Singapore Sling
Ah, the Singapore Sling: a cocktail with plenty of intrigue, a healthy dose of history and a whole lot of disagreement on how to make it.
When it comes to the Singapore Sling, the breadth of written history is both a blessing and a curse for the liquid product. We know more about the drink than arguably any other Tiki drink; but with that knowledge, we also have more recipes than we know what to do with. While the range of recipes borders on comedy, it’s not all that surprising given the history of the Singapore Sling.
Gin slings were a dime a dozen in Singapore at the turn of the century, but the Raffles Hotel was said to have the best. Described as a “pink sling for pale people,” the Raffles Gin Sling soon took on legendary status and a new name.
But, the original recipe was lost sometime around 1930 and things got ugly. Like many classic Tiki drinks that have suffered abuse over the years (the Scorpion, Hurricane and Mai Tai to name a few), the Singapore Sling was a victim of its own success. Imitations, mutations and abominations sprouted up, leaving in their wake, lots of confusion and plenty of unsatisfied customers.
Despite the best efforts of many, the original recipe is most likely lost for good. The version currently served at the Raffles Hotel is said to be teeming with pineapple juice and is assuredly not the original recipe. But with a few tweaks it’s not beyond salvage.
Singapore Sling
2 oz gin
3/4 oz Cherry Heering
2 tsp Benedictine
2 tsp Cointreau
2 oz pineapple juice
3/4 oz lime juice
2 dashes grenadine
1 dash Angostura bitters
soda water
Shake all ingredients except soda water with ice. Strain into highball glass with ice. Top with soda water and garnish with a cherry, pineapple slice, and an orange wheel.
Ted Haigh (aka Dr. Cocktail) in Vintage Spirits and Forgotten Cocktails
The flavors come together to form a sweet drink, but also one that has a deep complexity to it. Each sip affords you multiple tastes; from the sweet of the pineapple, and the tart of the lime, to the aromatic and herbal flavor of the Benedictine. The Cherry Heering brings it all together with a final touch of sweetness and imbues the drink with the signature, deep pink color.
The single most remarkable thing about the Singapore Sling is how you can pick out ingredients one-by-one and understand how they come together to form such a delicious drink. For my money, the Singapore Sling is one drink that has no trouble living up to its legendary name.