The classic signature drink of the Raffles Hotel

Perhaps not the most fashionable of cocktails these days – (not necessarily because its’ not a great cocktail, but perhaps because it so often is over simplified) – the Singapore Sling still remains one of the most famous drinks of all times – and is a name that most people would know.

It is also one of the few great classics, which we more or less know for certain, where it originated and who first created it. The bartender credited with its invention was the Hainanese-Chinese bartender, Mr. Ngiam Tong Boon who created the cocktails for the Luxurious Raffles Hotel sometime in the early 1900’s. No-one knows exactly which year, with different sources quoting anything from turn of the century to 1913 or 1915.

That aside, there is quite a bit of debate as to how the original cocktail was made, as the original recipe apparently was lost and forgotten sometime in the 1930’s and the Singapore Sling currently served at Raffle’s Long Bar is based on written notes and memories of former bartenders.

No visit to Singapore is truly complete with a visit to the infamous Raffles hotel and the Long Bar where tourists from all over the world come to enjoy the authentic Singapore Sling. And although this may feel like a commercial experience, and somewhat of a tourist trap, there is no denying that the Singapore Sling experience is a special one. I for one will never forget ordering my first US$15 Singapore Sling in the old Long Bar, floor covered with spent peanut shells, watching the sun setting outside…

The Raffles Hotel is a visit all onto itself with a heritage and history dating back as far as 1889 when it was opened by the Sarkies brothers who also owned the Eastern & Oriental in Penang. Named after Singapore’s founder Sir Stamford Raffles, the hotel began as a far more humble structure than today with only ten rooms, although two wings flanking the original bungalow were added a few years after it opened. Amongst the early guests to the hotel were Authors Joseph Conrad and Rudyard Kipling who both helped spread the word of this beautiful hotel, and also, apparently, about its first class food.