...that there should be a drink, consisting of 7-Up, grenadine, and some kind of alcohol (probably rum) called the "Shirley Temple Black". This would be an example of the back-formation of a drink: instead of the usual process whereby a "virgin" drink is derived from an alcoholic drink by leaving out the liquor, in this case a new alcoholic drink would be created by adding liquor to a soft drink. A Shirley Temple Black should therefore not include a cherry.
October 22, 2005
Nice.
Posted by: eric morse | October 23, 2005 at 04:42 AM
Awesome. I love the "This I Believe" series. More! More!
Posted by: Bridget | October 23, 2005 at 09:19 AM
Yes, funny! But I'm sorry about being picky - virgin drinks themselves are the backformations. Also, drink recipes may differ, but the alcoholic Shirley Temple you describe sounds like a Singapore Sling (which has orange juice, but where I come from, so do Shirley Temples).
Posted by: Bob K | October 27, 2005 at 11:17 AM
Gah! Orange juice in a Shirley Temple? That's just...wrong.
Posted by: The Wife | October 27, 2005 at 06:39 PM
Noo i agree. where i am from we all put orange juice in our shirley temples... it tastes so much better.
Posted by: MC | April 26, 2006 at 10:40 AM
i prefer my shirley temples with vodka and a cherry. when i order at the bar i just call them a "vodka shirley temple," and the bartender usually figures it out--7up/sprite, grenadine and vodka. yum!
Posted by: jodie | September 21, 2006 at 05:46 PM