Singapore Sling | The Tropical Classic from Raffles Hotel

The Singapore Sling is linked to bartender Ngiam Tong Boon and the Long Bar at Raffles Hotel. The hotel's history places its creation around 1915, but there is uncertainty regarding both the timing and the original recipe.

Today's fruity version with pineapple juice, grenadine, orange liqueur, and Bénédictine is a modern standard, not necessarily an accurate representation of the drink served in the early 1900s.

A Tropical Cocktail with Many Layers

The Singapore Sling has a pinkish-red color, a light foam from the pineapple juice, and a distinctly tropical expression. Its appearance may make it seem simple, but the ingredient list tells a different story.

Gin, cherry liqueur, Bénédictine, and Cointreau provide multiple layers of fruit, herbs, spices, and citrus. Pineapple, lime, grenadine, and bitters tie it all together.

The History from Raffles Hotel

The cocktail is associated with the Long Bar at Raffles Hotel and bartender Ngiam Tong Boon. The popular story says that the drink was made to resemble fruit juice, but this tale is difficult to document with certainty.

What we do know is that gin-based slings with cherry liqueur were consumed in Singapore around this time, and that Raffles Hotel later developed a very strong connection to the drink.

What is a Sling?

A sling was originally a simple drink made with spirits, water, and sugar. Over time, the name came to refer to more complex drinks with citrus, bitters, and soda water.

The modern Singapore Sling resembles more of a tropical punch than the earliest sling recipes.

The Problem with the Original Recipe

There is no single recipe that can be definitively called the original. Early variants were often simpler and could consist of gin, cherry liqueur, citrus, and soda water.

The fruity version with pineapple juice, grenadine, and orange liqueur was standardized later and is now the most well-known.

The Balance of Ingredients

Gin provides structure. Cherry liqueur adds dark fruit. Bénédictine contributes herbs and spices. Cointreau adds orange, while pineapple juice brings sweetness, body, and foam.

Lime juice is crucial for keeping the drink fresh. Grenadine must be used carefully; otherwise, the cocktail becomes heavy and too sweet.

Shaking and Serving

Pineapple juice foams when shaken vigorously. Use plenty of ice and shake until the drink is very cold.

The cocktail can be served without ice in a chilled glass or over ice. Without ice, the flavor becomes more concentrated, while ice keeps the drink cold longer.

A Complex Tropical Classic

The Singapore Sling requires more ingredients than many classics but offers a lot of depth in return. It can be easy to drink without being simple and tropical without just tasting like pineapple juice.