Have a Singapore Sling at Raffles Hotel

“After dinner, I walked over to Raffles Hotel, which was just a few blocks from my hotel. I was there rather early, so I got a seat in the bar immediately. “Singapore Sling?” asked the bartender, and I nodded. I’ve heard that they sometimes make big batches of Singapore Sling in advance, so I was happy to see that my drink was made to order. Though for 36.50 SGD, I think that’s the least you could expect. The big bags of complimentary peanuts are lined up on the bar desk. After eating the nuts, you can throw the shells on the ground and feel like a real bad a*s. I threw some shells on the ground, but it felt awkward, so I focused on the drink instead. I’ve had a lot of really good and really bad Singapore Slings through the years. The one at Long Bar was definitely in the “really good” category. The fresh pineapple juice boosted the taste of the cherry brandy, and the drink was sweet and very delicious.”

“When I arrived at the Long Bar to order a Singapore Sling, I mentioned that I was interested in trying the original — nothing pre-batched. The reaction was actually quite welcome, and the bartender was happy to oblige — maybe even proud that I cared to taste the real thing. In addition to the original, I also sampled the Sling 125, which was the same recipe, but topped with Champagne Billecart-Salmon Brut Reserve 125 yrs. That fancied things up a bit, also adding a dry effervescence to the drink. Not bad. The Singapore Sling itself is fruity and tropical, but nicely balanced and not too sweet. It’s easy to imagine sipping these on the beach — or anywhere, really — but doing so in the gorgeous confines of the Raffles Hotel just seemed perfect. However, the hefty price tag may keep your thirsty leanings at bay, as one will set you back about $30.”