Singapore Sling Recipe

Before you start

The Singapore Sling is a tall, fruity gin drink associated with the Raffles Hotel in Singapore. Its original recipe is uncertain and has been reconstructed many times, so you will find versions ranging from a simple gin and cherry brandy fizz to the elaborate, pineapple-heavy drink served at Raffles today. This recipe follows the Raffles style: gin, cherry liqueur, Cointreau and Bénédictine, with pineapple, lime, grenadine and bitters.

It is a long, pink, frothy drink with layers of fruit and herbs. The pineapple juice foams when shaken, and the Bénédictine adds honeyed spice. Keep the measures exact; with this many modifiers, a heavy pour of any one can tip the balance.

Ingredients

• 30 ml (1 oz) gin
• 15 ml (½ oz) cherry liqueur — such as Cherry Heering
• 7 ml (¼ oz) Cointreau
• 7 ml (¼ oz) Bénédictine
• 120 ml (4 oz) pineapple juice
• 15 ml (½ oz) fresh lime juice
• 10 ml (2 tsp) grenadine
• 1 dash Angostura bitters
• 1 cup (about 150 g) ice cubes — for shaking, plus fresh ice to serve
• 1 pineapple wedge and cherry — garnish

Method

1. Fill the tall glass with ice so it is well chilled before you shake.
2. Add the gin, cherry liqueur, Cointreau, Bénédictine, pineapple juice, lime juice, grenadine and bitters to the shaker.
3. Fill with ice and shake hard for 12 to 15 seconds to create a frothy head from the pineapple juice.
4. Strain into the ice-filled glass, letting the pink foam rise to the top.
5. Garnish with a pineapple wedge and a cherry on a pick.

Tips for success

• Shake hard. The foam on top is a signature of the Raffles style.
• Use a quality cherry liqueur; cheap cherry brandies can taste of cough syrup.
• For a drier, older-style sling, cut the pineapple to 60 ml and top with 60 ml soda water.

Substitutions

Cherry liqueur

Kirsch is drier and much less sweet; add 5 ml simple syrup to compensate.

Bénédictine

Drambuie gives a similar honeyed, herbal note with a whisky base.

Cointreau

Any triple sec or orange curaçao works.

Variations

Straits Sling

Use 15 ml kirsch instead of cherry liqueur, skip the pineapple and grenadine, and top with soda water for a drier, older-style drink.

Troubleshooting

It is too sweet

Cut the grenadine to 5 ml and add 5 ml more lime.

It tastes muddled and unclear

Measure every modifier exactly; a heavy pour of any one throws off the balance.

There is no foam

Shake longer and harder, and use fresh or chilled pineapple juice.

Storage

Serve immediately after shaking; the foam fades within a few minutes. Refrigerate opened pineapple juice and use within a few days.

Safety notes

Contains gin and three liqueurs totaling about 1.2 U.S. standard drinks (one standard drink is about 14 g of pure alcohol). Serve only to adults of legal drinking age and do not drink and drive.