At Alings, we serve seven tasty mocktails, including the classic Shirley Temple. Anyone of any age can enjoy a creative, refreshing drink with their Chinese lunch or dinner special.
Are you interested in learning how the mocktail came to be? Here are some historical highlights for this fun and refreshing trend.
It’s older than you think.
The term “mocktail” dates back to 1916, though the concept of the non-alcoholic cocktail is even older, with references dating back to the 1700s. Mocktails have also been known as “Temperance drinks” and “Soft cocktails.”
They skyrocketed in popularity during the Prohibition era (for obvious reasons). Lemonaids were common bar drinks at the time, including orangeades, limeades, ginger lemonades, and even egg lemonades.
Mocktails often included herbs for flavor and were often based on fruit juice. Bartenders and chefs did (and do) create intricate formulas to show off their creativity and their mastery of flavor. Common flavor profiles include sweet, sour, bitter, spicy, and salty. Some even use tannins, cloves, or other astringents to give mocktails the familiar “burning” sensation that comes with drinking alcohol.
Shirley Temples have been popular since the 1930s.
Several restaurants, including Chasen’s, the Brown Derby restaurant, and the Royal Hawaiian Hotel, have claimed credit for directly inventing the drink for the actress. Anecdotes suggest Temple was upset when she saw her parents sipping Old Fashioneds, so a bartender at one of these establishments mixed up a non-alcoholic version just for her.
The drink became a symbol of innocence and fun and was especially popular during the Great Depression era. Cheery and cheap, it was the perfect drink to help cash-strapped households forget their troubles for a moment.
You can order Shirley Temples at many restaurants, but they’re especially popular at Chinese restaurants like Alings, so we included them on our menu!
Trending Since 2018
Gen Z and millennials are especially fond of mocktails. Both generations show little interest in alcohol, perhaps because they’ve grown up well aware of the dangers and drawbacks of indulging.
Most market research suggests the trend is here to stay. And why not? You don’t have to call an Uber, leave someone out of the fun so they can drive, buy a cabinet full of expensive drinks, or risk a DWI. You get all of the fun with none of the risks and drawbacks.
Try Mocktails at Alings
Our Mango Burst is especially popular, as is our virgin Pina Colada. But all of our offerings are fun to drink and offer an explosion of taste and texture that pairs perfectly with any of our bold signature dishes.
Most of our mocktails have a sweet flavor profile that pairs well with spicy dishes, though a lighter, refreshing drink like our Three to Mango or Fresh Lime Soda may be a better choice for our Sweet and Sour dishes.
Stop by tonight to enjoy dinner and a mocktail! We can’t wait to see you!
