Meet the Shirley Temple King, an Adorable 6-Year-Old Beverage Critic
Updated: Feb. 27, 2024
The Shirley Temple King is serious about his love for the iconic drink.
You probably ordered many Shirley Temples (aka Kiddie Cocktails) as a kid. You remember…it’s the sweet elixir of ginger ale or lemon-lime soda and grenadine garnished with a bright maraschino cherry. It’s an effervescent treat that turns any occasion into a celebration.
The brightest young Instagram star is known as @theshirleytempleking. The junior beverage critic has made a name for himself by testing and candidly grading Shirley Temples at restaurants across the U.S. We love him, and so do more than 250K followers!
Who is the Shirley Temple King?
His real name is Leo Kelly. The adorable 6-year-old from Fairfield, Pennsylvania, has risen to Internet fame thanks to his honest reviews of Shirley Temples—and that heart-melting smile.
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Leo’s viral Instagram account, which is managed by his parents, includes videos of his honest reviews of the drink. With posts often topping 100,000 views each, Leo has so much star power, he’s even appeared as a guest on The Ellen DeGeneres Show.
How does Leo evaluate Shirley Temples?
He greets viewers with, “Hey guys! It’s the Shirley Temple King!” in every video, before diving into his reviews. Adorable.
Then, Leo is brutally honest when it comes to providing feedback. He orders a Shirley Temple at every restaurant he visits and rates it on a scale from 1 to 10, based on flavor, pinkish-red color, fizziness, the number of cherries and other very important criteria.
Here’s how a select few restaurants’ Shirley Temples ranked, according to Leo’s personal scoresheet:
- Longhorn Steakhouse: 8 (“Five cherries!”)
- Gwen (Hollywood): 9.8 (“It’s like my taste buds are dancing, it’s so good!”)
- TGI Fridays: 6.3 (“Very invigorating!”)
- Cheesecake Factory: 5 (“No cherries, plastic cup”)
- Starbucks: 0 (“Tasted like strawberry mixed with mango!”)
We love our new buddy Leo, and he makes us want to order more Shirley Temples!
How do I make a Shirley Temple at home?
Just fill a glass with ice, then pour in about 1 ounce of grenadine. Next, top it off with the ginger ale or lemon-lime soda. Add a plump maraschino cherry (or three!) for garnish.
The real question is, would the Shirley Temple King approve of your concoction? We hope your homemade Shirley Temple is a 10/10 on Leo’s scale.
Next up: Learn the history of the Shirley Temple and other classic recipes.
Fizzy Mocktails That Kids of Any Age Can Enjoy
Pomegranate Ginger SpritzerConveniently, a pitcher of this non-alcoholic beverage can be made hours before holiday guests arrive. Add the club soda just before serving. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
Sunshine Lime RickeyThis is my re-creation of the lime rickey sodas served at my favorite burger place. I even tried a version using my own homemade bitters. —Shelly Bevington, Hermiston, Oregon
Tropical CoolerWith only four simple ingredients, this refreshing punch is easy to stir up in just 10 minutes. I served it at a party for my son, and everyone liked the slightly tart flavor. —Robin Werner, Brush Prairie, Washington
Orange Blossom Mint RefresherI came up with this recipe because I'm not a fan of regular iced tea. This version has the perfect combination of freshness and sweetness, and the orange blossom water gives the tea a distinctive flavor. People always request the recipe. —Juliana Gauss, Centennial, Colorado
Pink Rhubarb PunchRhubarb is the featured ingredient in this blush-colored punch. A friend passed the recipe on to me, and we enjoy it so much that I thought others might, too. —Rebecca Mininger, Jeromesville, Ohio
Citrus & White Grape Juice Party PunchI was looking for a drink that wouldn't stain expensive prom dresses and tuxedos. Everyone loved this white grape juice and lemonade punch! You can mix the first four ingredients ahead of time, refrigerate and add the soda right before serving. —Karen Ballance, Wolf Lake, Illinois
Warm Cider Cranberry PunchI first made this at an instructional cooking camp. My kids loved it so much that, for a time, they insisted we make it every day. Serve it hot in the winter or with the ice during the summer. —Carol Gehringer, Raleigh, North Carolina
Mango Orange QuencherServe this beautiful beverage at your next brunch in place of mimosas. Just chill the base an hour before adding the club soda. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
Citrus Cider PunchI share this refreshing punch recipe with people who visit our apple cider mill. It's perfect for autumn and holiday gatherings. —Carolyn Beck, St Johns, Michigan
Scarlet SipperThis sweet, tart and slightly fizzy drink is a favorite for gatherings at our church. The bright color sets a festive tone, and the flavors blend seamlessly. —Amber Goolsby, Geneva, Alabama
Cranberry Cherry PunchThis crimson-colored beverage is wonderful for Christmas and looks festive in a glass punch bowl. —Lori Daniels, Beverly, West Virginia
Easy Citrus SlushOur church’s hostess committee has relied on this refreshing drink for bridal and baby showers and other events. We often use different flavors and colors of gelatin to match the decor of the occasion. —Joy Bruce, Welch, Oklahoma
Sparkling Coconut Grape JuiceThis sparkling drink is a nice change of pace from lemonade and party punch. The lime, coconut and grape combination is so refreshing. Add a splash of gin if you're feeling bold. —Shelly Bevington, Hermiston, Oregon
Pink Party PunchThis easy punch will be the highlight of any party. The fruity flavors blend perfectly together, making it impossible to have just one glass.—Carol Garnett, Bellevue, Washington
Warm Christmas PunchRed Hot candies add rich color and spiciness to this festive punch, and the cranberry juice gives it a little tang. Our children always request it for December brunches. —Julie Sterchi, Campbellsville, Kentucky
Lemony Fruit CoolerThis punch looks so pretty with all the colorful fruit floating in the bowl. It has a refreshing taste and is easy to put together. —Dawn Shackelford, Fort Worth, Texas
Lemony Pineapple Iced TeaI like to garnish this iced tea with some of our sweet Hawaiian pineapple. —Beverly Toomey, Honolulu, Hawaii
Cranberry FizzWith just five basic ingredients, this wonderfully tangy punch couldn't be much simpler to stir together. —Suzette Jury, Keene, California
Rosemary LemonadeA friend suggested I add a sprig of rosemary to lemonade. The herb makes the drink taste fresh and light, and it's a pretty garnish. —Dixie Graham, Rancho Cucamonga, California
Strawberry Watermelon SlushWe like to relax on the back porch with glasses of my slush after a long, hot day. Strawberries and watermelon blend up with lemon juice and sugar for an instant refresher. —Patty Howse, Great Falls, Montana
Peach-Basil CoolerMix peaches and basil with club soda for a cool and refreshing mocktail! —Dana Hinck, Pensacola, Florida
Raspberry RefresherThis recipe explodes with raspberry flavor! It's a wonderful summertime treat.—Doreen Patterson, Qualicum Beach, British Columbia
Citrus PunchThis zesty punch is a refreshing addition to my holiday table. I love its fruity flavor and the bright sunshiny color. You can easily double the recipe if you're expecting a larger group. —Dianne Conway, London, Ontario
Raspberry Iced TeaOne sip and you'll likely agree that this is the best flavored tea you've ever tasted. —Chris Wilson, Sellersville, Pennsylvania
Orange Juice SpritzerHere’s a zippy twist on regular orange juice. It is not too sweet and is refreshing with any breakfast or brunch entree. —Michelle Krzmarzick, Torrance, California
Blueberry Lime SlushMy husband's family makes a cranberry beverage for the holidays. I changed it up and serve it this way in winter and summer, when blueberries are in season. —Rebecca Bratsman, Tacoma, Washington
Originally Published: February 27, 2020
