One more cherry drink.

The Singapore sling was created around 1900 at the Long Bar in the Raffles Hotel in Singapore by bartender Ngiam Tong Boon.

(Ngiam with his wife on the left)

Originally called the Gin Sling,it was intended as a drink for women. This is because at the time it was socially unacceptable for women to drink alcohol in public,so Ngiam made the cocktail look(and taste/smell) like fruit juice to enable women to drink it. It has since become a classic Tiki drink,although there are many variations. Many of the new ones drop back the pineapple juice and add club soda,or do other things that completely change the drink. As with many Tiki drinks,the actual lore behind it is pretty conflicting and confusing,but as I like to say,a good story is a good story. The pic below is from a friend who actually met Ngiam’s grandson and got a drink card from him,so I’m going with this being the legit recipe.

Mix #165 Singapore Sling

1oz gin
1/2oz Cherry Heering
1/4oz Cointreau
1/4oz Benedictine
4oz pineapple juice
1/2oz lime juice
2 tsp grenadine
1 dash Angostura bitters

Shake with ice and strain into hurricane glass.

Sweet and fruity,you barely taste the alcohol. The grenadine comes forward and the pineapple and cherry finish it. There’s also just a touch of honey aftertaste. With only an ounce of true liquor it’s a low octane drink,and with it’s fruity taste and bright red color it would make a great cookout drink. I was able to get some Benedictine from friends,if you don’t have this you can sub Drambuie. Use one of these though as anything else will change the drink too much.

So make yourself the ‘official drink’ of Singapore,and enjoy the flowers before they’re gone.