When you’re craving a well-balanced cocktail that marries fruit with fizz, grab your cocktail shaker and mix yourself a Singapore Sling. It’s an iconic gin cocktail with a fruity blend of pineapple, cherry, orange and pomegranate that gives it a definite summer feel. But let’s be real, as far as gin drinks go, this Singapore Sling recipe wins over taste buds at first sip, no matter the season.
The Singapore Sling was born over a century ago, likely by Ngiam Tong Boon, a bartender at the Long Bar in Singapore’s renowned Raffles Hotel. The original recipe was lost sometime in the 1930s, which resulted in many versions of the cocktail. The best Singapore Slings offer a gorgeous interplay of tart, sweet and tasty, delivered as a sparkling, fruity gin punch.
Singapore Sling Ingredients
- Pineapple juice: Steer clear of pineapple juice from concentrate. The best Singapore Sling recipes call for 100% fresh pineapple juice. It’s a great excuse to make cold-pressed juice, and you’ll definitely taste the difference.
- Gin: Use London dry gin for your slings.
- Benedictine: This French liqueur is the secret to truly great Singapore Slings. It introduces an herbal element that contrasts with the fruitiness of the other ingredients.
- Cherry liqueur: Cherry brandy is an interchangeable substitute if you can’t find cherry liqueur.
- Triple sec: This dry orange liqueur adds a subtle zestiness to the Singapore Sling.
- Grenadine: A staple ingredient in everything from the tequila sunrise to the famed New Orleans hurricane drink, this pomegranate syrup adds a sweet red fruit note to drinks. Try making grenadine at home (it’s super easy) or pick up a good-quality bottle from the supermarket.
- Bitters: Like the Benedictine, Angostura bitters add complexity and depth to the cocktail with a touch of spice and herbs.
- Club soda: Use either club soda or seltzer water to put some sparkle in your sling.
- Garnish: Maraschino cherries are the classic garnish for a Singapore Sling. I highly recommend upgrading them to Luxardo cherries (the original maraschino cherry). These candied cherries are a revelation; once you try them, you may never go back to the neon-hued American version. Add a pineapple wedge and lemon or orange wheel if you’re feeling fancy.
Directions
Step 1: Build and shake the cocktail
Fill a cocktail shaker halfway with ice. Add the pineapple juice, gin, Benedictine, cherry liqueur, triple sec, grenadine and bitters to the shaker. Cover it and shake the cocktail for 10 to 15 seconds or until condensation forms on the outside of the cocktail shaker.
Step 2: Strain and top the cocktail with soda
Strain the cocktail into a chilled sling or highball glass. Top it with club soda, and garnish it with cherries.
Singapore Sling Variations
- Add citrus: Put some extra pucker in your cocktail by pouring 1/2 ounce of freshly squeezed lemon or lime juice into the shaker.
- Use ginger beer: Instead of club soda, top your sling with ginger beer like you would a Moscow mule. The spiciness is a fantastic foil to the cocktail’s fruitiness.
- Try other types of bitters: My personal favorites for a Singapore Sling are orange, lemon and grapefruit bitters.
Can you make Singapore Slings ahead of time?
You can make a Singapore Sling pitcher up to an hour in advance. Any longer and the soda will start to go flat. Skip the ice so the drink doesn’t become watered down.
You can mix the ingredients, minus the soda, up to two days in advance. Just keep the cocktail mixture in an airtight container, especially if you’re using fresh pineapple juice. The juice will eventually oxidize, which will change the flavor of the drink.
Singapore Sling Tips
What type of glassware should you use for a Singapore Sling?
Today, most bars use a highball or hurricane glass for these gin slings. At the Long Bar, they still use a sling glass, which is tall and tapered—essentially a more aesthetically pleasing highball glass.
What can you serve with a Singapore Sling?
Thanks to its heady combination of sweet-tart fruit flavors, bold and aromatic Asian dishes are an effortless pairing when you’re serving Singapore Slings. If there’s a bit of spice involved in the meal, the cocktail’s sweetness will temper the heat. Try sweet and sour chicken, Korean pulled pork tacos and spring rolls. Singapore Slings are also wonderful with seafood and poultry, especially when they’re hot off the grill. Think crab dip, grilled tilapia with pineapple salsa, cilantro lime shrimp and barbecued chicken. For an underrated pairing, try them with duck with cherry sauce.
