Roy Rogers
Build ∙ 2 min ∙
The Roy Rogers is a non-alcoholic highball of cola and grenadine, built over ice as the kid-friendly counterpart to a whiskey and cola. Fizzy cola sweetness carries a syrupy pomegranate undertone from the grenadine, finishing clean and light with no bitterness or bite.
Ingredients
1
Servings
Garnish
Instructions for 1 serving
- Pre-chill a glass
- Pour into the ice-filled glass: Grenadine syrup 10 ml and Cola 120 ml
- Briefly stir
- Garnish with a lime wedge
Tips
- Pre-chill the glass so the cola stays fizzy longer instead of losing carbonation against warm glass.
- Stir only briefly — a few seconds is enough to blend the grenadine without knocking the fizz out of the cola.
- Pour the grenadine in before the cola so it settles at the bottom for a layered look before stirring.
History
The Roy Rogers is a non-alcoholic soda-fountain drink of cola and grenadine syrup, topped with a maraschino cherry, that originated in the 1940s. It takes its name from the popular American singing cowboy actor Roy Rogers, born Leonard Franklin Slye, who was known for his clean-cut, teetotaling image; sources agree the drink was likely named for him because he did not drink alcohol, though there is no evidence he had any hand in creating it or that he actually favored it.
The drink is closely tied to the Shirley Temple, an earlier mocktail of ginger ale or lemon-lime soda and grenadine associated with the child star of the same name. The Roy Rogers essentially swaps in cola for a darker, more carbonated variant, and by the 1950s and 1960s it was commonly served as a boyish counterpart to the pink, girl-associated Shirley Temple at soda fountains. Its exact inventor remains undocumented, and some accounts suggest it may simply have been an existing soda-fountain drink rebranded with the cowboy star's name rather than an entirely new creation.
FAQ
What's in a Roy Rogers cocktail?
A Roy Rogers is cola and grenadine syrup, built over ice in a highball glass and garnished with a lime wedge. It is entirely non-alcoholic, with no spirit base, making it a common kid-friendly order at bars and diners alike.
What's the difference between a Roy Rogers and a Shirley Temple?
A Roy Rogers is cola and grenadine, while a Shirley Temple is made with ginger ale or lemon-lime soda instead of cola. Both are non-alcoholic and share the grenadine sweetness, but the Roy Rogers has cola's darker, less sweet profile.
What is the boy version of Shirley Temple called?
It is called a Roy Rogers, made with cola and grenadine instead of the ginger ale or lemon-lime soda used in a Shirley Temple. Both are non-alcoholic drinks traditionally served to children, garnished with a cherry or, in this build, a lime wedge.
How do you make the best Roy Rogers?
Build it in a pre-chilled highball glass over ice, pour the grenadine in first, then top with cola and stir only briefly to keep the fizz. Finish with a lime wedge; using well-chilled, fresh cola makes the biggest difference in quality since there is little else to hide behind.