7Up Just Launched a Limited-Edition Flavor of My All-Time Favorite Mixed Drink (It’s 100x Better than the Original)
Certain drinks carry a sort of nostalgia for novelty, and others are timeless. Shirley Temple is one of those classic drinks that carry both. Grenadine, soda, and maraschino cherries — that’s all it takes to make an excellent Shirley Temple. So when 7UP shared it was releasing a limited-edition Shirley Temple soda flavor, I couldn’t wait to try it.
When I first heard of the launch, I thought it was pure genius. As someone who always enjoyed a Shirley Temple made with lemon-lime soda — especially Sprite or 7UP — this seemed like a natural evolution. Since its debut, the new flavor has generated considerable buzz on Instagram. Now that I’ve finally gotten my hands on some, the big question remains: Can the magic of a Shirley Temple truly be captured in a can?
What You Should Know About 7UP Shirley Temple
The 7UP Shirley Temple hit retailers on October 15, and is part of the brand’s limited-time holiday collection through December 31. I was surprised to learn this is the first ready-to-drink Shirley Temple to hit shelves, until a coworker pointed out that the celebrity Shirley Temple reportedly never liked the drink herself and actually took efforts to sue companies exploiting her name. We reached out to 7UP for comment, but haven’t heard back.
7UP Shirley Temple
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$9.99
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7UP’s launch is a twist on the 90-year-old classic, made with a mix of pomegranate and cherry flavoring in addition to the lemon-lime soda. (The brand could easily call it 7UP Pom Cherry, 7UP Twisted Cherry, or literally anything else to avoid any controversy.) It’s caffeine-free and is so red that upon pouring it out of the container I felt maybe even a bit festive?!
The 7UP Shirley Temple is available in original and sugar-free versions. You can pick up 2-liter bottles and 12 packs of cans at Walmart, Target, Instacart, and more until the end of December.
My Honest Review of 7UP Shirley Temple
A good Shirley Temple is dependent on three things: strong maraschino cherry flavor (bonus points for an actual maraschino cherry), heavy carbonation, and a sweetness that’s present, but not too overbearing. I popped open my Shirley Temple can — which made the satisfying carbonation bubbling sound — poured it into a glass (if I had ice I would’ve added), and took a sip.
I felt like a kid again, ordering a Shirley Temple at the local sports bar to feel like a little adult. My first thought was: I can’t believe this is a limited-time release! The cherry juice and pomegranate juice shine through (and if you didn’t know, grenadine is actually concentrated pomegranate syrup), and it’s just so sweet, bubbly, and delicious.
I also tried the zero-sugar canned version, and although it had the same satisfying carbonation, look, and general taste as the full-sugar one I could taste the aspartame (artificial sweetener). It, like diet soda, just isn’t for me!
I’m absolutely picking up a few more cases of the 7UP Shirley Temple before it leaves shelves at the end of the year. In fact, I’m already planning to make a handful of Dirty Shirleys by adding an ounce or two of vodka.
Buy: 7Up Shirley Temple , $9.99 for 12 (12-ounce) cans at Instacart
Have you tried the new 7UP Shirley Temple? Tell us about it in the comments below.
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