Singapore Sling Recipe

A Singapore Sling is made with Gin, Cherry Brandy, Cointreau, Lime Juice, Pineapple Juice, Soda Water and Grenadine. A traditional Singapore sling will also have a quarter ounce of Bénédictine, which is an herbal liqueur that is sweetened with honey.

A Singapore Sling tastes like a boozy tropical punch as it features flavours of orange, cherry, lime and pineapple juice. The sweetness of a Singapore Sling makes it easy to gulp down, yet you have these complex herbal and tart flavours that give it an intriguing complexity. I love sipping a Singapore Sling when I’m eating spicy Pad Thai, as the sweetness helps put out some of the heat.

Here’s how to make a Singapore Sling!

According to the Internet, the Singapore Sling was created in 1915 in Raffles, Singapore. The drink was made for women drinkers in mind, as the Singapore Sling only contains clear liquor, and the rosy colour from the Grenadine and Cherry Liqueur gives it a tropical look. Since its invention, this fruity, fun and bubbly drink has been seen as the national (grown-up) drink of Singapore.

What is Bénédictine & Do I Need it for a Singapore Sling?

If you want to make a classic Singapore Sling, Benedictine is a must. If you don’t have any Benedictine available, or don’t want to purchase a bottle, the Benedictine can be skipped. You could also substitute Drambuie for Benedictine.

Benedictine tastes like, honey, warm spices, citrus and herbs. It reminds me of a honey flavoured throat lozenge, and I imagine it hitting the spot if you are recovering from a head cold. The taste is complex yet smooth with notes of warm spices like cinnamon and nutmeg complimented by the distinctive flavors of its herbal ingredients like cardamom and ginger. It’s sweet but not overly so with subtle hints of bitter herbs.

DOM Bénédictine is an herbal liqueur made in France that is sweetened with honey. Bénédictine contains 27 flowers, roots, berries, spices and herbs within a Cognac Brandy base. The small amount of Benedictine imparts an herbal flavour in the Singapore Sling, helping balance out the sweetness of the beverage.

I wouldn’t get too hung up on the Bénédictine if you don’t have any. Very few cocktails call for Bénédictine, and most bars rarely keep it around in North America as it’s not all that popular here. The bar I worked at for 30 years had the same bottle of Bénédictine on the shelf from before I started. The few times I made Singapore Slings, I was happy to finally use it!

What Is Grenadine?

Grenadine is a syrup made out of Pomegranates. It’s worth pickup up at the grocery store as it’s inexpensive, it will keep for years, and it is used in a lot of other cocktails such as a Tequila Sunrise, Malibu Sunset or a Shirley Temple. Deep red in colour, Grenadine gives the Singapore Sling its rosy colour.

You could make your own Grenadine at home, and it would probably be better than the store bought stuff. But homemade Grenadine is also a lot of work as you have to seed your pomegranate, juice the seeds, then reduce your pomegranate juice over heat after combining it with sugar.

What is Cointreau?

Cointreau is an orange liqueur from France. It’s a step up in quality from Triple Sec and has a smoother and complex orange flavour.

The main difference between Triple Sec and Cointreau is that Cointreau is a brand of Triple Sec. Cointreau is seen as a premium brand of Triple Sec as the liqueur uses the green peel of premature oranges which are dried in the sun to extract the essential oils.

Cointreau isn’t cheap, but due to its quality, it’s highly recommended to use Cointreau wherever Triple Sec is called for.

What Cherry Liqueur Should I Use?

In the States, a brand of Cherry Liqueur called Cherry Heering is popular. In Canada, we often use McGuinness Cherry Brandy. Both types are red, sweet and taste like cherries (Cherry Heering tastes like Black Cherries). You’ll want to stay away from Kirsch which is a clear Cherry Brandy.

If you are looking for additional cocktails to use Cherry Heering in, start with a Blood & Sand cocktail.