Singapore Sling

Ingredients

Drink

• 30 mlgin
• 15 mlcherry liqueur, Cherry Heering
• 7.5 mlBénédictine
• 7.5 mlCointreau

Juices

• 120 mlpineapple juice
• 15 mllime juice
• 10 mlgrenadine

Also

• a dash of Angostura bitters
• plenty of crushed ice

To serve

• a tall sling glass or hurricane glass
• a pineapple wedge and a maraschino cherry

Equipment

• a shaker

Directions

1. Use fresh pineapple juice if you possibly can. It is also less sweet and more acidic, which the drink needs.
2. Squeeze the lime fresh as well. Add the gin, cherry liqueur, Bénédictine, Cointreau, pineapple juice, lime juice, grenadine and bitters.
3. Use a proper cherry liqueur rather than a bright red cherry syrup. Grenadine here is for colour and a little sweetness, and too much makes it taste of cough syrup.
4. Shake it properly and vigorously, because the foam on top is part of the drink and it only comes from real agitation. The shaker should be frosted and the liquid noticeably lighter in colour.
5. Fill a tall glass with crushed ice. Crushed ice rather than cubes, since it chills a long drink faster and keeps it cold as it is drunk.
6. Strain the drink over the ice. It should be a pinkish orange with a distinct foam head, rather than the bright red that many bars produce.
7. Garnish with a wedge of pineapple and a cherry on the rim. Serve it with a straw and drink it while it is cold.

Technique

• Raffles sells a bottled premix, which tells you something about the volume they serve.
• The 1920s printed versions are noticeably drier and are worth trying.
• The name sling comes from an older category of drink, spirit with water and sugar.

Substitutions

• Any good cherry brandy in place of Cherry Heering.
• Canned pineapple juice, accepting less foam.

Variations

• The dry 1930s version, with little pineapple.
• Made with less grenadine, which is less sweet.
• Served short, over cubed ice.

History

Created around 1915 by bartender Ngiam Tong Boon at the Raffles Hotel Long Bar, reportedly so women could drink in public discreetly.

Frequently asked questions

What is Singapore Sling?

Singapore Sling is a cocktail from Singapore: pink gin cocktail with cherry brandy, Benedictine, pineapple and lime. Created around 1915 by bartender Ngiam Tong Boon at the Raffles Hotel Long Bar, reportedly so women could drink in public discreetly.

How long does Singapore Sling take to make?

Singapore Sling takes 5 min of preparation and no cooking at all. The recipe makes 1 drink. It is rated medium to make.

What can I substitute in Singapore Sling?

Yes, within limits. Any good cherry brandy in place of Cherry Heering. Canned pineapple juice, accepting less foam.

What is the most important thing to get right in Singapore Sling?

Use a proper cherry liqueur rather than a bright red cherry syrup. Grenadine here is for colour and a little sweetness, and too much makes it taste of cough syrup.