A stalwart drink of many cocktail bars around Southeast Asia and the rest of the world, and with some dubbing this fresh, fruity scarlet-hued delight Singapore’s national drink, the Singapore Sling is without a doubt, one of the best cocktails ever created.
But just what made this humble concoction so popular? One of the reasons for the Singapore Sling’s long-term impact is its association with the exotic, colonial past of Singapore. For practical reasons, it was just the perfect alcoholic beverage to beat the city’s tropical heat!
What Goes Into A Singapore Sling?
It’s difficult to confirm what exactly went into the original Singapore Sling’s recipe, but the base ingredients remain relatively similar. The base spirit is gin followed by cherry liqueur, Cointreau, Angostura bitters, pineapple juice, lime juice, Benedictine and grenadine syrup.
A reflection of its exotic nuances, the tropical fruity notes of pineapple juice intertwine with the various liqueurs to give rise to a sweet, refreshing yet complex-tasting cocktail.
The Birth Of Singapore’s National Cocktail
In the early 20th century somewhere between 1910 and 1915, the cocktail was developed by then-bartender at Raffles Hotel’s iconic Long Bar, Mr Ngiam Tong Boon. A man of Hainanese descent, he created a cocktail known as the Gin Sling, a long drink that comprised two parts gin, one part cherry brandy and one part orange, pineapple and lime juice, which he then further developed to become the Singapore Sling.
Common Myths Surrounding The Famous Cocktail
There are many myths surrounding the origins of the Singapore Sling. Many believe that it was a deliberate modification of the Gin Sling to make it more appropriate for ladies while others believe that it was a cocktail specifically concocted for the colonial upper class. Commonly referred to as the “Commander’s Drink”, this gave rise to the Hainanese dialect for it, “Si Ling”, which is where “Sling” was derived from.
Another myth claims that the cocktail was designed to look like a fruit punch as it was socially unacceptable for women to drink in public then. The Singapore Sling, however, with all its colourful and unassuming glory gave many the impression that it was fruit juice—allowing ladies to have a chance to have a sneaky tipple at any time of the day.
Where To Go To Try It
There are slews of cocktail establishments in Singapore that claim to have perfected the original recipe. Some even going as far as to claim that theirs is the best! No one really knows for sure what equates to the best… But we’ve sampled a fair few and can tell you which ones are worth making a deliberate trip down for.
Jamie’s Italian – The folks here nail the classic components down to a T, with the only main difference being that they top theirs off with Prosecco. The sparkling wine lends the fruity cocktail a crisp dryness to it, giving it a refreshing mouthfeel.
Address: 583 Orchard Road, #01-04 Forum, Singapore 238884
Opening Hours: 11.30AM – 10PM (Sun to Thu), 11.30AM – 11PM (Fri & Sat)
Nutmeg & Clove – Boasting an extensive selection of Asian-inspired cocktails, most of which include either aged or infused components, you can trust the mixologists here to be ballsy when it comes to making drinks taste delicious.
Nutmeg & Clove’s Singapore Sling is aged for a month in an oak barrel. It comprises hibiscus-infused gin, Benedictine DOM and home-made berry syrup. A nod to its historic origins, the cocktail is presented in a porcelain teacup sitting in a miniature rattan-made trishaw.
Address: 10 Ann Siang Hill, Singapore 069789
Opening Hours: 6PM – 1AM (Mon to Sat), 6PM – 2AM (Fri), Closed on Sundays
Long Bar – It’s only appropriate to include Raffles Hotel’s historic Long Bar on your search for Singapore’s national cocktail. After all, it’s the birth place of the Singapore Sling. Until today, they still keep the recipe as true to the original as possible.
Address: Raffles Hotel, 1 Beach Road, Singapore 189673
Opening Hours: 11AM – 11PM (Daily)
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