The Singapore Sling: A Complete History & Classic Recipe

A humid evening settles over the colonial veranda of the Raffles Hotel, Singapore, circa 1915. Palm fans stir the air, white linen suits gleam under the gaslight, and in the hands of travelers, traders, and officers — a tall glass blushing pink with cherry, pineapple, and gin. The Singapore Sling was not merely a cocktail; it was a statement of place. A tropical bloom born at the crossroads of empire and ocean trade, it captured the fusion of East and West, of formality and leisure, in one effervescent gesture.

Over a century later, this striking drink still evokes that singular atmosphere — elegant yet unpretentious, balanced between the disciplined English gin tradition and the lush tropical bounty of Southeast Asia.

I. Origins

The Singapore Sling traces its creation to around 1915 at the Raffles Hotel Long Bar, credited to bartender Ngiam Tong Boon. The early 20th century was an era when British colonial society in Singapore adhered to strict codes of propriety — especially for women. It was deemed inappropriate for a lady to be seen consuming spirits in public.

Ngiam’s innovation was both clever and subversive: disguise a gin-based cocktail to resemble fruit juice. The result was a rosy-hued, foamy drink served tall — seemingly innocent, yet with a sophisticated botanical complexity.

While Raffles Hotel itself has leaned into this legend, the documentation is sketchy. Early menus and hotel records are sparse, and competing recipes emerged over time. Some historians suggest it evolved from the gin sling, a family of drinks that mixed spirit, water, sugar, and citrus — precursors to the modern sour.

II. Historical Evolution

The Precursor: The Sling Tradition

The term “sling” predates the Singaporean invention by more than a century. Originating in the early 1800s United States, a sling was a simple mixture of spirit, sugar, and water — sometimes with citrus. By the time the gin sling reached Southeast Asia, it had become a global traveler’s refreshment, adaptable to local ingredients.

The Raffles Renaissance

In the 1910s, Raffles Hotel was already famed as a cosmopolitan hub for travelers from Calcutta to Shanghai. Gin, a staple of British officers, found new life when blended with tropical fruits available in the Straits Settlements — notably pineapple and lime. Cherry brandy (often Heering) provided the deep pink hue, while Bénédictine or Cointreau contributed herbal depth.

Postwar Reinventions

By the mid-20th century, as tiki culture exploded in the West, the Singapore Sling became a global emblem of “exotic” sophistication. Bartenders often replaced the more complex ingredients with bottled sour mix or grenadine — a move that simplified preparation but dulled its depth.

The 1980s craft revival led to rediscovery. Cocktail historians combed archives and Raffles Hotel reconstructed a “house version,” though it remains debated how close it is to Ngiam Tong Boon’s original.

III. Ingredients & Technique

A true Singapore Sling balances bright tropical fruit, herbal liqueurs, and crisp gin. The drink is neither a sweet punch nor a dainty juice—it’s a layered showcase of botanical harmony.

Core components:

• Base: London Dry Gin — the disciplined English backbone.

• Sweetening & Color: Cherry Heering — adds depth, color, and almond-cherry undertones.

• Herbal Lift: Bénédictine — gives a faint honeyed complexity.

• Citrus Brightness: Fresh lime juice — sharpens the sweetness.

• Tropical Volume: Pineapple juice — the frothy, tropical hallmark.

• Bitterness: A dash of Angostura bitters (sometimes omitted in modern takes).

• Optional Lift: Soda water to top, adding effervescence.

The secret lies in shaking the pineapple juice vigorously — this creates the signature foam that crowns the drink like sea spray over coral.

IV. Cultural Significance

The Singapore Sling embodies Singapore’s identity as a crossroads of commerce and culture. It’s a drink born of colonial-era luxury but also of local ingenuity.

In many ways, it mirrors Singapore’s modern story: hybridized, global, yet unmistakably anchored in place. For tourists, it became a ritual — sipping a Sling in the Long Bar while peanut shells crunched underfoot. For bartenders, it became a lesson in reclaiming authenticity amid decades of misinterpretation.

Today, the Sling is featured in cocktail museums, classic recipe anthologies, and even international diplomacy events. It stands as both a relic of empire and a symbol of tropical cosmopolitanism.

V. How to Make the Classic Version Today

Recipe — The Classic Singapore Sling

Ingredients

• 1 ½ oz (45 ml) London Dry Gin

• ½ oz (15 ml) Cherry Heering

• ¼ oz (7 ml) Bénédictine

• ¼ oz (7 ml) Cointreau

• 4 oz (120 ml) Fresh pineapple juice

• ½ oz (15 ml) Fresh lime juice

• ⅛ oz (5 ml) Grenadine (optional for color balance)

• 1 dash Angostura bitters

• Soda water to top (optional, to taste)

Method

1. Add all ingredients (except soda) into a shaker with ice.

2. Shake vigorously for 10–15 seconds to create foam.

3. Strain into a chilled Collins glass filled with ice.

4. Top with soda water (optional).

Specs

• Glass: Collins or highball

• Ice: Cubed

• Garnish: Pineapple wedge and maraschino cherry

• Style: Tropical long drink

Technique Notes

• Use fresh pineapple juice for authentic froth; canned juice lacks the enzymes that create foam.

• Do not oversweeten — balance is key.

• Shake hard for 15 seconds to aerate properly.

Variations & Lineage

• Straits Sling: A lighter, pre-1915 variation without pineapple juice.

• Raffles Sling: The official hotel recipe, slightly sweeter and topped with soda.

• Modern Craft Sling: Emphasizes gin botanicals and reduced sweetness.

Service & Pairing Tip

• Perfect as a sundowner; pairs beautifully with spicy Southeast Asian snacks (satay, chili crab).

• Serve chilled but not icy — you want the aromas to bloom.

VI. Modern Variations & Legacy

The modern Sling has seen endless reinterpretations. Some bartenders introduce passion fruit or pandan syrup to localize the flavor. Others employ barrel-aged gin or homemade cherry liqueur for depth.

At the heart of every variation is the spirit of hospitality and innovation that birthed it at Raffles. The drink’s story continues in rooftop bars across Singapore, beachside resorts in Bali, and craft bars in London — all paying homage to a pink drink that made the tropics glamorous.

In the age of Instagram, the Sling’s color and history make it irresistible. But beneath the photogenic foam lies a deeper story — of colonial trade routes, cross-cultural creativity, and the enduring appeal of a well-balanced cocktail.

The Singapore Sling remains more than a recipe. It is a time capsule in liquid form — tropical elegance served tall, still fizzing with history.