Ingredients
Drink
- 50 mlScotch whisky, a blend rather than a single malt
- 50 mlsoda water, cold
Also
- plenty of hard ice cubes
To serve
- a heavy tumbler
- no garnish
Optional
- a strip of lemon peel, though the planters would not have bothered
Directions
- Use a blended Scotch rather than a single malt. Chill the glass and the whisky if you can.
- Use plenty of large hard cubes rather than a few small ones. A glass packed with ice melts more slowly than a glass with two cubes in it, because the mass keeps itself cold.
- Fill the tumbler properly full.
- Pour the whisky over the ice first. Now the soda, and it must be genuinely fresh and cold.
- Pour the soda gently down the side of the glass, not straight down the middle. Pouring gently down the side keeps the carbonation in the drink rather than driving it out as it hits the ice.
- Pour an equal measure to the whisky, which is the whole definition of the drink. One turn is enough.
- Serve it immediately, while it is cold and lively.
Technique
- The word entered English through colonial Malaya and appears in period fiction.
- It is essentially a Scotch and soda under a local name and a fixed measure.
- A soda siphon is the period-correct tool and keeps the water livelier.
Substitutions
- Any blended whisky.
- Sparkling mineral water in place of soda, which is slightly softer.
Variations
- Made with a double measure of whisky.
- With a strip of lemon peel, which is a modern addition.
- Made with Irish whiskey or bourbon, which is not traditional.
History
The planters’ drink of British Malaya; the name is Malay for half, the standard measure at colonial clubs.
Frequently asked questions
What is Stengah?
Stengah is a cocktail from Singapore: whisky poured half and half with soda water over ice, drunk at sundown. The planters’ drink of British Malaya; the name is Malay for half, the standard measure at colonial clubs.
How long does Stengah take to make?
Stengah takes 2 min of preparation and no cooking at all. The recipe makes 1 drink. It is rated easy to make.
What can I substitute in Stengah?
Yes, within limits. Any blended whisky. Sparkling mineral water in place of soda, which is slightly softer.
What is the most important thing to get right in Stengah?
Use a blended Scotch rather than a single malt. Chill the glass and the whisky if you can.
