Roy Rogers Drink

Few mixed drinks are as universally appealing and simple as the famous Roy Rogers. This nonalcoholic drink is little more than dressing up a tall glass of cola, though it's so refreshing and tasty that it's sure to please everyone.

Along with the Shirley Temple, the Roy Rogers is an old-fashioned soda shop drink. Even as soda fountains closed, they remained ingrained in American culture. You could order these nonalcoholic mixed drinks at nearly any bar or restaurant long before the term "mocktails" was used.

Though it's sometimes called a cherry cola, the Roy Rogers is not cherry flavored. Good grenadine is actually flavored with pomegranate. It adds a fruity sweetness to the average cola and there are a few things you can do to make the drink just a little better.

Which Cola Makes the Best Roy Rogers?

It's very easy to reach a can of Coca-Cola or Pepsi when it is time to make a Roy Rogers. While convenient, both are already very sugary and do not really need to be sweetened any further. As an alternative, look for sodas that use the actual kola nut that gave this style of soda its name. Like an old-fashioned cola, they tend to have a drier, less sweet taste, ideal for a little grenadine enhancement. Sodas sweetened with pure cane sugar rather than high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) are excellent choices as well.

What Is Grenadine Made Of?

Grenadine is a nonalcoholic fruit syrup that is common in the bar. It is essential for the Roy Rogers and Shirley Temple as well as cocktails like the tequila sunrise. Its bright red color has led many drinkers to assume that it's flavored with cherries and some brands use artificial cherry flavoring. However, pomegranate is the base for real grenadine. Just like simple syrup, grenadine is a very easy drink mixer to make at home. It can be made from fresh pomegranates when they are in season during the winter months. In the off-season, pick up a bottle of pomegranate juice and mix it with sugar to create your own grenadine.

Who Was Roy Rogers?

Known as King of the Cowboys, Roy Rogers is one of the most recognized cowboys in the world. His career began in 1935 as a member of the Western singing group, Sons of the Pioneers. Before the 1940s, he became the star of his own movies. He often appeared with Dale Evans who became his wife in 1947 and his horse, Trigger, was almost as popular as the cowboy himself. Rogers' majestic singing voice, charm, and good guy persona were portrayed in all of his movies and TV shows. In total, he made almost 100 films, ending with an appearance in the 1984 "King of the Cowboys" episode on the TV show "The Fall Guy." Roy Rogers passed away in July of 1998.

What You'll Need to Make This Roy Rogers Recipe

A Great Jigger

A Nice Collins Glass

A Sleek Barspoon