Where to Find the Best Singapore Sling in Singapore

Imagine the scene: tongkang boats bobbing along the shore, heat haze rippling on the horizon, and a stiff drink in hand to sip in with the views. The Singapore Sling is a cocktail menu staple around the globe, but nowhere is it better enjoyed than its hometown. Resisting the temptation of this lurid pink potion is impossible. A robust mix of spirits and tropical fruit juice, this cocktail is the perfect, ice-cold antidote to Singapore’s perpetual humidity.

What is a Singapore Sling?

A Singapore Sling is a gin-based cocktail famous for its bright pink hue and fruity yet bitter-sweet taste. Raffles Hotel bartender Ngiam Tong Boon created this famous gin cocktail over 100 years ago. It was previously known as a Gin Sling - ‘Singapore’ was added to its signature to keep its alcoholic content hushed among high society circles, when the drink was popular with colonial plantation owners’ wives whose daytime boozing might have raised eyebrows.

What ingredients go into a Singapore Sling?

Served in a curvaceous hurricane glass, the Singapore Sling ingredients comprise a potent blend of cherry brandy, gin, Dom Bénédictine (a herby and berry-based liqueur) and Cointreau with a healthy splash of grenadine. Each element is poured over ice, topped with pineapple juice, then garnished typically with a glacé cherry or a quarter of pineapple.

Where was the Singapore Sling invented?

The Long Bar at the achingly beautiful Raffles Hotel on Singapore’s Beach Road was the setting for this inebriating invention, all the way back in 1915. Legend has it that Tong Boon’s original Singapore Sling recipe was lost shortly after being invented, but then resurfaced in the 1930s and has been made in the same way ever since.

Can I get a Singapore Sling at the Raffles Hotel?

With a Go Singapore pass, the taste of a Singapore Sling is only a sip away. All you have to do is present your pass at Raffles Long Bar and your master mixologist will whip up the famous cocktail just for you. Be sure to enjoy your Singapore Sling with a handful of nuts provided by the bar, where you are actively encouraged to discard the shells straight onto the floor. A liberating experience in Singapore’s otherwise pristine surroundings. Your Go Singapore pass will give you access to Singapore's other top attractions, like Universal Studios Singapore and Gardens of the Bay. You'll make huge savings on combined admission to these top sights, so don't forget to pick up your pass before your trip.

Where else can I find a great Singapore Sling?

While the Raffles Hotel is the Sling’s spiritual home, this sophisticated city isn’t short of other awe-inspiring bars where you can savor the true flavor of Singapore. Smoke & Mirrors sits atop the National Gallery and gives unrivaled views over Padang and the illustrious Marina Bay Sands. Drink in the views with either their classic Singapore Sling, or their new version, which replaces the gin with rye whiskey and cassis liqueur and adds a little orange juice over the top to compliment the pineapple. The Post Bar, found in a corner of the Fullerton Hotel, takes up a space that once housed Singapore’s General Post Office. Now a quirky, modern bar, you can sample no less than eight variations of the drink here, one of which even contains gold flakes. And finally, Atlas - home to the world’s largest collection of gin. If you can tear your eyes away from the magnificent sight of the swooping wooden staircase and balustrade that wind up above the golden backlit bar, then be sure to study their extensive drinks menu. While their signature is the gin martini, no doubt you’ll also be tempted to try their high-end version of the ‘Sling.

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