We’re delighted to introduce our first non-alcoholic serve; the Shirley Temple. The world’s most iconic ‘virgin’ cocktail, now bottled by the Black Lines team.
Think nostalgia with a cherry on top. Striped straws with a feeling of belonging. Cheekiness in a cocktail sling as big as a child’s grin. Effervescent, indulgent and outrageous… all in one big slurp. Our Black Lines bottled Shirley Temple combines Grenadine, Ginger Ale, Raspberry Soda, Fresh Lemon, Blood Orange and a dash of Bitters. The final serve delivers sweet red berries and ginger on the nose, a crisp mouthfeel and a long, aromatic finish.
After much debate and exploration, we all fell in love with the idea of creating a serve that spoke for itself. A drink to be craved in its own right, sans alcohol.
So, why the Shirley Temple?
When it came to choosing our first non-alcoholic bottled cocktail, it took careful consideration among the team. After much debate and exploration, we all fell in love with the idea of creating a serve that spoke for itself. A drink to be craved in its own right, sans alcohol. No hiding behind imitation, no “No-gronis”.
Then the penny dropped: The Shirley Temple. A drink purposefully built to deliver the same theatre and excitement of a cocktail, built with equivalent care for its ingredients and delivered with such pomp and flare, that really, the absence of alcohol becomes inconsequential.
The story behind the Shirley Temple.
Legend has it that the original was invented by the bar staff at Chasen’s restaurant in 1930s West Hollywood - Old Hollywood Personified - to serve the child starlet, Shirley Temple, as she rubbed shoulders with older celebrities, actors and actresses.
The original combination of Grenadine, Ginger Ale and Lemonade formed the basis of our take but also gave us a platform from which to elaborate. The result: the Black Lines Shirley Temple. A complex and refreshing serve that includes our own house made Raspberry Soda, Fresh Lemon, Blood Orange and a kiss of Bitters. To serve her best in all her Hollywood glory; pour into a sling glass over cubed ice, garnish with a slice of fresh orange and add one final touch: a maraschino cherry.
A charismatic new character in the family: the Maraschino Cherry illustration.
As you’ll know by now, Black Lines has a soft spot for working with emerging artists and illustrators. Brighton based artist Alex Khabbazi was the target for this iconic serve. This time, there’s one star of the show: the Maraschino cherry. With a background in architecture and structured graphical artwork, we let his illustrative instinct run wild to conceive our Maraschino cherry character for the Shirley Temple. Combining textural printing techniques with joyous, zestful shading, we have been gifted a charismatic new member of the family, oozing with aspiration and energy.
However Dry you’re planning your January to be, it doesn’t have to be boring.
Head here to make the Black Lines Shirley Temple yours.
