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Singapore Sling: History and Where to Drink It in Singapore

Published on 14/10/2026

To drink a Singapore Sling in Singapore, the Long Bar at Raffles Hotel remains the leading address: people come as much for the setting and the cocktail’s history as for its blend of gin, fruit and liqueurs. Other bars offer a chance to explore local mixology, but this speciality is not always on their menus. Behind its pink colour lies a story that is less straightforward than its legend suggests: the tropical version famous today has not been proven to reproduce the original preparation.

In brief

The historic address: the Long Bar at Raffles Hotel.
The credited creator: Ngiam Tong Boon, the establishment’s barman.
The flavour profile: a gin-based, fruity and herbaceous cocktail whose balance depends on how it is prepared.
The key point: the historic recipe and the contemporary version should not be confused.
Before visiting: check prices, opening hours, access conditions and availability directly with the bar.

Singapore Sling: the history behind the legend

Raffles Hotel is inseparable from this drink, which is attributed to its barman Ngiam Tong Boon. The establishment forms part of Singapore’s hotel history, shaped by commercial exchanges, maritime travel and the presence of the British colonial power. For more background, see our guide to Singapore’s status and history.

The story popularised by the hotel presents the drink as a creation designed to resemble fruit juice. Its colour and presentation supposedly allowed female customers to consume alcohol discreetly, in a setting where social conventions considered this behaviour improper.

A social convention, not a general prohibition

This anecdote sheds light on the respectability norms associated with the grand hotels of the period. It should not, however, be turned into a claim that all women were legally forbidden from drinking in public: a social convention is not a law.

This distinction also matters when describing the venue. The bar of a colonial palace did not represent all of Singaporean society, and its history does not sum up either local habits or women’s place in the city.

Why the original recipe is debated

Slings belong to an old family of drinks combining a spirit with sweet and diluting ingredients. The Singaporean mixture fits into this tradition before becoming the heavily fruit-based long drink known to the public today.

The cocktail’s history nevertheless has an important gap: the exact formula used at the beginning has not been established with certainty. Some reconstructions favour a simpler composition based on gin, cherry, lemon and soda water, while the contemporary preparation contains many more ingredients.

The creator attributed to it, the memory maintained by the establishment and the drink’s evolution must therefore be distinguished. A version that has become iconic can have genuine cultural value without being identical to the first glass served.

Red cocktail served with a straw in front of plants

Singapore Sling recipe: understanding the balance

The Singapore Sling recipe now associated with Raffles combines gin, cherry liqueur, Bénédictine, orange liqueur, pineapple juice, lime, grenadine and an aromatic bitter. This composition describes the contemporary version commonly circulated, without establishing an indisputable original formula.

Its interest lies in the contrast between ingredients that do not all play the same role. The fruit provides volume and acidity, the liqueurs add sweetness and depth, while the spirit supplies a botanical structure.

Ingredient	Role in the glass	Point to watch
Gin	Structure and juniper notes	Do not let it disappear behind the sugar
Cherry liqueur	Roundness and fruity character	Do not confuse it with a dry kirsch
Bénédictine and orange liqueur	Herbaceous and citrus nuances	Preserve their complementarity
Pineapple and lime	Volume, texture and fresh acidity	Take the sweetness of the juices into account
Grenadine and bitter	Colour, sweetness and aromatic lift	Avoid an overly syrupy character

A gin cocktail, not just pink juice

A successful blend lets you perceive more than pineapple. The cherry should remain identifiable, the lime should provide tension and the herbaceous notes should carry through the finish without becoming overpowering.

The cherry liqueur deserves particular attention: a drier kirsch does not produce the same result. Likewise, replacing the orange liqueur with juice changes the texture, sweetness and alcoholic structure at the same time.

The shaker and pineapple foam

The drink is prepared in a shaker with ice, then served in a large glass over fresh ice. Shaking cools, dilutes and aerates the mixture; the pineapple juice can then create a foam on the surface.

Fresh juice is not essential for this foam: packaged pure juice can also work. Its flavour quality and sugar content matter more than a systematic distinction between fresh and pasteurised products.

The pineapple slice and cherry complete the traditional presentation. The real test of success remains the balance on the palate, not the intensity of the pink colour or the amount of decoration.

At the Long Bar, drink a Singapore Sling in its original setting

Choose the Long Bar if you are looking for the connection between the drink and its history. The visit offers more than the tasting alone: the bar, fans and surroundings of Raffles provide context for the drink you order.

The peanuts and shells left on the floor are part of the customs traditionally associated with the venue. This feature belongs to the folklore of the place, not to a habit to reproduce in other Singaporean establishments.

What the experience really offers

The glass allows you to discover the iconic contemporary version in the establishment to which it is attached. For anyone interested in hotel history, this continuity may justify the visit independently of any comparison with a creative cocktail bar.

A fan of dry or minimalist drinks will have different expectations. The preparation’s generous fruity profile may seem less interesting than a sharper blend: this is a matter of taste, not a universal verdict on its quality.

The Long Bar is chiefly worth visiting for the combination of setting, story and tasting. It would be less relevant to choose it solely in the hope of finding the least sweet mixture or the best value for money.

Check the conditions before visiting

Contact Raffles Hotel directly to find out the current price, any service charges and taxes, opening hours and access arrangements. Do not assume that a reservation is possible or necessary: ask about the conditions that apply at the bar.

Your budget should be based on the final amount, especially if you add another drink or something to eat. Our guide to the Singapore dollar and payments can help you plan this expense as part of your stay.

Build this stop into a walk rather than an overly tight schedule. The best time to visit Singapore may also help you plan outings around the weather, without making your entire day depend on getting a seat at the bar.

Which other bars should you choose in Singapore?

To discover other iconic bars, venues such as Atlas or Jigger & Pony can complement a cocktail-focused outing. They do not replace Raffles’ historic role, and mentioning them does not mean that a Singapore Sling is currently on their menus.

If ordering this drink is your main objective, contact the establishment before travelling there. A speciality known internationally may be absent from the menu, offered occasionally or interpreted according to a house recipe.

Atlas and Jigger & Pony: broaden the tasting

Atlas is an option for gin lovers and fans of Art Deco interiors. The point is then to explore another approach to the base spirit, rather than trying at all costs to find a copy of the Long Bar’s drink.

Jigger & Pony offers another way into Singapore’s local mixology scene. Ask which creation matches your preferences: fruity, tart, herbaceous or drier, depending on what is being offered at the time.

Menus, teams and reservation conditions change. Check these details directly with each venue, along with prices and any dress requirements.

How to order a suitable interpretation

Saying simply “less sweet” does not fully describe the result you want. Explain whether you are looking for more acidity, a clearer juniper presence or a lighter texture; the staff can tell you what is possible.

A version lengthened with soda water will differ from one dominated by pineapple. This is not necessarily a mistake, provided the difference is explained and matches your expectations.

For a useful comparison, look at the role of the cherry, the sensation of sweetness and the aromatic finish rather than the colour alone. Choosing another bar should serve your curiosity about flavour, not a promise of authenticity that cannot be verified.

Tasting, food and getting home after the bar

This drink can accompany savoury dishes, but its richness should be taken into account. With satay skewers, for example, the fruit contrasts with the grilled notes while the acidity can lighten the sensation left by the sauce.

Spring rolls are another option, particularly if their seasoning remains moderate. These pairings are flavour suggestions, not compulsory traditional combinations.

Be careful with chilli and sugar

A very spicy dish does not automatically become milder when paired with a fruity mixture. Alcohol can intensify the sensation of heat: it is better to keep water on the table and not rely on the drink to soothe the chilli.

A very sweet dessert may also erase the herbaceous nuances and make the whole experience feel heavy. To plan your meal, our guide to Singaporean restaurants and cuisine presents specialities to explore beyond the bar.

Apparent freshness does not replace water

The taste of fruit juice can mask the presence of alcohol. The drink combines a spirit with several liqueurs; neither its colour nor its volume can tell you precisely how strong it is.

In Singapore’s hot and humid climate, plan to drink water and take a suitable break after sightseeing. An alcoholic drink served chilled is not a form of hydration.

For a non-alcoholic option, ask for a dedicated creation and have all the ingredients confirmed. Some bitters contain alcohol, and removing only the gin is not enough when several liqueurs are part of the recipe.

Plan your journey home

Plan your return before heading out with our page on transport and getting around Singapore. Check the final departures with the relevant operator, as timetables may change.

If you drink, do not drive and plan suitable transport. A successful tasting is also prepared outside the glass, with food, water and an organised journey home.

Where can you drink a Singapore Sling in Singapore?

The Long Bar at Raffles Hotel is the historic address of reference. Other venues may offer their own interpretation, but check that it is on the menu before travelling there.

Is the current recipe the original one?

The exact formula used at the beginning has not been established with certainty. The contemporary pineapple-based version is iconic, but it should not be presented as a proven reproduction of the original preparation.

How much does the cocktail cost at Raffles?

Ask Raffles Hotel directly for the current price and check whether taxes and service charges are included. A price published in an old guide does not guarantee the amount charged during your visit.

Is the Singapore Sling very sweet?

It generally has a fruity and sweet profile, balanced by citrus, gin and herbaceous notes. The result depends on the proportions and ingredients used; tell the staff about your preferences before ordering.

Can you ask for a non-alcoholic version?

This depends on the establishment. Ask for a preparation that is explicitly alcohol-free and have the composition of the replacement liqueurs and bitters confirmed, rather than simply asking for the gin to be removed.