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Singapore Sling
December 30, 2005 6:30 AM
No discussion on cocktails is complete with out discussing the Singapore Sling. The history of the Singapore Sling was thoroughly documented by Mr. Ted “Dr. Cocktail†Haigh in the Journal of Mixology (a book in which I also contributed an article). However, this post is going to deal with flavour and why the Singapore Sling is a great example of a creative cocktail. If you want to impress guests, friends, family or customers, throw away your old recipe and try the following recipe.
The Singapore Sling, when done properly, is a well balanced drink with tons of flavour. Most clubs and bars that serve this drink have disgraced the Singapore Sling by taking a number of short cuts and passing it off as a sling. For example, on a relatively popular cocktail website, the recipe for a Singapore Sling is as follows:
Singapore Sling Imposter
1 oz gin
½ oz cherry brandy
½ oz grenadine syrup
splash sweet and sour mix
Fill with club soda
(Danger do not make may cause esophageal expulsion or disappointment)
This recipe is extremely quick to make when you are tending the bar, but it lacks the character of a true Singapore Sling. Plus, this combination of ingredients isn’t all that appealing.
The recipe to the left is very close to the original, but the fact is that the original recipe was lost, so a recipe similar to the original Singapore Sling was created through some research. Making this drink for people takes a little bit longer than the Imposter version, but the results are well worth the effort. Basically, the difference is between a fine dining experience and McDonald’s. If you just feel like a quick drink, by all means whip up the Imposter, but if you have the time make the classic version.
When I make a Singapore Sling I like to use quality ingredients. For example, I will use a good quality gin, like Plymouth Gin or Tanqueray, a good cherry brandy like Cherry Marnier or Bols Cherry Brandy. Use Cointreau, not triple sec and always use fresh juices when possible and use Pomegranate Juice instead of grenadine. Pomegranate juice is marketed by POM Wonderful.
The great thing about cocktails is that you can modify them for your personal preference, just don’t use a name already being used, it creates confusion. This is what happened to the Singapore Sling and the Mai Tai and many other drinks. Now I’m sure someone is going to say that the version I make isn’t actually following the original recipe. I believe it follows the “spirit†of the recipe. For example Cherry Marnier is a cherry brandy, actually a flavoured cognac. The use of pomegranate juice is probably close to what the used in 1915, plus most grenadine sold today is a coloured sugar solution flavoured with vanilla and almond extract. Not exactly the same.
As a bartender, consistency is what creates a great experience. If you went to the aforementioned fine restaurant and you received a Happy Meal and a bill for $100 you wouldn’t be to happy. So, a good bartender will always stick to the original recipe.
Give this recipe a try, I guarantee you won’t be disappointed.
11 Comments on Singapore Sling
Leave a comment on Singapore Sling
I always, always drink either a margarita or a martini after getting off work-which is better and why? What makes a better martini-Vodka or Gin? And do you always use vermouth? Dry or sweet?
Personally I like a good margarita, but I wouldn't turn down a martini either. I find a margarita shows some character and balance, a modern martini has basically turned into a cold glass of vodka. So, my preference for a martini would be gin (Plymouth) and dry vermouth. I love drinks with real flavour so I don't like my martini's extra dry.
Thanks for visiting the site!
Darcy
You know, I think I prefer the grenadine to the pomegranate juice. The grenadine gave it a more tangy flavor and brought out the other ingredients whereas the pomegranate hid them all and just made it taste like an overly fruity beach beverage. Thanks for the excellent recipe though; I will no longer make cosmos for my wife. The Singapore Sling is the new Cosmopolian.
And Darcy, you are correct: definitely Plymouth gin is the way to go with the Martini.
Cheers, and happy new year!
LB
Hey Lonnie,
I think I forgot to mention that I use only a couple of drops of the pomegranate juice.
The is also a good recipe over at Shaken Not Stirred for grenadine made from pomegranate juice.
http://www.martiniplace.com/grenadine.html
I was surprised not to see more references in the cocktail blog world to such a fine drink as the Singapore Sling.
I really like how you've emphasized the importance of making the drink properly. For the few extra seconds it takes, it's well worth it.
I just took a look at the Singapore Sling on my own blog, and I must agree that this is a fine drink.
I think I would disagree with you in only one way, though. I do not think you need to whip out the Plymouth. Gordon's definitely seems to work as well, although I'm open to a discussion on the matter. :)
Wish I'd read this before I went to Trader Vic's this Saturday!! The original *is* a very strong drink. I guess all I've had before were Maui Mai Tai's, just nobody told me so!
What rum would you recommend for those of us that live in a country that still has a bone-headed trade embargo against Cuba, and thus cannot acquire Havana Club legally? Is there anything close?
I just put my analysis of the Singapore Sling up on my site:
http://www.thinkingbartender.com/singaporesling.htm
Cheers!
George
It's truly amazing how many recipes you can find of this drink. In the diffordsguide alone there are three, all which are good. One is very similar to yours, albeit with a bit of lime juice added to the mix, and another has both lime and orange juice (fresh sqeezed of course!) replacing the pineapple, and an extra float of cherry brandy. This is the version I like the best. I have actually been omitting the benedictine, but will soon be adding it to the mix to see if the original really is the best!
In the recipe for the Singapore Sling Imposter what is the sweet and sour mix?
Hey Great post. I’m new to your site but will definitely bookmark it. Slings always remind me of my cousin. In our teen years when we first started enjoying drinks it was by far his favorite. I can still remember the goofy smile he used to have after having a few. He always had one in each hand…loved those slings!