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Cocktail History
The Singapore Sling is a classic gin cocktail that was created by Ngiam Tong Boon in the early 1900s at the glamorous Raffles Hotel in Singapore. Although more modern recipes for this fruity drink call for fewer ingredients, this one made with gin, pineapple, citrus, cherry, Bénédictine, grenadine, aromatic bitters, and soda water is considered one of the tastiest and most universally liked versions out there.
Cocktail Ingredients
To make this cocktail, you’ll need the following ingredients:
Gin: This is a spirit made with juniper berries, botanicals, and alcohol. We used Broker’s Premium London Dry Gin because it features a clean and crisp juniper flavor that doesn’t overpower other ingredients in cocktails. For a mocktail version of this drink, try Lyre’s Non-Alcoholic Dry London Spirit in place of the gin.
Pineapple Juice: This is the liquid juice of a pineapple. We used fresh pineapple juice.
Lime Juice: This is the liquid juice of a lime. We used freshly squeezed lime juice.
Heering Cherry Liqueur: This is a liqueur made in Denmark with Stevens cherries, baking spices, almond, sugar, and alcohol. For a mocktail version of this drink, try Monin Non-Alcoholic Cherry Syrup in place of the liqueur.
Triple Sec: This is a liqueur made with bitter oranges, lemons, sugar, water, and alcohol. We used Cointreau because it’s high quality. For a mocktail version of this drink, try Lyre’s Non-Alcoholic Orange Sec in place of the liqueur.
Bénédictine: This is a liqueur made in France with twenty-seven herbs and spices, sugar, and alcohol. For a mocktail version of this drink, try homemade black tea, honey, and thyme syrup in place of the liqueur.
Grenadine: This is a sweetener made with pomegranate juice and white sugar. We made ours at home using Alex’s stovetop recipe.
Angostura Aromatic Bitters: This is a spirit made with botanicals, herbs, water, and a neutral grain spirit. We used Angostura Aromatic Bitters because they’re the go-to aromatic bitters on the market. For a mocktail version of this drink, try All The Bitter Alcohol-Free Aromatic Bitters in place of the bitters.
Soda Water: This is a type of water that has been infused with carbon dioxide gas under pressure. We used Topo Chico Sparkling Mineral Water because it’s light, essentially flavorless, and refreshing.
Orange Slice: This is a slice of orange that has been cut into a half wheel shape.
Bartending Tools
To make this cocktail, you’ll need the following bar tools:
Jigger: This is used to measure and pour ingredients. We used the Japanese jigger from the A Bar Above 14-Piece Silver Bar Set.
Boston Shaker: This is used to shake ingredients. We used the Boston shaker from the A Bar Above 14-Piece Silver Bar Set.
Hawthorne Strainer: This is used to strain out ice and solid ingredients after the cocktail is shaken. We used the A Bar Above Hawthorne Strainer.
Pineapple Corer: This is used to remove the core of the pineapple before it’s juiced. We used the OXO Good Grips Stainless Steel Pineapple Corer.
Paring Knife: This is used to cut ingredients. We used the OXO Good Grips 3.5 Inch Paring Knife.
Juicer: This is used to juice citrus, fruits, and vegetables. We used the ALEEHAI Manual Fruit Juicer for the lime and the Hamilton Beach Large Juicer for the pineapple.
Tasting Notes
The Singapore Sling features aromas of fresh citrus and pineapple followed by the initial taste of herbal gin along with tart pomegranate and cherry and finishes with a hint of juniper as well as floral notes from the Bénédictine in the throat on the swallow.
Our Opinion of This Cocktail Recipe: We tried a few versions of this drink before landing on the one we’re sharing. All of the mixers really mask the taste of the gin, making it a dangerously easy sip, and the carbonation is a refreshing touch, which we both really liked. These have since become a go-to at home bar during the warmer months.
Which of our palates is yours most like?
Find out if your palate is most similar to Alex’s or Kendall’s by answering five questions.
Which of our palates is yours most like?
Find out if your palate is most similar to Alex’s or Kendall’s by answering five questions.
Recipe
This cocktail recipe was adapted from The Essential Cocktail Book: A Complete Guide to Modern Drinks by the editors of PUNCH and Megan Krigbaum.
Fill half a highball glass with cracked ice.
Add gin, pineapple juice, lime juice, cherry liqueur, triple sec, Bénédictine, grenadine, bitters, and cubed ice to shaker.
Shake for 10-20 seconds.
Strain into highball glass.
Top with soda water.
Garnish with orange slice.
Ingredients
Directions
Fill half a highball glass with cracked ice.
Add gin, pineapple juice, lime juice, cherry liqueur, triple sec, Bénédictine, grenadine, bitters, and cubed ice to shaker.
Shake for 10-20 seconds.
Strain into highball glass.
Top with soda water.
Garnish with orange slice.
Make It a Mocktail: Use Lyre’s Non-Alcoholic Dry London Spirit in place of the gin, Monin Non-Alcoholic Cherry Syrup in place of the cherry liqueur, Lyre’s Non-Alcoholic Orange Sec in place of the triple sec, homemade black tea, honey, and thyme syrup in place of the Bénédictine, and All The Bitter Alcohol-Free Aromatic Bitters in place of the bitters to try a booze-free version of this drink.
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More Gin Cocktails
If you like this gin-based cocktail recipe, here are a few others we’ve tried that you may enjoy:
Rosemary Gin & Tonic: A gin cocktail made with grapefruit shrub, lime juice, grapefruit tonic water, grapefruit slices, and rosemary
Wedding Coat: A gin cocktail made with lemon juice, crème de cassis, and gum syrup
Garden City Sling: A gin cocktail made with cherry liqueur, triple sec, Aperol, Bénédictine, pineapple gum syrup, lime juice, an orange wedge, and a cherry
Florodora: A gin cocktail made with lime juice, raspberry syrup, simple syrup, ginger ale, a lime slice, and raspberries
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