The History of the Singapore Sling

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This classic cocktail is certainly one worth finding out more about. A delicious combination of gin, Cointreau, DOM Benedictine, cherry liqueur, lime juice, pineapple juice, grenadine, and Angostura bitters, the drink has survived the true test of time, providing us with a tropical taste that takes a talented bartender to get just right. So, where did it come from?

TL;DR

• Colonial Creation: The Singapore Sling, a fruity gin-based cocktail, was created by Ngiam Tong Boon at Raffles Hotel in Singapore around 1915, becoming a refreshing staple for visitors.
• Cultural Icon: Initially crafted for colonial tastes, the drink symbolizes Singapore's blend of Eastern and Western influences and quickly gained popularity worldwide.
• Evolving Recipe: The original recipe, featuring gin, cherry brandy, and other tropical ingredients, has been adapted into numerous versions, reflecting its versatility and enduring appeal.
• Signature of Singapore: The Singapore Sling remains a must-try experience for tourists, embodying the city’s history, creativity, and cosmopolitan spirit.

A Cocktail Born in Colonial Singapore

The Singapore Sling was created during the early 20th century in colonial Singapore, a bustling port city known for its diverse cultural influences and vibrant social scene. At the time, the Raffles Hotel, one of the city's most prestigious establishments, was a popular meeting place for British colonialists and travelers from around the world. The tropical climate and lively atmosphere of Singapore provided the perfect backdrop for a refreshing, exotic drink that could capture the spirit of the city.

The Singapore Sling was conceived as a long drink designed for relaxation and refreshment, ideally suited to the balmy evenings in the tropics. It combined gin with a mix of fruit juices, cherry brandy, and other liqueurs, creating a pink, frothy concoction that quickly became a signature drink of the Raffles Hotel. Over time, this unique cocktail gained fame beyond Singapore, becoming a symbol of the city’s rich colonial history and a popular choice in bars worldwide.

The Raffles Hotel: The Birthplace of the Sling

The Raffles Hotel, an iconic colonial-era hotel in Singapore, is widely regarded as the birthplace of the Singapore Sling. The hotel’s Long Bar, a popular watering hole for expatriates and travelers, was where the drink first made its appearance. According to legend, the cocktail was created around 1915 by Ngiam Tong Boon, a talented bartender at the Raffles. He developed the drink to cater to British ladies who, due to social conventions, were discouraged from drinking stronger spirits in public.

Ngiam's invention allowed women to enjoy a cocktail in a socially acceptable manner. The pink color, achieved with cherry brandy and grenadine, made it look like a fruit juice, disguising its alcohol content and allowing it to be enjoyed openly. This clever innovation helped the Singapore Sling gain immediate popularity, and it soon became the hotel's signature drink, adding to the Raffles' mystique and reputation as a pioneer in cocktail culture.

Ngiam Tong Boon: The Creative Bartender Behind the Sling

Ngiam Tong Boon, the man credited with creating the Singapore Sling, was a master bartender at the Raffles Hotel who had a knack for blending exotic flavors. Born in Hainan, China, Ngiam moved to Singapore and found employment at the Raffles Hotel, where he quickly became known for his innovative and skillful approach to mixology. His creation of the Singapore Sling demonstrated not only his creativity but also his keen understanding of his clientele's preferences and social norms.

Ngiam’s story is emblematic of the multicultural environment of Singapore at the time, where influences from Asia, Europe, and beyond merged to create something unique. His cocktail recipe, which mixed gin with cherry brandy, Cointreau, Bénédictine, grenadine, pineapple juice, lime juice, and a dash of Angostura bitters, was a harmonious blend of local ingredients and Western spirits. Today, Ngiam Tong Boon's legacy lives on, with the Singapore Sling continuing to be a beloved symbol of Singapore’s cosmopolitan identity.

The Evolution of the Recipe: Variations Over Time

Since its inception, the recipe for the Singapore Sling has undergone numerous changes and adaptations, both in Singapore and internationally. The original recipe, as crafted by Ngiam Tong Boon, included gin, cherry brandy, and Bénédictine, among other ingredients, but over the years, the recipe has been modified to suit different tastes and available ingredients. Some versions simplify the drink, while others add additional elements to enhance its complexity and flavor profile.

Despite these variations, the essence of the Singapore Sling remains the same: a refreshing, fruity cocktail with a distinctive pink hue. Whether made with freshly squeezed juices or pre-mixed ingredients, it retains its exotic appeal and is a staple on cocktail menus around the world. The ongoing evolution of the recipe reflects the drink’s adaptability and enduring popularity, proving that the Singapore Sling can be as versatile and dynamic as the city from which it hails.

Colonial Influence: A Drink of the Empire

The creation of the Singapore Sling is closely tied to the era of British colonialism in Southeast Asia, a period marked by cultural exchange, economic expansion, and the blending of traditions. The Raffles Hotel, where the cocktail was born, was a colonial institution frequented by British expatriates and international travelers. This cosmopolitan environment provided fertile ground for the invention of a cocktail that was both exotic and familiar, combining Western spirits with tropical ingredients.

The drink's unique combination of flavors symbolized the confluence of Eastern and Western cultures, much like the colonial Singapore of its time. The Singapore Sling, with its fusion of Asian fruit juices and European liqueurs, became a representation of the colonial experience—a drink that spoke to the tastes of the expatriate community while also embodying the tropical vibrancy of its surroundings. Today, it remains a reminder of Singapore’s colonial past, even as the city-state continues to evolve in its own right.

The Marketing Legend: Spreading the Fame of the Sling

The Singapore Sling owes much of its international fame to the effective marketing efforts of the Raffles Hotel and the allure of Singapore as a travel destination. As the hotel promoted its signature drink, tourists and travel writers began to take notice, writing about the cocktail in magazines and guidebooks. The hotel even preserved the original recipe, sharing it with guests and making it a centerpiece of their hospitality offerings.

Over the decades, the Raffles Hotel became almost synonymous with the Singapore Sling, and the cocktail became an essential part of the Singapore experience for visitors. The drink’s exotic appeal and association with the luxury of the Raffles added to its mystique, and soon it was being recreated in bars worldwide. This marketing savvy helped the Singapore Sling achieve a status few cocktails enjoy: a global icon that symbolizes not just a drink, but an entire era and culture.

Variations on the Singapore Sling

There are so many versions of this cocktail, but most follow the same formula of gin,
citrus, sweetener, and soda. Benedictine is also non-negotiable.

One simpler version removes the Cointreau, pineapple juice, grenadine, and bitters and replaces them with simple syrup and club soda. Some prefer to use Cherry Brandy rather than liqueur, while the simplest variations only include four
ingredients: gin, cherry brandy, lemon juice, and soda.

Finally, you might prefer your Sling made with gin, Benedictine, Kirsch, lemon juice,
and orange and aromatic bitters. While we have included exact quantities of
ingredients on our recipe page, you can also play around with these, in order
to get the taste you like.