Give it a gentle stir before sipping to ensure that the flavors blend. Like in a Tequila Sunrise, a gentle stir means all the pretty colors but a balanced flavor.
Variations
It's easy to change up a Dirty Shirley Cocktail to make it really sing!
Coke - I always prefer a Cherry Coke to a Cherry Sprite, so I would skip the lemon-lime soda and make it with Coke instead!
Herbs - When something is sweet (on account of the grenadine and soda), I like to add in some herbs as a counterpoint. Some basil or rosemary would be quite nice in this. You can either muddle it in the glass with vodka before adding ice or just garnish it with it. Clap the fresh herbs between your hands before putting in the glass to lightly bruise it and release the fragrance.
Orange Juice - Make it a Dirty Shirley Sunrise by adding orange juice. A Vodka Sunrise is one of my most popular posts and this is just slightly different.
Spritz - Make it a spritz by using half lemon-lime soda and half sparkling wine.
Flavored Vodka - Use flavored vodka like citrus or vanilla for a slight twist on the flavor.
Frozen - Blend it up with ice in a high-powered blender for a frosty treat!
Another Liquor - Like with most tasty cocktail classics, swapping in a different liquor is a quick and easy way to make something feel new. For example, try a Vodka Mojito, a Tequila Gimlet or a Vodka Margarita.