine is a red bar syrup named for pomegranate in French (grenade). Many syrups these days contain artificial colors and sugar, so it’s good to look for an all-natural brand if you can.

• Look for an all-natural grenadine at your local liquor store. Keep in mind that it’s not as bright red as the artificial kind. This shouldn’t be a problem with the Roy Rodgers drink as it’s a dark color.
• Or make homemade grenadine! It’s easy to make at home and it’s beautiful. Pomegranate seeds get the best bright red color and flavor.

More classic mocktail recipes

Roy Rodgers drink is pretty much the 1950s soda fountain you can get! (Of course, the word mocktail wasn’t even coined back then.) Looking for more mocktails? Here are some other great ones and twists on the classic

When to serve a Roy Rodgers drink

Roy Rodgers Drink is a fizzy and light mocktail; It’s perfect for sipping as: