Singapore sling

Singapore sling is a gin-based cocktail that originated in Singapore. It is a sweet and fruity drink made with pineapple juice, cherry brandy, and other ingredients.

Singapore sling recipe

• 30 ml gin
• 15 ml cherry liqueur
• 7.5 ml Cointreau
• 7.5 ml DOM Bénédictine
• 120 ml fresh pineapple juice
• 15 ml fresh lime juice
• 10 ml Grenadine
• 1 dash Angostura bitters

Pour all ingredients into a cocktail shaker filled with ice cubes. Shake well. Strain into Hurricane glass.

How to mix a balanced Singapore Sling

1. Fill a cocktail shaker generously with cold ice so the long shake chills and dilutes the drink evenly.
2. Add the gin first, then the supporting liqueurs and herbal components, followed by the citrus, pineapple juice, grenadine, and a dash of bitters. Building it this way makes it easier to measure accurately and keeps the sweeter ingredients from sticking at the bottom.
3. Shake hard for about 12 to 15 seconds. Because pineapple juice adds texture and foam, a confident shake helps create the Sling’s signature frothy top and fully integrates the dense fruit juices with the spirits.
4. Strain into a well-chilled hurricane glass without ice. A fine strain is optional, but it gives a smoother finish if you want a cleaner presentation.
5. Check the balance before serving if you can: the drink should land bright and fruity first, then finish with spice, herbs, and a light bitter edge rather than tasting candy-sweet.
6. Garnish if desired with a pineapple wedge, cherry, or a slim lime wheel to echo the tropical aroma without overpowering the glass.

What the Singapore Sling tastes like

This is a fruit-forward classic with more depth than its pink color suggests. Pineapple gives body and softness, lime keeps it lively, and the cherry and orange notes round out the middle. Underneath, the herbal richness and bitters stop it from becoming one-dimensional. Served straight up, it drinks cooler, silkier, and a bit more elegant than many tiki-adjacent cocktails.

Getting the hurricane glass right

A chilled hurricane glass suits the drink’s aromatic, juicy style and shows off its foamy head well. Since it is served without ice, temperature matters: chill the glass in advance so the cocktail stays brisk longer. If your version tastes too sweet, use slightly less grenadine or a touch more lime next time; if it feels too tart, a little extra pineapple usually brings it back into line.

Raffles lore and a booze-free Sling

The Singapore Sling is most often linked to the Long Bar at Raffles Hotel in Singapore, usually in the early 20th century and commonly attributed to bartender Ngiam Tong Boon. Exact original specs are debated, and many modern recipes are later interpretations, but the Raffles connection is the most widely accepted origin story.

For a non-alcoholic version, combine chilled pineapple juice, fresh lime, a small splash of orange syrup or non-alcoholic triple sec alternative, cherry syrup, a few drops of herbal bitters-style non-alcoholic aromatic mixer, and soda for lift. Shake the juices first, then strain and top lightly for a Sling-inspired refresher.