Singapore Sling is a classic cocktail that towers over all other umbrella drinks both figuratively and literally. Sipping one of these, you are taken back to another world of colonial opulence and luxury.
Singapore Sling is always linked with the renowned Raffles Hotel in Singapore. This is where the cocktail first came into being. Mr. Ngami Tong Boon, a bartender working at the Long Bar in Raffles is credited as the creator. His recipe utilizes fresh pineapple juice. In fact, it specifies that one needs to select Sarawak pineapples in order to get that lovely foam effect.
Now, however, most recipes go in for bottled pineapple juice. Of course, this calls for the addition of soda so that one can have that essential foamy top! These days, the drink served at Raffles Hotel is machine made that caters to the large number of orders coming in. It is usually blended instead of shaken to salvage time. So, make sure you ask the bartender make yours James Bond style!
Singapore Sling
Ingredients:
- Ice cubes
- Gin: 60ml (1/4 cup)
- Cherry Brandy: 30 ml
- Cointreau liqueur: 15 ml
- Benedictine liqueur: 15 ml
- Chilled pineapple juice: 250ml (1 cup)
- Fresh lime juice: 1 tbsp
- Angostura bitters: 6 drops
- Ice cubes, extra, coarsely crushed
- Pineapple leaf or fresh mint leaves, to decorate
Method:
- Fill two-thirds of a large cocktail shaker with ice cubes. Add gin, brandy, Cointreau, Benedictine, pineapple juice, lime juice and bitters. Shake until well combined.
- Fill two-thirds of 2 tall serving glasses with the crushed ice cubes. Pour cocktail into the glasses. Add a pineapple leaf or a few mint leaves to decorate. Serve.
Mixologists tend to differ in opinion over the use of pineapple juice. However, the beauty of the Singapore Sling is that it is a definitive drink without a definitive recipe. So, experiment with the ingredients and find the one that’s most to your liking. Happy shaking!