The History of and How to Make a Singapore Sling

The last time I was at the Raffles Hotel I was pregnant, so no Singapore Sling for me. This time, I sat on the Garden Patio and sipped one after shopping at the arcade. The Singapore Sling was created upstairs in the Long Bar, but I prefer the outside seating when the weather cooperates.

According to the Raffles Hotel, here’s how the Singapore Sling came to be.

“The Singapore Sling was created at the Raffles Hotel at the turn of the century by Hainanese-Chinese bartender, Mr. Ngiam Tong Boon.

In the hotel’s museum, visitors may view the safe in which Mr. Ngiam locked away his precious recipe books, as well as the Sling recipe hastily jotted down on a bar chit in 1936 by a visitor to the Hotel who asked a waiter for it.

Originally the Singapore Sling was meant as a woman’s drink, hence the attractive pink colour. Today, it is very definitely a drink enjoyed by all, without which any visit to the Raffles Hotel is incomplete.”

I could not agree more. A Singapore Sling here is a must-do when in Singapore. If you make one according to these instructions, realize that it has a lot of alcohol but it won’t taste like it does.

Raffles Hotel Singapore Sling Recipe

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Ingredients

• 1 oz (30 ml) Gin
• 1/2 oz (15 ml) Cherry Brandy
• 4 oz (120 ml) Pineapple Juice
• 1/2 oz (15 ml) Lime Juice
• 1/4 oz (7.5 ml) Cointreau
• 1/4 oz (7.5 ml) Dom Benedictine
• 1/3 oz (10 ml) Grenadine
• Dash of Angostura Bitters

Instructions

1. Mix well
2. Garnish with a maraschino cherries and pineapple wedge, if you like.

The recipe is straight from the hotel as you will see when you visit. And, in case you’re wondering, at the time of my last visit this little gem cost SGD 25 plus service and GST tax. That makes it about USD 22 per Singapore Sling. But, if you’re in luxury hotels in Singapore, drinks are expensive and this one is particularly worthwhile.

A Sling this delicious stateside is hard to come by so enjoy it in a historic hotel (that happened to also be featured in Crazy Rich Asians).

Have you had a good Singapore Sling in the US? Where?