| I’m used to getting odd looks. I’m always saying something inappropriate in mixed company. I once wore my pajamas to school because I was late. According to my wife, I can’t even master the relatively simple task of matching my shoes to my outfit. Still, nothing gets me more raised eyebrows than sidling up to the bar at a local watering hole and ordering a Shirley Temple. Seriously. What is this 32-year-old man doing ordering a drink usually reserved for eight-year-old girls?
The answer is simple. As a non-drinker, I get tired of drinking water while everyone else has fancy cocktails. Sure, I could drink Coke all night, but if there’s an open bar, my addictive personality will ensure a sugar and caffeine overload of epic proportions. A Shirley Temple is vibrant, sweet and tast,y and it usually only takes one to satisfy me. Some might argue that the reason I only need one is that since this drink is designed for kids, the sweetness is enough to kill a normal adult. In some cases that’s true, but while it is a relatively simple drink to make, they are not all created equal.
A standard-issue Shirley Temple is an almost even mix of citrus juice (usually orange) and 7-Up or Sprite with a few drops of grenadine for colour – essentially an alcohol-free Singapore sling. (Singapore sling drinkers are also known to get odd looks from the bartenders.) Of course, as is the case with most drinks, every bartender has their own approach and that’s where finding a good Shirley Temple becomes interesting. Subtle modifications make all the difference. Does it come with a garnish? How much ice is there? What shape of glass is it served in? All these variables came into play when I hit the town in search of the perfect drink, and even after drinking Shirley Temples for more than two decades, I was in for a few surprises.
· The baseline – ABC Country Restaurant. Not surprisingly, family restaurants often serve a standard Shirley Temple. This is where most kids are introduced to the drink and, as such, ABC goes heavy on the grenadine. As a kid, you loved the sweet, but as an adult you want something with a bit more sophistication (or at least less sugar).
· The bank breaker – The Palliser Hotel. At $4.25, this was the most expensive stop on the tour. The surroundings are lovely, the service is fantastic, but for the price, it doesn’t taste any better than anywhere else.
· The sugar coma – J-Bar (Chinook). Joey Tomato’s might be a great place for pasta, chips and artichoke dip, but when it comes to Shirley Temples it has to reign in the grenadine. My drinking partner says it’s was like drinking cough syrup. I have a sweet tooth, and it was too much even for me.
· The Swashbuckler – The Marquee Room. This proved to be a tangy rendition of a classic, but the venue earns bonus points for serving it with two cherries skewered on a small plastic sword. Fun and fruity.
· The very close second – Ming. Bartender Matthew Swann says he actually enjoys serving non-alcoholic drinks, and it shows. Garnished with cherries and oranges, this Shirley Temple comes with a splash of mango. It’s a tasty trick that sets this drink apart from the rest.
· The two-way tie for first – Brewster’s (Lake Bonavista Promenade) and Bungalow. I’ll admit I’m totally shocked at how good Brewster’s Shirley Temple is. Given its neighbourhood pub feel and its back-to-basics approach, I was expecting the usual. Adding a generous splash of lime juice to the drink cut the sweetness of the grenadine considerably, making for a rather refreshing drink. Bungalow employs the same tactic, and if I had to choose between the two, Bungalow would edge out ahead simply because it garnishes the drink with a cranberry. Nice touch. |
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