Featured Image Credit: Getty stock images
Topics: Food and Drink, US News
Jess Hardiman
Everyone’s got their favourite cocktail, whether it’s a spicy marg to get the party started or an espresso martini to give you that all-important buzz when you’re flagging slightly.
But there’s a drink one bartender is warning people away from, saying there’s a key reason why people should probably just stop ordering them.
It’s actually a popular alcohol-free number, although the lack of booze isn’t why she’s discouraging anyone from going for it.
Yep, the Shirley Temple is beloved among tee-totallers and designated drivers alike, traditionally being a heavenly concoction of grenadine, soda (such as ginger ale) and maraschino cherry.
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But asking for one at a bar could end up being a mistake, according to HellQueen Cocktails (@hellqueencocktails).
In a TikTok video, she addressed the hype around a viral Shirley Temple that people have been fawning over at a pizza restaurant in Arizona, urging them not to buy into the hype – though not because of anything the bar’s doing wrong, but in relation to the nature of the drink itself.
“If you’ve never worked in a restaurant, you might not be aware that most restaurants have all the exact same ingredients,” she said in a TikTok video.
“There are really only two major food suppliers, and most restaurants get their ingredients from these two purveyors. So all of their basic ingredients are basically the same."
Amici’s in Arizona went viral after sharing its recipe for the mocktail, although HellQueen Cocktails was clear to point out that her gripe wasn’t with the bar itself - in fact, she even defended it.
The bartender continued: “This is no shade towards Amici’s or anyone reviewing them.
“But everyone’s been going crazy over these Shirley Temples, and I’m just like… That’s the exact same grenadine and the same Sprite out of a gun that every other restaurant has.
“That’s the same Shirley Temple you’ve been getting your whole life. It’s literally the exact same - I promise you."
Many people couldn’t help but agree with her, with one commenting: “Thank youuuu this drives me nuts. Unless it’s house made, your getting variations of [American wholesale company] Sysco.”
Someone else said: “I love Amici’s, but they just get their stuff from Restaurant Depot.”
But HellQueen Cocktails replied: “Which, there’s nothing wrong with that. If we should be throwing shade at anyone, it should be the consumer.”
Many others also agreed that it was right to let Amici's 'have their moment' - which, thankfully, seems to be happening, with the bar saying 2024 was 'the year of the Shirley' for them, seeing them enjoying 'record breaking sales' with queues round the block.
Tyla has reached out to Amici's for comment... although by the sounds of it, they're pretty tied up right now serving all those happy customers!