The Shirley Temple might be the most famous mocktail ever made. Named after the child actress in the 1930s, it has been the go-to non-alcoholic drink at restaurants and bars for nearly a century. The appeal is simple: sweet grenadine, bubbly soda, and a bright cherry on top. It looks like a cocktail, it feels like a cocktail, and it tastes better than most of them.
A drink that gets better with good ingredients
Most people grew up drinking Shirley Temples made with bottled grenadine that was little more than corn syrup and red dye. The difference between that and a version made with real pomegranate grenadine is striking. Liber & Co. makes a grenadine with cold-pressed pomegranate juice and orange blossom water that turns this from a kid’s drink into something you’d happily order at a cocktail bar.
The cherry matters too. Standard bright-red maraschino cherries work fine, but Luxardo cherries bring a deeper, more complex sweetness. They’re the same cherries you’ll find in high-end cocktail bars, and they make the whole drink feel more intentional.
Getting the ratio right
The classic split of half ginger ale and half lemon-lime soda gives you the best of both worlds. Ginger ale adds a dry, slightly spicy note. Lemon-lime soda brings sweetness and citrus. If you prefer one over the other, you can use all ginger ale for a less sweet version or all lemon-lime soda for a sweeter one.
One ounce of grenadine is a good starting point. Pour it slowly over the back of a spoon and it will sink to the bottom, giving you that signature sunrise gradient from deep red to golden. Stir it in, or leave it layered and let your guests mix it themselves.
When to serve it
The Shirley Temple works at almost any occasion. It’s the obvious choice for a holiday party where you need something non-alcoholic guests can grab without feeling left out. It’s equally at home at a summer barbecue, a bridal shower, or alongside dinner on a Tuesday night. If you want to try more recipes that come together this quickly, have a look at the Gin and Tonic or the Screwdriver.
