The Shirley Temple

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She sang, danced and smiled her way not only into the hearts of America, but the world during the Great Depression. Her name was Shirley Temple, a pint-sized child actress who was memorialized with a mocktail (i.e. a non-alcoholic mixed drink) supposedly created as a tribute to her in the 1930s.

Now a popular drink for youngsters and teenagers alike, you'll find several variations of its ingredients depending on the region, the restaurant and the bartender. Originally made with two parts ginger ale, one part orange juice, and a small quantity of grenadine. Nowadays, the drink is usually made with lemon-lime soda (e.g. Sprite) with a drizzle of grenadine syrup mixed in and garnished with maraschino cherry.

Referred to as a "kiddie cocktail", it is often served to children to share the experience of having a cocktail when out dining with mom and dad. Alcoholic versions and variations are abundant, especially in playing off of the drink's name, of which we'll list a couple in future articles.

RECIPE: The Shirley Temple

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8 oz lemon-lime soda

1 oz grenadine syrup

1 Maraschino cherry

Instructions:

- fill highball or tall glass with cracked ice

- pour in the lemon-lime soda

- pour in the grenadine syrup

- DO NOT SHAKE OR STIR

- add a Maraschino cherry for garnish

Substitutes/variations:

* use Sprite or 7-Up in lieu of lemon-lime soda

* use a 50/50 mix of ginger ale and lemon-lime soda in lieu of just lemon-lime soda

* a splash of orange juice can be added to taste preference as an option.

Note: The original Shirley Temple drink contained two parts ginger ale, one part orange juice, and a small splash of grenadine. Over the years, the orange juice was being omitted from the drink, except in Canada where they hold true to the original classic mocktail recipe.