Singapore Sling

The Singapore Sling is a shaken drink — the pineapple juice needs the agitation to integrate properly. Shake hard and strain over fresh ice in the Collins glass. The cherry liqueur (Heering Cherry Liqueur is the traditional choice) gives the drink its signature deep pink color and cherry-almond flavor.

Cherry Heering is the traditional cherry liqueur for this drink — it's less sweet and more complex than generic cherry brandy. The pineapple juice should be fresh if possible, or a quality not-from-concentrate brand. The Angostura bitters is a small but important addition — it adds a spice note that ties the fruit flavors together.

The Singapore Sling was created by Ngiam Tong Boon at the Long Bar of the Raffles Hotel in Singapore around 1915. It was designed as a drink that women could enjoy in public without appearing to drink alcohol — the pink color and fruity flavor disguised the gin. It became one of the most famous hotel cocktails in the world and remains the signature drink of the Raffles Hotel.

Raffles Original

The Raffles Hotel's official recipe adds ¼ oz of Bénédictine and ¼ oz of grenadine to the base recipe. The Bénédictine adds herbal complexity and the grenadine deepens the color. This is the most historically accurate version.

Dry Singapore Sling

Reduce the pineapple juice to 1 oz and add ½ oz of fresh lemon juice. Omit the grenadine if using. The result is drier and more spirit-forward — closer to a classic gin sour with tropical accents.