Singapore Sling
at Raffles
The Singapore Sling, widely regarded as the national drink of the Little Red Dot, was first created in 1915 at Raffles Singapore by bartender Ngiam Tong Boon, and as such, is arguably the most authentic spot in the world to try this iconic concoction.Primarily a gin-based cocktail, the Singapore Sling is muddled with pineapple juice, grenadine, lime juice and Dom Benedictine, whilst a cherry brandy and Cointreau give it its pretty pink hue. Bartender Ngiam deliberately chose to give the cocktail this rosy colour when etiquette dictated women could not consume alcohol in public, and for the sake of public modesty, fruit juices and teas were the preferred beverage. The talented Ngiam thus saw a niche in the market and decided to create a cocktail that looked like a fruit juice, but was actually infused with gin and other liqueurs. Masking it in pink gave it a feminine flair and, together with the use of clear alcohol, he cleverly led people into thinking it was a socially acceptable punch for the ladies. With that, the Singapore Sling was born. Needless to say, it became an instant hit.
