For fans of The Crown, no it is not a certain monarch, but the precocious child actor, for whom the Californian mocktail was first concocted! The reference to royalty notwithstanding, Shirley Temple became a very popular non-alcoholic beverage in America, among kids and adults alike for its fruity punch and the pairing of ginger ale with grenadine syrup. 

The origins of the Shirley Temple can be traced to Chasen’s, a restaurant in Beverley Hills where the bartender mixed a non-alcoholic drink for the child actor when she visited this iconic spot. Shirley Temple further evolved through the mid-20th century as a kid-friendly drink to mimic the look of a cocktail without actually adding spirits.

Temple was a beloved actor during this period, adored as much for her curls and her movies, like Heidi and The Little Colonel as she was later on, for her work as an American politician and diplomat. Her fame spread across continents so much so that the mocktail was actually crafted as a vibrant, fruity drink symbolising the innocence of childhood. The recognition and stardom that Temple enjoyed also contributed to the increasing popularity of the eponymous mocktail. More than eight decades later, the drink has endured as a nostalgic ode to a star of bygone times. 

Numerous variations of the mocktail have come up over time, which mix several fruits and syrups into ginger ale or lime juice. However, the classic recipe involves a few ingredients which pack a punch and become an explosion of sweet and tangy flavours favoured by children.

One of the crucial ingredients required to make a Shirley Temple is the grenadine syrup, made from pomegranate juice, lemon juice and sugar. If you are planning on hosting a birthday party, you can easily create homemade grenadine syrup using these staples for infusing a Shirley Temple with its signature tartness and citrusy notes.

The fizzy mocktail carries a fruity goodness enhanced by maraschino cherries, a garnish made from sweetened cherries which adds to the overall syrupy texture of the drink. Using generous helpings of ginger ale or lemon-lime syrup can balance the overbearing saccharine notes of grenadine and fruits to add an appropriately sharp but non-alcoholic zest to the mocktail. Many times, orange slices are also used as a garnish for a citrusy layer, making it tangier and more alluring for kids. 

If you are hosting a children’s party, stir up a jug of Shirley Temple because it is sure to quickly become a favourite drink among kids. 

Here is a recipe to make a spectacularly fruity and fizzy batch of the famed mocktail: