Singapore Sling

After shaking up a simple Singapore sling a few weeks ago, I decided I needed to compare it to the real deal. But I realized the classic drink's ingredients weren't just hard to track down; they'd also be expensive to acquire.

I paid a visit to Smuggler's Cove, a tropical escape in San Francisco that specializes in re-creating authentic versions of classic Tiki cocktails. There, owner Martin Cate and bar star Marco Dionysos made me a perfectly balanced version, and chatted with me about the Polynesian pastime. Both bartenders believe that the cocktail's hazy beginnings are the cause of its devolution and waning popularity.
Prominent bar chefs disagree over whether the drink should have pineapple juice. Their recipe, which comes from Singapore Sling authority Ted Haigh, does. In comparison to my simple sling, it's far more complex, with more depth of fruit, less sugar, a clean finish, and a nice, foamy top. Read on for the recipe.

Although classic cocktails have made a resurgence in recent years, I can think of quite a few legendary cocktails from decades past that I've never had the privilege of trying. One of those is the Singapore Sling. It was invented about a century ago and since I've yet to spot it on a bar menu, I decided to make one for myself.

I quickly realized that many of the original recipe's ingredients, like cherry heering and Bénedictine, would take some time to track down — but in a pinch, I managed to find a pared-down variation. I imagine it's not as complex, but this rendition adopts some of the foaminess and the fruity notes from the original. For a quick version that's refreshing in its own right, keep reading.