Non-alcoholic recipe
Roy Rogers
Cola, grenadine and a small pour of lime make a cherry-garnished highball with a brighter finish than the usual soda-fountain version.
Ingredients
- 150 ml cola
- 15 ml grenadine
- 5 ml fresh lime juice
Preparation
Fill a highball glass with fresh cubed ice. Add 15 ml grenadine and 5 ml freshly squeezed lime juice. Top slowly with 150 ml chilled cola. Stir once from the bottom without flattening the carbonation, then garnish with a cocktail cherry.
Glassware
Highball glass over cubed ice
Garnish
1 cocktail cherry
History
This American cola-and-grenadine mocktail takes its name from entertainer Roy Rogers and is widely described as a mid-century counterpart to the Shirley Temple. A specific inventor, original venue and first recorded serving date have not been substantiated; the fresh-lime addition is Mixology’s modern variation.
Mixology View
Lime sharpens cola’s sweet vanilla-and-spice character without obscuring the grenadine. Cola caffeine and syrup sweetness vary by product; the flavour assessment is desk-estimated rather than tasted.
Ingredient note
Cola usually contains caffeine. Choose caffeine-free cola if needed. Some cocktail cherries contain sulphites and may contain pits; check the selected garnish label and remove any pits before serving.