| This drink is designated as an IBA Official Cocktail |
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| Singapore Sling | |
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| Type: | Mixed drink |
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| Primary alcohol by volume: | |
| Served: | "Straight up"; without ice |
| Standard garnish: | Maraschino cherry, pineapple |
| Standard drinkware: |
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| IBA specified ingredients†: |
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| Preparation: | Pour all ingredients into cocktail shaker filled with ice cubes. Shake well. Strain into highball glass. Garnish with pineapple and maraschino cherry. |
- For the Rock band, see Singapore Sling (band).
The Singapore Sling is both a cocktail that was invented by Ngiam Tong Boon (嚴崇文) for the Raffles Hotel in Singapore sometime between 1910 and 1915 and a movie directed and written by Nikos Nikolaidis. The recipes published in articles about the Raffles Hotel prior to the 1970s are significantly different from the current recipes. There were also different "Singapore Slings"--those drunk in Singapore at large, and the recipe used at the Raffles Hotel. While the recipes around the city varied significantly, the cocktail at the Raffles remained the same. The original recipe used gin, cherry brandy, and Benedictine (most often in equal parts).(1) The drink was shaken and strained into a glass, and then filled to individual taste with club soda. The recipe used by the hotel was the result of recreating the original recipe based on the memories of former bartenders and written notes that they were able to discover. The current Raffles Hotel recipe is a much modified version of the original, most likely changed sometime in the 1970s by the Ngiam Tong Boon's nephew. The original recipe used at the Raffles Hotel includes club soda to taste. The modern Singapore Sling is available on all Singapore Airlines flights, and the drink is free on all classes of travel. A premixed Singapore Sling at Raffles Hotel, Singapore costs S$13.81 (including a 10% service charge and a 7% Goods/Services Tax) (as of November 29, 2007).
References in popular culture
- Richard Pryor mentions the drink in the movie Superman III.
- Tom Waits mentions the drink in his song "Shore Leave".
- Joni Mitchell mentions the drink in her song "Barangrill".
- The Replacements mention the drink in their song "One Wink At A Time".
- Jimmy Buffett says "Waitress, can I get two more of these Singapore Slings?" in the opening of his song "Altered Boy" on Far Side of the World.
- Raoul Duke talks of drinking "Singapore Slings with mescal on the side" with his attorney at the Polo Lounge in Hunter S. Thompson's Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas. Johnny Depp reprises the line in the film adaptation.
- In The Rum Diary by Hunter S. Thompson the characters Kemp, Yeamon and Chenault drink Singapore Slings at a street carnival in St. Thomas.
- Del Boy from BBC1's comedy series Only Fools And Horses, has ordered a Singapore Sling on a few occasions, along with other "mad" cocktails throughout the series (most notable are: Baileys & Cherryade and Malibu & Lucozade).
- Robert Barone (Brad Garrett) from Everybody Loves Raymond mentions in one episode that he does not know how to make a Singapore Sling as he is "Not Asian".
- There is an Icelandic rock band called Singapore Sling.
- Tom Cruise mentions this in his poem about drinking in the movie Cocktail.
- In an episode of Master Ninja, Lee Van Cleef mentions he used to drink Singapore Slings.
- In the video game Medal of Honor: Rising Sun, there is a level set in Singapore named "Singapore Sling"
- In an episode of Married With Children (Desperately Seeking Miss October, Season 4), Al Bundy says, "We watched Mom Singapore Sling herself into oblivion."
