Where it came from
The Long Bar at Raffles Hotel, Singapore, around 1915. Ngiam Tong Boon, a Hainanese bartender, built it as a "ladies' drink" at a time when respectable women in colonial Singapore weren't expected to drink in public. The pink colour and the fruit-cup styling let the Sling pass as a fruit punch. The original recipe is long lost: every staff member who worked the Long Bar reconstructed it differently after Boon's time. What's poured today usually involves gin, cherry liqueur, Bénédictine, pineapple, lime, grenadine, and a dash of Angostura. It's closer to home than most "classics" we read about in the cocktail books, and we like that.
How it tastes
Pineapple up front, gin in the body, the cherry liqueur and Bénédictine adding a herbal-fruity depth that most tropical drinks don't have. The grenadine is structural rather than sweet. The Angostura keeps everything from collapsing into juice. A well-made Sling is significantly less sweet than the version most tourists encounter at the Long Bar in Singapore today. People are sometimes surprised by how dry ours reads.
Why we pour it
We pour it the way the original 1930s recipes suggest: lighter on the grenadine, heavier on the gin, and the pineapple juice fresh-pressed. It's a Southeast Asian heritage drink that deserves a place on bars in this region.
Where to drink it
On request at Soluble Solids in SS2 Petaling Jaya. We don't keep it on the regular list because the proportions take a minute to build, but we always have the ingredients. Ask for it. Reserve a table if you want one ready when you arrive.
Frequently asked questions
What glass is the Singapore Sling served in?
A tall hurricane glass or pilsner over fresh ice. All ingredients are shaken hard for 12 to 15 seconds (the pineapple juice builds the foam), then strained into the tall glass. A pineapple slice and a single brandied cherry on a pick garnish. The hurricane glass is the Raffles tradition. A Collins works if you do not have one.
Can I substitute the cherry brandy in a Singapore Sling?
Cherry Heering is the canonical cherry brandy and difficult to truly substitute; the deep cherry-and-spice character is signature. Other cherry liqueurs (Luxardo Cherry Sangue Morlacco, Maraska) work but reads slightly different. Benedictine is non-negotiable; Drambuie has wrong herbal profile. Fresh pineapple juice is essential; canned juice ruins the drink because of the cooked-fruit flavour and lack of acidity.
How strong is the Singapore Sling?
Around 14 to 17 percent ABV in the finished drink. The build totals roughly 80ml of spirits and liqueurs (gin, cherry brandy, Cointreau, Benedictine, grenadine) against 130ml of citrus and pineapple juice, shaken with ice. The juice volume is what brings the alcohol load down. Drinks long and tropical, deceptively easy.
Where can I order a Singapore Sling in PJ or KL?
At Soluble Solids in SS2, 50-1 Jalan SS2/24, Petaling Jaya. Open Wednesday to Sunday, 18:00 to 01:00. WhatsApp +60 11-1682 8651. Off-menu; the proportions take a minute to build, but we always have the ingredients. Dissolved Solids in Damansara Kim can also mix one on request. Ask for the heavier-gin, lighter-grenadine 1930s style.
What food pairs with a Singapore Sling?
Southeast Asian heritage food. Hainanese chicken rice, Peranakan dishes, Singaporean kaya toast, satay, popiah, char kway teow. The pineapple and gin cut through santan-heavy Peranakan curries beautifully. Also strong with chilli crab, salt-and-pepper prawns, and most spice-forward Chinese seafood. The drink is light enough for a long meal.