Rowdy ROY ROGERS COCKTAIL with an Adult Twist

Yesterday was my birthday and I wanted a fun drink to go with the new wine glass my friend Melodieann sent me for my birthday, but I wanted a cocktail instead of wine.   Something, probably the bright colors and playful designs on the glass, brought to mind a children's drink, the Roy Rogers. This classic non-alcoholic kid "cocktail" was a parental dining out appeasement for the kiddies made with cola mixed with Maraschino cherry syrup (or Grenadine) and garnished with that neon cherry the tykes loved for its bright red color and high sugar content. It was the boy's version of a Shirley Temple and, as a tomboy youngster who loved all the cowboy serials on TV, my preferred virgin cocktail choice.   I figured why not try to recapture a bit of childhood at my advanced age? A birthday in the 60s deserves a little injection of youthful high spirits and joy. I could definitely use it and the wine glass was certainly large enough to accommodate a tall drink. The only difference between my new birthday glass and a typical Roy Rogers glass was a stem and, hey, I'm old enough at this point for the fancy glass, right?  

  However, because I'm not a kid anymore and I needed a tad more than just a sugar rush from the soda, I decided it needed a little bourbon, an adult upgrade of the maraschino cherry syrup and a few of drops of bitters to balance out the sweetness of the cola.   Worked out perfectly. I almost feel like a kid again. Happy Birthday to me. Yippee-Ki-Yay.  

  The ROWDY ROY ROGERS Cocktail   INGREDIENTS 2 Oz. Buffalo Trace Bourbon 1/2 Oz. Luxardo Maraschino Liqueur 2 Dashes Cherry Bitters 1 Dash Angostura bitters 4 Oz. Cola   Garnish: Luxardo Maraschino Cherry   DIRECTIONS Chill glass. Add the bourbon, Maraschino liqueur and the bitters to a chilled glass filled with ice then stir. Too off with cola, garnish and serve. Happy Trails, Buckaroos!  

  PLEASE DRINK RESPONSIBLY