Roy Rogers Drink – A Beautiful Mess

I’ve been learning to make every type of mocktail—on a quest to try them all and become the best hostess ever! If you have ever loved a Shirley Temple, you will love a Roy Rogers drink.

Similar to the Shirley Temple it’s simply a lot more fun to order a drink named after a famous actor than a basic cola with grenadine. Roy Rogers, known as King of the Cowboys, called this one of his favorite drinks. The Roy Rogers mocktail is a non-alcoholic mixed drink that tastes like a cherry coke.

Related: Shirley Temple Drink, Butterbeer, Virgin Mojito, Arnold Palmer, Wendy’s Frosty, Cherry Limeade, Homemade Fruit Punch, Agua Fresca and Easy Homemade Grenadine.

Roy Rogers Drink – A Brief History

The Roy Rogers drink has always been an alcohol-free drink, and it’s a drink you could have ordered at an old-fashioned soda shop.

The famous mocktail was named after Roy Rogers, who acted in western films and musical cowboy movies in the 1940s and 1950s. Roy Rogers didn’t drink alcohol, so it makes sense that he had a soda drink named after him.

The drink originally became famous in 1950s soda shops and in time has become an iconic mocktail to order when you want a fun drink that doesn’t contain alcohol.

Like the Shirley Temple, it’s a fun sounding drink to order to feel fancy (something my 5- and 8-year-old daughters love to do in restaurants!). Let yourself feel fancy, we say!

What is in a Roy Rogers Drink?

• Cola – I used Coca-Cola since it’s classic and so delicious. You can also choose a sugar free or organic cola if you like.
• Grenadine Syrup – You can buy grenadine syrup at many stores, and we also have an easy recipe to make your own grenadine (it’s a syrup made with pomegranate juice that is a bright red color).
• Maraschino Cherry – A must! Use one or a few.
• Ice Cubes Pebble or crushed ice is perfect if you have it.

The best glassware option to serve a Roy Rogers in is a collins glass or a highball glass. I also love to use glass straws for my homemade drinks.

How to Mix a Roy Rogers

Fill a cup with ice and add half an ounce of grenadine to one ounce if you want it very sweet.

Pour cola to top it off. Give it a gentle stir with a straw to mix.

Garnish with a nice bright red maraschino cherry and your work here is done. Enjoy!

Tips for Making

• Add lime To make a more balanced version add just half an ounce of grenadine and the juice of half a lime. This will balance some of the sweetness with acidity and you will taste a bit more tartness.
• Fresh mint Add fresh mint as a garnish to enhance the sensory experience of this soda drink.
• Roy Rogers cocktail If you are dead set on turning this into a cocktail, keep the lime and add two ounces of dark rum, whiskey or vodka. You can use a shot of liquor of your choosing. If you add a shot of vodka Roy Rogers himself may not approve, but we won’t judge.
• Organic Cola If you want to make a healthier version with less sugar, try substituting cola for a prebiotic drink such as Olipop or Poppi.

More Recipes to Try:

• Pizza– Deep Dish Pizza Recipe, Chocolate Chip Pizza, Pizza Dough, Pizza Sauce
• Appetizers– Pinwheel Sandwiches, 30+ Finger Foods for a Party
• Non-Alcoholic Drinks– We love an easy mocktail! Orange Julius, Pumpkin Juice, Italian Soda, Bubble Tea, Root Beer Float, More Mocktail Recipes.
• Desserts– Kool-Aid Pie, Chocolate Cake Pops, Chocolate Covered Strawberries

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