Cherry red Shirley Temple is nostalgic, quick and easy to make, and appeals to the sober and curious crowd.
Will Shirley Temples return in 2026?
USA TODAY reporter Greta Cross tried three prebiotic soda brands that released Shirley Temple-inspired drinks.
2026 just might be the year of Shirley Temples.
The nearly 100-year-old mocktail, traditionally made with ginger ale, grenadine, and cherries, appears to be making a comeback. Just in time for Dry January, prebiotic soda brands Olipop and Poppi have launched Shirley Temple Drink, inspired by the classic cherry and citrus mocktail. And they join a line of Shirley Temple-inspired drinks from brands like 7-Up, Spindrift, Fitz, and Boylan, along with other prebiotic sodas like Slice and Bloom Pop.
There are also a number of brands exclusive to Shirley Temple, including Just Call Me Shirley, which offers non-alcoholic and alcoholic options, and Dirty Shirley, which offers varying levels of alcoholic beverages.
Shirley Temple is having a moment for several reasons. Vance Henderson, U.S. national brand ambassador for Hendrick’s Gin, told USA TODAY that these gins evoke nostalgia, appeal to a growing cool-minded and curious market, are quick to make, easy to customize, and can be dressed up or down for any occasion.
In the age of social media, the mocktail’s bright cherry red color also appeals to digital audiences.
“It’s fun. It reminds me of something rounded and sweet,” Henderson continued. “It’s colorful. Social media loves color. It stands out more than a gin and tonic or a martini.”
Why is Shirley Temple so popular now?
Shirley Temple is just nostalgic, Henderson said. This mocktail holds special memories for many, including Henderson himself, who was taken to a family wedding he attended when he was in elementary school.
“I was about 7 or 8 years old walking up to the bar and shaking my fist at Shirley Temple,” Henderson said with a laugh. “I remember like it was yesterday that moment when I was on the dance floor with my older aunts and uncles, holding drinks and asking for an extra cherry, as if asking for something naughty.”
Mr. Henderson described Shirley Temple, or Dirty Shirley, an alcoholic beverage, as a “plug-and-play” drink because its ingredients can be easily swapped out.
You can use homemade pomegranate juice instead of store-bought grenadine, or carbonated water as a base instead of ginger ale. And for Dirty Shirley, you can substitute a variety of spirits, including vodka, gin, tequila, and vermouth. This drink is versatile and does not require expensive equipment or hard-to-find ingredients.
Finally, and very simply, Shirley Temple fits smoothly into the ongoing trend of sober and curious, which is especially popular among young people.
What is the origin of the name Shirley Temple Drink?
This mocktail is named after the late actress, singer, and politician Shirley Temple Black, who gained widespread popularity as a child star in the 1930s. The mocktail’s exact origins remain unclear, but some believe it was created at Chasen’s, a Hollywood restaurant frequented by celebrities from the 1930s until it closed in the mid-’90s, according to a 1995 Newsweek article. While eating at a restaurant with her parents, Ms. Black begs for her delicious drink, and the bartender whips it up and names it after her.
But other establishments are also trying to make mocktail claims, including Los Angeles’ defunct Brown Derby Restaurant and Honolulu’s Royal Hawaiian Hotel.
The drink’s origins suggest it may have been created for her, but Black was not interested in a brand trademarking the name Shirley Temple. Throughout the 1980s, she filed several lawsuits against soft drink companies seeking to take away her name, alleging invasion of her privacy.
“I’m going to fight like a tigress,” Black said at the time, according to the New York Times. “All a celebrity has is a name.”
“Shirley Temple” was last trademarked by Shirley’s World LP, an organization dedicated to preserving Black heritage.
Where can I buy Shirley Temple soda and carbonated water?
Want to get your hands on a pre-made Shirley Temple?Here’s where you can find it.
- Poppi Shirley Temple: Permanent on Poppi’s website and at Walmart, Kroger and Amazon, and coming soon to Target, Publix and other retailers
- Olipop Shirley Temple: Olipop website, Walmart, Target, Kroger, Albertsons, and Amazon until the end of March
- Bloom Pop Shirley Temple: Bloom Nutrition Website, Walmart, Target, Amazon, Kroger, Albertsons, HEB, Myers, Publix, Wegmans
- Slice Shirley Temple’s Healthy Soda. Sliced Soda Website and Target
- Spindrift Soda Shirley Temple: Spindrift website, Amazon, and some retailers
Watch USA TODAY reporter Greta Cross try Shirley Temple’s soda in the video at the top of this article.
How to make Shirley Temple at home
To easily make classic Shirley Temple at home, Serious Eats recommends:
- 1 cup lemon-lime soda, such as ginger ale or Sprite
- 2 tablespoons grenadine
- Maraschino cherries and lemon wedges for garnish (optional)
For those interested in adding alcohol, New York Times Cooking recommends the following recipe.
- 2 ounces vodka
- 1 ounce grenadine
- 8 ounces lemon-lime soda (such as Sprite or 7Up)
- 1 maraschino cherry for garnish
- Serve over ice
Greta Cross is USA TODAY’s national trends reporter. Story ideas? Email her at gcross@usatoday.com.
