Singapore Sling cocktail
History, recipe, and more

In the early 1900s, women were discouraged from drinking in public. Of course, they didn’t let a little discouragement stop them. Bartenders quietly catered to their female clientele with drinks that appeared to be non-alcoholic—often resembling bright-colored fruit juices. The British colonial era in southeast Asia was no different. Enter bartender Ngiam Tong Boon and his Singapore Sling cocktail.

History of the Singapore Sling

Singapore was a bustling port city, playing a key role in Britain’s global empire and serving as a bit of a playground for colonial elites. The Long Bar in the Raffles Hotel was considered a social hub for the likes of colonial officials, plantation owners from nearby Malaysia, as well as European and American tourists. And Ngiam Tong Boon, a Hainanese-Chinese bartender, had worked his way up to bar captain at the Long Bar.

While the exact details are hazy (and even Ngiam’s own family is unclear on the truth), Raffles gives Ngiam credit for the creation of the Singapore Sling around 1915. The hotel explains that Ngiam cleverly gave the cocktail a pretty pink hue, which made it look like a fruit juice and attracted everyone’s attention. While the history of the Sling may be imprecise, one thing is clear: once Raffles proclaimed the Long Bar as its birthplace, patrons couldn’t get enough.

History of the Singapore Sling

Original Singapore Sling recipe

Unfortunately, the exact recipe for the original Sling was lost (none of Boon’s original recipes survived). But the Long Bar was able to recreate its signature cocktail with a 1936 note that resurfaced from a visitor to the bar. This patron had asked one of the bartenders how to make the Singapore Sling—and thankfully scrawled down the recipe. Raffles currently describes the Singapore Sling as a delightful combination of gin, pineapple juice, lime juice, curaçao, Benedictine, grenadine, and cherry liqueur.

Ingredients:

1.5 oz London dry gin
.5 oz Heering cherry liqueur
.25 oz Bénédictine liqueur
.25 oz Cointreau
4 oz pineapple juice
.5 oz fresh lime juice
.33 oz grenadine
1 dash bitters

Directions

Combine ingredients in a cocktail shaker and shake.
Pour into a hurricane glass.
Garnish with a pineapple wedge and maraschino cherry.

Our favourite twist

If the original sling recipe is a tad too sweet, we recommend Dale DeGroff’s take. DeGroff’s version emphasizes balance and freshness, reducing the sweetness often found in other variations. Thanks to fresh pineapple juice and precise measurements, this rendition offers a more refined and approachable take on the classic.

Ingredients:

1.5 oz Gin
.5 oz cherry Heering
.25 oz Bénédictine
.25 oz Cointreau
2 oz fresh pineapple juice
.5 oz fresh lime juice
Dash of Angostura Bitters
Soda Water (to top)

Tips to make a great Sling

In our experience, you’ll mix the best cocktail if you:

Tip #1

Use fresh pineapple juice and quality cherry liqueur.
Tip #2

Use a dry, juniper-forward gin.
Tip #3

Chill everything, shake hard, and garnish generously.

Fun fact about the Singapore Sling cocktail

Ngiam is rumored to have kept his Singapore Sling cocktail recipe in a safe. When his family retrieved his safe after his death, however, it was already open and its contents gone.

Nicole Bump

Nicole is a seasoned content strategist and writer with 15+ years of experience turning complex ideas into compelling stories. As founder of Bump Inbound, she helps brands connect with audiences through thoughtful strategy, sharp planning, and standout writing.