Singapore Sling Recipe: How to Make Gin’s Fruitiest Classic Cocktail

The hardest part of making a Singapore Sling recipe is collecting all of its ingredients. However, we think it will all be worth it once you take a sip of this delightfully fruity gin drink. (Photo: Nishant Patel/Pexels)

The Singapore Sling is a classic gin cocktail reported to have been invented by Ngiam Tong Boon, a bartender at the Raffles Hotel’s Long Bar in Singapore. While the exact date of the cocktail’s inception is uncertain, it can be estimated that it was created sometime before 1915, when it was first called a gin sling.

A sling is a drink that was originally crafted from water, sweetener, a flavoring component (usually nutmeg) and a spirit. The term “sling” comes from the German word “schlingen” and means “to swallow fast.” These types of drinks were created to be served either hot or cold as a type of punch and weren’t initially considered cocktails. Additionally, Tong Boon’s Singapore Sling is attributed to the rise in popularity of a sling drink.

According to The Times, the “original” Singapore Sling recipe called for two measures of gin mixed with one measure each of cherry brandy, pineapple juice, orange juice and lime juice. As time passed and different ingredients were implemented, it became quite difficult to pin down a “correct” recipe for the Singapore Sling. Some recipes call for hurricane cocktail mix, while others will omit certain liqueurs. To best capture the true essence of the Singapore Sling, the following recipe is adapted from the International Bartender’s Association list of specified ingredients.

Now grab your fruity liqueurs and the nearest bottle of gin, and let’s get mixing!

Singapore Sling Recipe

• 1 oz. Gin of choice
• 0.5 oz. Cherry liqueur (Cherry Heering recommended)
• 0.25 oz. Cointreau
• 0.25 oz. Bénédictine D.O.M. Liqueur
• 0.5 oz. Lime juice
• 4 oz. Pineapple juice
• 1 dash Angostura bitters
• Small splash grenadine
• Garnish: Pineapple wedge and cocktail cherry skewer

Combine all of the liquid ingredients in a cocktail shaker full of ice. Shake hard for about 15 seconds or until the shaker appears frosted. Strain your cocktail into a hurricane (or highball) glass with ice. Garnish your cocktail with a pineapple wedge and a cocktail cherry on a skewer.

Bénédictine D.O.M. Liqueur substitutes: While this unique herb-centered liqueur is certainly a tasty component of this cocktail, there are a few possible substitutions. Chartreuse, Yellow Chartreuse or an Amaro (bitter Italian liqueur) can be used when Bénédictine D.O.M. Liqueur isn’t available. These three suggested substitutes pack a similar herbal punch and may already have a place in your home bar.

Cheers!

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