Roy Rogers
A sweet, refreshing and bubbly cocktail ∙ Build ∙ 2 min ∙
The Roy Rogers is a non-alcoholic highball of cola and grenadine, built over ice and garnished with a lime wedge.
Ingredients
1
Servings
Garnish
Instructions for 1 serving
- Pre-chill a glass
- Pour into the ice-filled glass: Grenadine syrup 10 mlCola 120 ml
- Briefly stir
- Garnish with a lime wedge
Tips
- Pour the grenadine over the ice first, then top with cold cola; one brief stir mixes it without knocking out the fizz.
History
The Roy Rogers is a non-alcoholic soda-fountain drink of cola and grenadine syrup that originated in the 1940s. It takes its name from the popular American singing cowboy actor Roy Rogers, 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 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. 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?
Cola and grenadine syrup, about 120 ml cola to 10 ml grenadine, over ice with a lime wedge. It is entirely non-alcoholic, a common kid-friendly order at bars and diners.
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 flavor.
What is the boy version of Shirley Temple called?
A Roy Rogers, the cola-and-grenadine counterpart to the Shirley Temple.
How do you make the best Roy Rogers?
Start with cold, fresh cola, since there is little else in the glass to hide behind. Pour the grenadine over the ice first, top with the cola, and give it one brief stir so it keeps its fizz.