Singapore Sling

The Singapore Sling is a classic cocktail that contains no less than four alcohol types – Gin, French Herbal Liqueur, Triple Sec and Cherry Liqueur. And that’s just the start of its ingredients and flavor profile. With its fruity flavors and lavish garnishes, it’s a drink that stands out from the rest.

The Singapore Sling resembles a fruity punch but with a sophisticated twist, making it more refined, complex and layered in flavor.

“It’s fruity, delicious with lots of different flavors going on,” says Rico. There are sweet and tangy notes from the Cherry Liqueur and Pineapple Juice with a citrusy twist courtesy of the Lime Juice, underlined by the herbal notes from the Gin and French Herbal Liqueur.

This iconic drink was believed to have been invented at a famous Singapore hotel somewhere between 1899 and 1915. Some sources, however, suggest that the drink actually emerged in the 1890s and only gained its hotel association in the 1920s.

In a time when it was socially unacceptable for women to drink alcohol in public, the bartender made a cocktail that looked like fruit juice and gave it a pink hue for a “feminine flair,” allowing women to enjoy it discreetly.

The drink’s history isn’t the only thing up for debate. The original recipe was lost during WWII and, as such, over the years, the lack of a definitive recipe left bartenders with the creative freedom to put their own spin on it. 

For example, by the 1980s, in places like the U.S., the Singapore Sling had often been reduced to just Gin, bottled sour mix, and Grenadine – a far cry from the original concoction enjoyed elsewhere under the same name.

The operators of the renowned Singapore hotel where the drink was invented claim the original recipe closely resembles the one that they use today. This recipe is printed on the hotel menus and is the one we feature here on this page.

Today, the Singapore Sling has cemented its status as a classic cocktail and can be found on cocktail menus worldwide, adored by cocktail enthusiasts everywhere.

Fresh Pineapple Juice
Rico recommends using Fresh Pineapple, not store-bought Pineapple Juice in carton. Why? Because fresh ingredients always taste better and will take your cocktail to higher heights. Trust us. With freshly squeezed or pressed juice, you’re going to get a more vibrant and fresher flavor compared to the processed juice found in cartons. 

Make your own grenadine
Continuing with the theme of using fresh ingredients, using homemade grenadine is the best kind of grenadine. And it’s simple to make. Watch Rico show you how to make your own grenadine.

Aerate your juice with a Centrifugal Juicer
Aerating the juice, in this case the Pineapple Juice, will elevate your cocktail to mind-blowing levels. If you have access to a Centrifugal Juicer, the texture and difference it makes will astound you. You’ll achieve a frothy, almost milkshake-like creaminess.

Don’t have a Centrifugal Juicer? Don’t worry! Rico shows other ways you can get more juice out of your fruits.

The Swedish Sling
“Bartenders are going to hate me for saying it, but I kinda prefer it,” confesses Rico. Yes, this Vodka-based Singapore Sling variation follows the same recipe as the original but uses Absolut Grapefruit – one of Rico’s personal favorites – instead of Gin. Learn how to make The Swedish Sling.

We recommend serving a Singapore Sling in a Highball Glass filled with Ice Cubes and topped up with Soda Water.

To garnish your cocktail, place a Pineapple Wedge on the side of the glass, and with a Cherry Pick, push a Fresh Cherry through the Pineapple Wedge.