The Raffles Hotel Original Singapore Gin Sling Cocktail

The Singapore Sling is one of those wonderful drinks that we probably have all heard of, but perhaps have never had. And because this recipe is often incorrectly recorded in most recipe books, even if you've think you've had it, you probably haven't. One of the key, and often overlooked ingredients in this drink is Benedictine. While the resulting flavour is not overly predominate, it does add a certain taste profile that would be totally missing without this secret ingredient. None dispute that the Singapore Sling was originally created by Mr. Ngiam Tong Boon for the Raffles Hotel in Singapore. However that is where the agreements end. The exact date is in question, with some people claiming it was in 1915, some 1913, while the hotel itself claims that it was created sometime prior to 1910. There is also plenty of disagreement as to how closely the current version of this drink that is served at Raffles is to what was originally served. Apparently the original recipe was lost and forgotten sometime in the 1930's, and the drink that they currently serve at the hotel's Long Bar (see recipe below) is based on memories of former bartenders, and some written notes that they were able to discover. Whatever the truth may be, this "iconic" drink is still enjoyed today, as much as it was back in the early 20th century! Maybe, the only way to really appreciate this cocktail, is to sip it slowly whilst sitting in a rattan chair, under the ceiling fans in the Long Bar at Raffles Hotel!

• Ready In: 3 mins
• Serves: 1
• Yields: 1 Singapore Gin Sling

Ingredients

• 1 1⁄2 ounces  gin
• 1⁄2 ounce  cherry heering
• 1⁄4 ounce Cointreau liqueur
• 1⁄4 ounce  benedictine
• 4  ounces  pineapple juice
• 1⁄2 ounce lime juice
• 1⁄3 ounce  grenadine
• 1  dash  bitters

Directions

1. Shake with ice.
2. Strain into an ice filled collins glass.
3. Garnish with cherry and slice of pineapple.
4. SINGAPORE SLING.
5. The Singapore Sling was created at Raffles Hotel at the turn-of-the-century by Hainanese-Chinese bartender, Mr. Ngiam Tong Boon.
6. In the Hotel's museum, visitors may view the safe in which Mr. Ngiam locked away his precious recipe books, as well as the Sling recipe hastily jotted on a bar-chit in 1936 by a visitor to the Hotel who asked the waiter for it.
7. Originally, the Singapore Sling was meant as a woman's drink, hence the attractive pink colour. Today, it is very definately a drink enjoyed by all, without which any visit to Raffles Hotel is incomplete.
8. Metric Measurements as printed on the orginal raffles Hotel menu.
9. 30ml Gin.
10. 15 ml Cherry Brandy.
11. 120 ml Pineapple Juice.
12. 15 ml Lime Juice.
13. 7.5 ml Cointreau.
14. 7.5 ml Dom Benedictine.
15. 10 ml Grenadine.
16. A Dash of Angostura Bitters.
17. Garnish with a slice of Pineapple and Cherry.