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Singapore Sling: The Retro Cool Cocktail

By michael Vivar 

The earliest iterations of a sling cocktail were reported in 1790 and described as, a "North American drink of gin that had been flavored, sweetened and served cold."

The Raffles Hotel in Singapore has been a beacon (for better or worse) of British colonial imperialism. In 1890, the head bartender, Ngian Tong Boom, invented the Singapore Sling.

The original intent was to create a drink that looked like fruit juice and could be served to women. At the time, it was frowned upon for women to imbibe alcohol in public.

The Singapore Sling gained widespread American popularity in the United States with the 1950s romanticism of the South Pacific and tiki bars. Here’s the classic and variations.

Classic Singapore Sling

Combine 1.5 parts gin, .5 cherry juice, .25 Cointreau, 4 pineapple juice, .5 grenadine in an ice-filled cocktail strainer. Stir. Strain into a Collins glass over ice.

Smuggler's Cove Sling

Follow the recipe for the classic Singapore Sling with the addition of a dash each of Angostura and orange bitters. After straining the mixture into a goblet, add 2 oz soda water.

Death and Co. Sling

Follow the recipe for the classic Singapore Sling except substitute Cointreau with orange curacao and add .5 part lemon juice.

Canon's Starlet Sling

Follow the recipe for the classic Singapore Sling except substitute Cointreau with orgeat syrup and add .5 part lime juice.

Jim Meehan Sling

Follow the recipe for the classic Singapore Sling except only use 1.5 part pineapple juice and add .25 part Benedictine. Serve in a rocks glass and garnish with orange wheel.

"We were sitting in the Pogo Lounge of the Beverly Heights Hotel, in the patio section of course, drinking Singapore Slings with mezcal on the side."  - Hunter S. Thompson, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas

Have you tried a Singapore Sling before?