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Home » Beverages » Cold Drinks

Roy Rogers Drink

Published: Nov 15, 2019 · Modified: Apr 28, 2021 by Brooke · This post may contain affiliate links, which can earn us a commission.

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Craving something different to drink tonight with your children at supper?  Try making a Roy Rogers.  It's non-alcoholic, plus it's super simple. It's a perfect recipe to make with your children, as it only takes 4 ingredients.  Trust me, the kid in you will love it just as much as your children will.

If you love drinks for kids, make sure to check out our Shirley Temple recipe and our Arnold Palmer.

two Roy Rogers with maraschino cherries and Coke bottles
Jump to:
  • About
  • Ingredients
  • How to Make
  • Recipe FAQs
  • Expert Tips
  • Recipe
  • Roy Rogers Drink
  • Comments

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About

Roy Rogers was a famous American actor and singer who was filmed in over 100 movies, mostly Westerns made in the 1940's.  He is known as the King of the Cowboys.  This drink is named after him.  No one really knows the complete history behind this drink, but since he didn't drink alcohol, it seems fitting that this beverage be named after him. 

This beverage became popular on restaurant menus across the U.S. in the 1950's along with the Shirley Temple.  Back then parents would order a Roy Rogers for their sons  and a Shirley Temple for their daughters.  These two beverages were the original 'mocktails.'

Ingredients

ingredients for Roy Rogers

Gather the ingredients: original Coca Cola, ice cubes, grenadine, and maraschino cherries with a stem.  If you're feeling nostalgic, buy the cola that comes in the retro glass bottles.  If you do, you'll also need to use a bottle opener, so make sure you have one on hand.

How to Make

person putting ice in a glass and adding grenadine
  1. Fill a 15-ounce highball glass three-quarters full of ice cubes.  I put in 15 ice cubes.
  2. Slowly pour the Coca-Cola over the ice. (It will start to fizz a lot if you pour too quickly.) Pour in the grenadine syrup.
person stirring Roy Rogers

3. Use a long handled spoon and stir to make sure it's mixed well.

4. Add a maraschino cherry with a stem as your garnish.  This drink is so easy to make, let your child have the fun of making it themselves.  To quote Roy Roger himself, "Until we meet again, may the good Lord take a liking to you."

Recipe FAQs

What's the difference between a Roy Rogers and a Shirley Temple?

Let's start by talking about their similarities. They both are made in a highball glass with ice, have grenadine syrup, and are garnished with a maraschino cherry. The differences are in the kind of soda used. Shirley Temple uses a lemon lime soda or ginger ale, and a Roy Rogers uses cola. Shirley Temples can also have orange juice in them, and can also be garnished with an orange wedge, wheel, or curl.

What does a Roy Rogers taste like?

Roy Rogers have a sweet and salty taste. Coca Cola by itself has a lot of salt, so naturally it would taste a bit salty. If you aren't a fan of Coca Cola, you might like a Roy Rogers since the grenadine syrup will make this beverage taste sweet.
Many people think it tastes similar to a cherry coke. Maybe you have tried a Coca-Cola Cherry, Pepsi Wild Cherry, or Cherry RC and like that taste. If you do, you'll love this. The funny thing about a Roy Rogers is there is no cherry juice in it, only grenadine.

What goes in a Roy Rogers drink?

It consists of two ingredients: Coca Cola and grenadine. This drink is often served over ice and garnished with a maraschino cherry.

What is the male version of a Shirley Temple?

The male version of a Shirley Temple is a Roy Rogers drink.

Expert Tips

  • Allergic to red food dye?  Make your own grenadine syrup.  It takes pomegranate juice, sugar, lemon juice, and orange blossom or rose water.
  • Need to avoid caffeine?  Use caffeine free Coca-Cola.
  • Don't use diet Coke; it tastes better with original Coke.
  • Making this for a lot of kids?  Buy the cheap cherries in a jar, so they can all snack on more than one.
  • Don't pour the Coke to fast over the ice, or it will fizz up and overflow.
  • Measure everything to have a consistently great-tasting drink.

If you like this kid friendly drink recipe, check out these other great recipes to try.

  • Watermelon Slushie Mocktail
  • Virgin Piña Colada
  • 11 Mocktails for New Year's Eve
  • Frozen Virgin Margarita Recipe

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Recipe

glass of Roy Rogers with Coke bottles

Roy Rogers Drink

Looking for an easy, non alcoholic recipe that is both fun to make and drink for your children?  This Roy Rogers drink takes 4 ingredients: cola, grenadine, maraschino cherries, and ice.  This popular drink is commonly served along side a Shirley Temple to please both the boys and the girls at any party.
5 from 2 votes
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Course: Drink
Cuisine: American
Keyword: roy rogers drink, roy rogers drink recipe, roy rogers drink vs shirley temple
Prep Time: 2 minutes
Total Time: 2 minutes
Servings: 1 glass
Calories: 193kcal
Author: Brooke

Ingredients
 

  • 15 ice cubes
  • 8 ounces Coca-Cola
  • 2 tablespoons grenadine
  • 1 maraschino cherry with stem

Instructions

  • Fill a 15-ounce highball glass ¾ of the way full of ice cubes.  This is approximately 15 ice cubes.
  • Slowly pour the Coke over the ice.  You may need to stop pouring if the fizz gets too high in the glass.  If this happens, just wait until the fizz settles down, and resume pouring until all 8 fluid ounces are in the glass.
  • Pour two tablespoons of grenadine into the drink and slowly stir the grenadine into the cola with a long-handled metal spoon.  If you stir to quickly, you'll create more fizz and could have a spill.  Stir for 30 seconds to make sure it's all mixed together.
  • Select a pretty maraschino cherry with a long stem to place on top of the drink.  Insert a fun paper straw.  Serve immediately to prevent the ice cubes from melting and diluting the drink.

Notes

  • If you are allergic to red food dye, make your own grenadine syrup.  Ingredients are pomegranate juice, sugar, lemon juice, and orange blossom or rose water.
  • If you are limiting your caffine, use caffeine free Coca-Cola.
  • This tastes better with original Coke, so forget the Diet kind.
  • Buy the cheap cherries in a jar, so the kids can all snack on more than one.
  • To have a consistently great-tasting drink, measure everything.

Nutrition

Calories: 193kcal (10%)Carbohydrates: 49g (16%)Protein: 1g (2%)Fat: 1g (2%)Sodium: 31mg (1%)Potassium: 16mgSugar: 39g (43%)Calcium: 13mg (1%)Iron: 1mg (6%)

This recipe was originally published on March 22, 2018.

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Alex

    October 16, 2019 at 2:53 pm

    5 stars
    The Coca Cola and the grenadine blend nicely. I enjoy the soft maraschino cherry.

    Reply
    • Emma

      October 19, 2019 at 8:24 am

      The cherry on top is one of my favorite parts!

      Reply
  2. Beth

    October 16, 2019 at 2:26 pm

    5 stars
    Fruity Grenadine combined with classic Coke makes the timeless Roy Rogers. The cherry and ice are an inseparable part part of this delicious drink.

    Reply
    • Emma

      October 19, 2019 at 8:25 am

      I'm glad that you enjoyed the Roy Rogers, Beth! Coke and grenadine is a tasty combination.

      Reply

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